california waste laws
The recently adopted Senate Bill 1383 has identified the reduction of methane generation of organic waste as a prioritized climate change mitigation strategy. As such, SB 1383 mandates reductions in the landfilling of organic waste, and thereby methane emissions. Whereas AB 341 and AB 1826 placed the burden of mandatory collection on the generators with a local government planning effort, SB 1383 explicitly shares the responsibility with local government where CalRecycle may add fines and penalties much like AB 939, but with delayed enforcement until 2024. SB 1383 requires CalRecycle, in consultation with CARB, to adopt regulations that achieve the specified targets for reducing organic waste in landfills by 2022. SB 1383 would authorize local jurisdictions to charge and collect fees to recover the local jurisdiction’s costs incurred in complying with the regulations. SB 1383 would require by July 1, 2020, for CalRecycle to analyze the progress that the waste sector, state government, and local governments have made in achieving the specified targets for reducing organic waste in landfills such as infrastructure development and markets for products. SB 1383 would authorize CalRecycle, depending on the outcome of that analysis, to amend the regulations to include incentives or additional requirements. The regulations shall also include requirements intended to meet the goal that not less than 20% of edible food that is currently disposed of is recovered for human consumption by 2025.
Assembly Bill 1826 went into effect April 1, 2016 requiring businesses to recycle their organic waste depending on the amount of waste they generate per week. Who is affected? Businesses or Multifamily units with five (5) or more units who generate more than two (2) cubic yards of TRASH a week. The goal of the bill is to divert 50% of organics disposal from commercial businesses by 2020 as compared to 2014. The law changed in January of 2019 from four (4) cubic yards of organics to 4 cubic yards of trash per week. As of September 2020, Cal Recycle has dropped the cubic yardage from (4) to (2) cubic yards of trash per week. *(note mulit-family does not require a “food waste” program). Organic waste can be defined as the following materials: food waste, green waste, landscaping, pruning waste, non-hazardous food waste, food soiled paper mixed with food; other “organic” material.The intended purpose of AB 1826 is to help reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions by diverting organic waste to recycling efforts. It is estimated that 30 million tons of waste goes into our landfills a year. When organics are left to decompose on their own they are a source of emissions contributing to green house gases. When recycled through anaerobic digestion they become a renewable energy and fuel source. Organics can also be used in composting and mulching for our farm lands.
Assembly Bill 341 went into effect July 1, 2012 to increase the amount of material diverted from landfills from the commercial sector.Who is affected? Businesses that generate four (4) cubic yards or more of commercial solid waste per week shall arrange for recycling services. The same requirement is also applied to multifamily dwellings of five units or more. The purpose of AB 341 is to reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions by diverting commercial solid waste to recycling efforts and to expand the opportunity for additional recycling services and recycling manufacturing facilities in California. The AB 341 the focus has been on dry recyclables such as cardboard, paper fiber, pallets, rigid plastics, and containers. Cardboard and paper fiber recycling offer the highest methane mitigation potential per ton recycled, and can also count towards the efforts of SB 1383 compliance.Who is affected? Businesses that generate four (4) cubic yards or more of commercial solid waste per week shall arrange for recycling services. The same requirement is also applied to multifamily dwellings of five units or more. The purpose of AB 341 is to reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions by diverting commercial solid waste to recycling efforts and to expand the opportunity for additional recycling services and recycling manufacturing facilities in California. The AB 341 the focus has been on dry recyclables such as cardboard, paper fiber, pallets, rigid plastics, and containers. Cardboard and paper fiber recycling offer the highest methane mitigation potential per ton recycled, and can also count towards the efforts of SB 1383 compliance.
For more information on California waste laws visit CalRecycle's website here.