Organic waste is any material that is biodegradable and comes from either a plant or an animal. Biodegradable waste is organic material that can be broken into carbon dioxide, methane, or simple organic molecules.

In short, food items, yard waste, paper, and cardboard are all considered organic waste. For guide to see what types of items that are considered organic waste download this flyer.

A focus on recycling organic materials is central to California’s efforts to combat climate change. California has been experiencing the effects of a climate crisis: hotter summers, extreme temperatures, an increase in fires, extreme droughts, and rising sea levels that erode our coastlines. Research has taught us that greenhouse gasses released by human activities, such as landfilling food and yard waste, cause climate change. To respond to this climate crisis, California is implementing statewide organic waste recycling and surplus food recovery. 

Residents - What are my responsibilities as a resident?

• In April 2022, single-family home residents were provided with a 2-gallon food pail for compostable organics that can then be added to the existing green waste cart in a compostable bag. Most multi-family housing units that utilize community dumpsters also received organics bins that will adapted existing services. Some multi-family housing is exempt or has their organics sorted out at a facility. 

Businesses - What are my responsibilities as a business?

• Any business that generates 2-cubic yards per week of trash is required to recycle organics and food waste.
• Food service businesses must donate edible food to food recovery organizations. This will help feed the almost 1 in 4 Californians without enough to eat.
• California has a goal to redirect 20% of edible food currently thrown away to people in need by 2025.

Self-Haulers (contractors, construction workers, landscapers, etc.) - What are my responsibilities as a self-hauler?

• Self-haulers will need to obtain a self-haul permit and ensure all organic compostable materials — such as hedge and tree trimmings, cardboards, wood scraps, etc. — are separated from landfill materials and properly disposed of.

As California collects and recycles organic materials, local governments will be required to use the products made from this recycled organic material, such as renewable energy, compost, and mulch.

For example, it will be used to curate healthy soil! Compost is a key to healthy soil, and healthy soil is critical to reducing carbon in the air. Organics are readily recyclable into soil amendments like compost, mulch, and liquid fertilizers, as well as biofuel, a renewable natural gas.

Yes! This is a new system similar to how your trash is picked up now. Everyone will need to participate and use the new bins or receptacles provided.

The City and Hauler will work together to monitor non-compliance. Fines for violations will be issued by the City.

Certain commercial businesses may qualify for waivers from the mandatory program requirements. Waivers will require verification of eligibility every 5 years and third-party or internal program waivers require quarterly reporting.

The city will be providing resources to all residents and businesses. 

Starting in 2022, all jurisdictions will need to provide organic waste collection services to all residents and businesses and recycle these organic materials using recycling facilities such as:

• Anaerobic digestion facilities that create biofuel and electricity
• Composting facilities that make soil amendments

A 1.5% fee on residential and commercial waste collection rates. As explained in the November 22, 2021 agenda report linked here “complying with the state’s organic waste recycling regulations imposes significant new administrative obligations on the city, including public education and additional reporting requirements. A 1.5% organics recycling compliance fee on residential and commercial waste collections rates is recommended to fund these costs. The organics recycling compliance fee is projected to generate approximately $100,000 a year and cost a single-family residential customer $0.32 a month. Commercial customers’ fee will range between $1.50 and $3.00 a month.”