State Regulatory Requirements for Solid Waste

What is SB 1383?

California Senate Bill 1383 (SB 1383) became effective on January 1, 2022. This law establishes targets to achieve a 75 percent reduction in the statewide disposal of organic waste by 2025. The law sets an additional target that at least 20 percent of currently disposed edible food is recovered for human consumption by 2025. This law is intended to reduce emissions of short-lived climate pollutants (SLCP) in various sectors of California's economy. Residential dwellings are required to recycle organics (food and yard waste) and place them in green containers.

What are the SB 1383 requirements for my business or home?

Per SB 1383, all businesses, including multi-family complexes of 5 units or more, mixed-use complexes, and residents must be compliant with State law and are required to participate in Athens Services organic waste collection service. The service utilizes bins and carts to collect organic waste, which are picked up weekly. Residents are also required to recycle their organic waste by placing food waste and yard clippings in their green organics cart. The organic waste is taken to a processing facility for composting. Visit here to learn more about SB 1383.

For information about organic waste collection service or to request a consultation at your business, contact  Athens Services at (805) 852-5264.

What is the City's role in SB 1383?

SB 1383 requires jurisdictions to provide organic waste collection to all businesses and residents and to implement a food recovery program for edible food waste. The City is required to conduct outreach and education to inform businesses about organic waste collection requirements, as well as monitor compliance and identify those businesses that are not recycling organics. In addition, edible food waste generators shall arrange to recover the maximum amount of edible food that would otherwise be disposed of and donated to a food recovery organization.

What is AB 341?

In 2012, AB341 made commercial recycling mandatory.AB 341 mandated that any business that generates four cubic yards or more of solid waste per week (1 large dumpster) must recycle. The law also required multi-family complexes of 5 units or more to have recycling collections for residents.

Mandatory Commercial Recycling aims to reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions by diverting those recyclable materials from landfill disposal. Recyclable materials can reduce GHG emissions by bypassing GHG-generating steps in the production process, including extraction of raw materials, preprocessing, and manufacturing. Increased recycling also reduces methane emissions at landfills from the decomposition of organic materials. Click here to learn more about AB 341.

What is AB 1826?

Beginning in 2016, Organics (food and yard waste) Recycling became mandatory for businesses generating a certain threshold amount of waste. Beginning January 1, 2022, all businesses (including all multi-family dwellings) were required to follow SB 1383 regulations and recycle organics. To learn more about the details of AB 1826, click here.

What is AB 827?

Effective July 1, 2020, businesses subject to AB 341 and/or AB 1826 are required to provide customers access to a recycling bin and/or organics recycling bin to collect materials purchased on premises. The bill also requires CalRecycle to develop model signage that businesses may utilize to implement these requirements.

Visit CalRecycle for more information on state regulations.