California's State Organics Law

Under California state law, residents of SLO County are required to participate in curbside organics recycling. This is an easy step to add to your routine: simply place all kitchen food scraps in your curbside green bin, and they will be composted locally!

Recycling your food scraps in your green bin helps our community make organic compost, and is one of the easiest things you can do to help reduce greenhouse gas emissions. When compostable materials, such as food scraps, are sent to the landfill, they create greenhouse gas emissions like methane, a pollutant over 80 times more potent than carbon dioxide. Emissions of methane are responsible for about 20 percent of the global warming now driving climate change, and about 20 percent of methane emissions in California come from landfills.

If you live in a single family home:

Residents in San Luis Obispo County are automatically enrolled in green bin service. If you do not have a green bin, please contact your solid waste hauler.

If you live in a multifamily complex:

If you live in a multifamily complex, your property management is required to provide a green bin.  Ask them where to find it! No green service? Give us a call!

What can go in my green bin? 

Generally, all organic waste should be placed in your green bin. Organic waste just means anything that came from plants or animals that's thrown away. This includes:

• Food scraps: fruit, vegetables, bread, pasta, meat, poultry and cheese
• Coffee grounds
• Meat and fish bones
• Food soiled paper products (like paper towels, napkins & pizza boxes)
• Yard trimmings
• And more!

Questions about what can go in your bin? Check out our recycling guide, or give us a call at (805) 782-8530.

Please don't include 'compostable' plastics, including plastic/bioplastic bags. Despite being labeled as compostable, plant-based plastics are difficult for our local composters to process, and they belong in the trash. 

How do I get started? 

We recommend using a countertop compost pail in your kitchen to collect all food scraps generated from household use. Then when full, you can dump the contents into your curbside green organics bin, and wash out your pail for reuse. The IWMA provides these free of charge for all residents!  To get yours, come by our office to pick one up Monday - Friday,  8-5 (call ahead to (805) 782-8530), or contact your garbage provider who can drop one off at your door!  Our pails don't require a liner, but if you'd like to line it,  try using newspaper or a paper bag.

What happens to organic waste in SLO County? 

The majority of the organic waste in SLO County is taken to Kompogas, an anaerobic digestion plant located just outside the city of San Luis Obispo. Our waste goes through a process called anaerobic digestion, where microorganisms work to decompose the organic matter. The whole process takes about two weeks, and it results in two things: biogas, a clean energy source that powers over 600 homes locally, and high-quality organic compost. 

The rest of the organic waste in SLO County will end up at a windrow composting operation. There are a couple nearby, one in Santa Maria and one in Creston. Windrows are long piles of organic material, that are turned periodically and kept at a high temperature.  Their processes take a bit longer than anaerobic digestion, but the result is the same: organic certified compost that is sold to farms and vineyards in the area. 

These facilities rely on our food waste to produce high-quality compost! And in turn, that compost is applied on local farms and gardens, helping to create a circular economy. Our food grows more food!

What are my requirements as a business? 

Like residents, businesses (including multi-family residential complexes) are required to divert organic materials from landfills by participating in organic recycling programs.  This includes:

• Subscribing to and participating in organics collection services via your solid waste hauler, or self-hauling organic waste to a specified composting facility.
• Providing containers for the collection of organic waste and recyclables to employees, contractors, tenants and customers. Collection containers must be arranged so that users have access to an adequate number, size and location of containers, with correct labels.
• Providing properly labeled indoor containers for organic waste and recyclables in all areas where disposal containers are provided for customers, except for restrooms. Did you know that the IWMA offers materials that meet these requirements free of charge for local businesses?
• Prohibiting employees from placing organic waste in a container not designated for organic waste, and periodically inspecting organic waste containers for contamination.
• Annually providing information to employees, contractors, tenants and customers about organic waste recovery requirements and proper sorting.

Businesses that are Commercial Edible Food Generators (CEFGs) must also donate all leftover or unsold food that would otherwise be disposed, by donating  to a food recovery organization/service. To find out if your business counts as a CEFG, and learn what the requirements are, click here.