Why SB 1383?

Senate Bill (SB) 1383 is a California statewide effort to reduce emissions of short-lived climate pollutants (SLCP). 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.

What does SB 1383 do? 

SB 1383 targets organic wastes that would have otherwise become major methane emitters in landfills, and creates programs to recycle and reuse them in our communities.

Specifically, the law sets the following statewide targets:

• Reduce disposal of organic waste by 75% by January 1, 2025 (based on 2014 levels)
• Recover a minimum of 20% edible food for human consumption that would otherwise be disposed by 2025.

CalRecycle is the state agency responsible for creating the regulatory standards for SB 1383. Regulations took effect January 1, 2022, and effective January 1, 2024, jurisdictions may be required to impose penalties for non-compliance on entities subject to their authority.

Who does SB 1383 apply to? 

SB 1383 applies to all residents, businesses and visitors in San Luis Obispo County.

Some residents and businesses may be qualified for exemption from some aspects of SB 1383.

What are my requirements as a resident? 

Residents are required to participate in curbside organics recycling (compost/green cart) programs. This includes recycling of household food scraps! Residential curbside organic recycling is crucial to our county's success in meeting organic waste disposal targets, and one of the easiest things residents can do to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

Residents living in single-family homes in San Luis Obispo County are automatically enrolled in curbside organics service. If you do not have a green cart service, please contact your solid waste hauler to set up your service.

Generally, all organic material should be placed in your green cart. This includes:

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

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!  Please don't use any marketed 'compostable' bags in your green bin. They breakdown much slower than organic material, and can jam up equipment at our local composting operations. Curious about where your organics end up in San Luis Obispo County? Explore our anerobic digestion facility, the first of its kind in the US.

Questions about what to put in your organics bin? Check out our Recycling Guide or give us a call at (805) 782-8530. 

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.