SB 1383 Organics Recycling

In September 2016, Governor Brown signed into law Senate Bill 1383 (SB 1383), establishing methane emissions reduction targets in a statewide effort to reduce emissions of short-lived climate pollutants in various sectors of California's economy. SB 1383 establishes targets to achieve a 75 percent reduction in the statewide disposal of organic waste from the 2014 level by 2025. The law grants CalRecycle the regulatory authority required to achieve the organic waste disposal reduction targets and establishes an additional target that not less than 20 percent of currently disposed of edible food is recovered for human consumption by 2025. SB 1383 went into effect on January 1, 2022.  

What is Organic Waste?

Organic waste in municipal solid waste generally includes the following. 

  • Food scraps, including all solid, semi-solid, and liquid food such as fruit, vegetables, cheese, meat, bones, poultry, seafood, bread, rice, pasta, tea bags, coffee filters, and oils.
  • Food-soiled paper is the uncoated paper that is soiled by food waste such as napkins, paper towels, paper cups, fast food wrappers, take-out boxes, egg cartons, used pizza boxes, wax-coated cardboard, and other paper and compostable food packaging.
  • Yard trimmings include grass clippings, leaves, flowers, hedge clippings, and weeds.  Non-hazardous wood waste includes tree branches, tree trunks, and untreated lumber.

Who must comply?

  • Residents of single-family and multi-family properties
  • Commercial businesses
  • Commercial food generators
  • Schools
  • Government entities

For more information on how this legislation affects you directly, please visit one of the following dedicated webpages:

SB 1383 Complaints and Violations

To submit complaints and concerns about potential violations related to SB 1383 noncompliance, the City's organic waste recycling program, please fill out the SB 1383 Complaint and Violation Form. 

Additional Resources