SB 1383 is the most significant waste reduction mandate in the last 30 years and expands upon the State’s initiatives to reduce emissions of greenhouse gasses (GHG) and air pollution statewide. Methane emissions resulting from the decomposition of organic waste in landfills are a significant source of GHG emissions contributing to global climate change. The law grants the California Department of Resources Recycling and Recovery (CalRecycle) the regulatory authority required to achieve the organic waste disposal reduction targets statewide and requires California to increase edible food recovery by 20% by 2025. Food waste alone accounts for approximately 17-18% of total landfill disposal. Increasing food waste prevention and encouraging edible food rescue, will help reduce methane emissions from organic waste disposed of in California's landfills.
The new regulations also include waivers and exemptions from the organic waste collection requirements. Calaveras County has been approved for a rural exemption by CalRecycle, which provides a temporary delay in the residential collection requirements until December 31, 2026. At this time, there will be no change to residential curbside collection requirements. Calaveras County is required to establish a commercial edible food recovery program, that supports and ensures that the impacted food generators and food recovery organizations are compliant. The new regulations go into effect on January 1, 2022.