SB 1383 - Mandatory Organic Recycling

In September 2016, Governor Edmund Brown Jr. set methane emissions reduction targets for California (SB 1383 Lara, Chapter 395, Statutes of 2016) in a statewide effort to reduce emissions of short-lived climate pollutants (SLCP). The targets must:

• Reduce organic waste disposal 50% by 2020 and 75% by 2025.
• Rescue for people to eat at least 20% of currently disposed surplus food by 2025.

To that end, the City of Whittier is responsible for implementing SB 1383 regulations and must coordinate with county planners, waste haulers, waste processing facilities, recyclers, commercial businesses, residents, and edible food recovery organizations.

City responsibilities include: 

• Evaluating readiness and capacity to implement SB 1383, including organics collection, recycling and edible food recovery capacity
• Providing organic waste collection to all residents and businesses by January 1, 2022, which means providing service automatically and not relying on the generator to subscribe.
• Establishing an edible food recovery program that recovers edible food from the waste stream 
• Conducting outreach and education to all affected parties, including generators, haulers, facilities, edible food recovery organizations, and city departments
• Procuring recycled organic waste products like compost, mulch, renewable natural gas (RNG), and electricity
• Inspecting and enforce compliance with SB 1383
• Investigate written complaints of alleged violations. Complaints can be submitted anonymously through the Whittier 365 Smart Phone Application or by emailing Public Works at PubWks@CityofWhittier.org.
• Maintaining accurate and timely records of SB 1383 compliance 

CalRecycle presented a Zoom Webinar on June 16, 2021, to educate the business community on the new organics recycling requirements. The Webinar was recorded and can be downloaded here.

Should your property generate less than 1/2 a cubic yard of organic waste per week or lack the space to accommodate the required carts an exemption may apply.

Athens SB1383 Organic Waiver

Food Recycling

Whittier residents can pick up free food scrap collection containers at City Hall to help with food recycling. These green pails make it easy to separate food scraps like fruit and vegetable peels, coffee grounds, eggshells, and leftover food for proper composting. Instead of sending food waste to landfills, residents can place their scraps in these containers and empty them into their green waste bins for recycling. By using these food scrap collection containers, Whittier residents can reduce waste, cut greenhouse gas emissions, and support a more sustainable community.