Residents across California are experiencing changes to the way organic waste is disposed of and recycled. Signed into law in 2016, California Senate Bill (SB) 1383 established a statewide goal to reduce the amount of organic waste sent to landfills by 75% and recover at least 20% of food that is currently wasted by 2025.
When organic waste, like food scraps, decomposes in a landfill, it produces greenhouse gases such as methane — a greenhouse gas that contributes to climate change. To respond to the climate crisis, the State requires all California jurisdictions, including those in Santa Clara County, to reduce organic waste and require certain food producing businesses to donate their surplus food to feed Californians facing food insecurity.
Residents of Santa Clara County are required to participate in their jurisdiction’s organic waste collection services. Specific sorting practices may vary by jurisdiction. Residents can learn how to properly dispose of their organic waste by:
- Finding their jurisdiction at ReduceWaste.org.
- Identifying how organic waste is collected by your jurisdiction.
- Properly sorting and disposing of food scraps as required by their jurisdiction.
Home composting is another effective way of diverting organic materials from the landfill. Residents may take their food scraps that would otherwise be thrown away and turn it into soil amendment for use in a garden or landscaping. The Composting Education Program offers resources to teach the community about composting through community workshops and school presentations.
By properly disposing of food scraps at home, residents can help reduce greenhouse gas emissions and improve air and water quality for the community.
For more information, visit ReduceWaste.org/FoodScraps.