SB 1383 - Organics Recycling
experiencing the effects of a climate crisis: hotter summers, more fire seasons, extreme droughts, and rising sea levels.
Why does food waste and organic waste need to be separated? Landfills are the third largest source of Methane in California. Organic waste in the landfills emits 20% of the state’s methane, a climate super pollutant 84x more potent that carbon dioxide.
Since July 1, 2022, residents have had to separate their food waste and all other organic waste into a plastic bag and dispose of it into the green bin that was normally used solely for Green Waste. Now, it’s for Organics and Green Waste.
What goes in the Organics/Green Waste Bin?
Food scraps, yard trimmings, paper, cardboard, coffee, coffee filters, tea bags, used pizza boxes, used paper napkins, paper plates, paper bags, paper containers, untreated wood, natural fibers (popsicle sticks, wooden chopsticks, toothpicks).
What does NOT go in the Organics/Green Waste Bin?
Paper containers with a plastic or wax coating, take-out boxes with metal that cannot be removed, clothing or textiles, pet waste and cat litter, wine corks, rocks and soil, diapers, cigarette butts and ashes, styrofoam, anything that does not break down naturally.
Beginning late last month, authorized contractors were going around to peek at residents’ garbage to see if proper sorting had taken place. While no citations were
issued, reminders were instead placed on trash bins explaining the would-be violations.
For more information, contact NASA Services at 888.888.0388.
Free Resources from Pico Rivera to Reduce Organic Waste
The easiest, cheapest, and most sustainable way to manage organic waste is to avoid creating it in the first place. To reduce organic waste at its source: Avoid over-purchasing and over-preparing; serve smaller portions; properly store and label food items.
You can get a FREE kitchen food pail to collect food scraps from the City; pick up your free compost pail at City Hall during operating hours. SmartGardening.com provides FREE access to online content on composting. Stay updated on more FREE composting resources by following the City’s social media feeds.
