California’s Response to Greenhouse Gas Emission Reduction
What’s all the fuss about this SB 1383 you’re hearing about?
In 2016, the State of California passed Senate Bill (SB) 1383 – the Short-Lived Climate Pollutant Reduction Strategy. These wide-reaching regulations set statewide targets to reduce organic waste disposal and increase edible food recovery to serve the food insecure. Organics like food scraps, yard trimmings, paper, and cardboard make up half of what Californians dump in landfills, despite current efforts. Click here to read more about SB1383 from CalRecycle.
As of January 1, 2022, all residents and businesses in California need to stop sending organic material to landfills and instead divert it to other facilities that will compost or otherwise process this material to reduce the amount of methane and other greenhouse gases that occur when organic material decomposes in an anaerobic environment (landfills).
What This Means for You
Beginning in 2022, all customers in California will need to start separating more organic material and keep it out of the trash. WR is helping its customers comply by providing a 3-container collection system (1 each for organics, recycling, and trash). City-specific information on the services provided by WR is available on each city’s page: Carson; Gardena; Glendale; Hawaiian Gardens; Lynwood.
You can also visit your City’s page for information: Carson; Gardena; Glendale; Hawaiian Gardens: Residential; Hawaiian Gardens: Commercial, Lynwood.
Quick Sheet
Click here for an easy one-pager on what goes where.
Click for a detailed list of what goes where. Commercial Residential and Multi-Family
TORRANCE CUSTOMERS
The biggest change you will notice is that food scraps and food-soiled paper move from the trash container to the organics container. Remember to follow these simple steps:
- Collect and separate recyclables throughout your location. Place them loose in your BLUE recycling container. Remember the three easy steps to successful recycling: 1) keep it loose (don’t bag); 2) keep it dry (wet paper can’t be recycled – put it in your organics); and 3) keep it clean (rinse out any food).
- Bag your food scraps and food-soiled paper in a clear bag and place in your green container. If you don’t have a green container, you’ll be getting one soon. Place the bags in your GREEN mixed organics container.
- All leaves, grass, flowers, etc. that already go in your green container continue as-is (unbagged). Place them loose in your GREEN mixed organics container.
Compliance is MANDATORY and contamination fees may apply for accounts that do not comply with proper container usage. Be a good steward for the environment by recycling the right way!
Finding clear bags around the house isn’t as tough as it seems!
- Bread bags
- Produce bags
- Twist-tie storage bags
- Clear trash bags
- Clear biodegradable bags
- Clear shopping bags
Clear bags need to be used so that prohibited items are removed to preserve compost quality and our equipment. You can also use paper bags in a pinch. All plastic bags will be removed prior to processing the material.
BAGGED
- Organics in clear plastic film bags and packaging used for organics waste (but no plastic wrap/bags inside the bag)
- Organics in their original packaging of paper, plastic, Tetra Pak’s or metal (pre-consumer) or spoiled and expired food (up to 3 gallon)
- Styrofoam or plastic take-out containers (with clamshell hinged lids or dome lids) of any size and shape (note these should be limited)
- All fruits and vegetables (pits and shells are permitted)
- Coffee grounds and paper filter
- Dairy products
- Eggshells and eggs
- Leftovers and spoiled food
- Meats and poultry* (including bones)
- Fish and seafoods* (excluding large concentrations of shellfish)
- Rice and beans
- Grains and pasta
- Breads
- Food-Soiled Paper (100% fiber-based):
- Coffee filters
- Paper bags, trays, and plates
- Paper ice cream containers (metal rim is OK)
- Paper napkins, tissues, and paper towels
- Greasy part of pizza box
LOOSE
- Grass, leaves, flowers
- Small branches
- Sawdust
* Commercial facilities (butcher, grocery, restaurant) cannot use this program to process raw meat, poultry, or fish.
- Metal
- Empty aerosol cans
- Aluminum cans
- Tin cans
- Food/Juice cans
- Empty paint cans
- Clean aluminum foil
- Paper
- Cardboard (dry and without food residue)
- Junk mail
- Magazines
- Phone books
- Cereal/cracker boxes
- Newspaper
- Computer paper & white paper
- Mixed color paper
- Plastic
- Drink bottles
- Detergent containers
- Water bottles
- Milk containers
- Glass
- Bottles
- Food jars
- Mixed Products (i.e. Plastic/Metal Combination)
- Waxed Paper
- Coated Materials
- Ceramic/Pyrex, broken
- Mirrors
- Safety or plate glass
- Kitty litter, pet waste, diapers
- Styrofoam
- Non-donatable clothing, shoes, toys, accessories
- Palm fronds
- Snack and chip bags, candy wrappers
- Plastic bags
- Plastic cups, lids, utensils, straws, shrink/cling wrap
- Hoses, disposable gloves, hairnets
- Wrapping and gift paper
- Batteries (look for a drop-off location nearby or take to an HHW roundup)
- Electronics (call us for a bulky item pickup)
- Sharps and medicines (call us for a Sharps container, look for local drop-off locations, or take to an HHW roundup)
Single-Family Residents and Multifamily Complexes of Less than Five Units Requirements
- Subscribe to and participate in their jurisdiction’s organics curbside collection service.
- Required to properly sort their organic waste into the correct containers.
Multifamily Residents and Multifamily Complexes of Five or More Units Requirements
- Subscribe to and participate in their jurisdiction’s organics collection service.
- Residents must properly sort their organic waste into the correct containers.
Multifamily Complex Property Owner or Manager Requirements
- Provide organic waste collection services for employees and tenants.
- Supply and allow access to an adequate number, size, and location of containers with the correct labels or container colors.
- Annually educate employees and tenants on how to properly sort organic waste into the correct containers.
- Provide information to new tenants within 14 days of occupation of the premises.
Business/Commercial/Industrial Requirements
- Subscribe to and participate in their jurisdiction’s mixed organics collection service.
- Subscribe to and participate in their jurisdiction’s recycling collection service.
- Employees/tenants must properly sort their waste into the correct containers.
- Supply and allow access to an adequate number, size, and location of containers with the correct labels or container colors.
- Annually educate employees and tenants on how to properly sort waste into the correct containers.
- Provide information to new tenants within 14 days of occupation of the premises.
