Here's what you need to know about California's new composting law - KSBW Monterey
MONTEREY, Calif. —
The new year bringing a new recycling requirement for all Californians. Senate Bill 1383 passed in 2016 requires everyone to begin recycling everyday food scraps.
“This is definitely, environmentally the right thing to do, we've been recycling for decades now and this is the next iteration of recycling, recycling your food scraps into a valuable resource, compost,” said Zoe Shoats, spokesperson for the Monterey Regional Waste Management District.
The goal of the new law is to reduce the amount of organic waste ending up in landfills. When food scraps end up there they produce Methane, a harmful greenhouse gas.
“Methane is a short-lived climate pollutant it's 85 times more potent than carbon dioxide on our environment and that is unfortunately what happens to organics when they end up in the landfill,” Shoats said.
Here's what you need to know to comply with the new law: Food scraps will now go into your green bin, the same one you use for yard waste and trimmings.
So what’s recyclable? Pretty much everything we eat like fruits vegetables, cooked meats, dairy, grains, even coffee grounds. Here’s what you don’t put in the green bin; liquids, like oils, grease, fat along with raw meat, plastic, paper and metal.
If you don't have a green bin you will now have to request one from your trash hauler, they will not automatically deliver one. Also, expect to see a small increase in your bill as cities pass rate hikes to help comply with the new law.
“We'll get used to this… it's not that difficult it just has us putting that product in a different location a different bin ultimately and I think it'll be something we all get used to and be a normal thing to do in our society,” Shoats said.
Not complying with the new law could result in your trash company issuing you notices or fines. But those penalties are not scheduled to take effect until 2024.
If you already do food composting at home you’ll still be allowed to do that.
source: https://www.ksbw.com/article/california-compost-faq-law-new-bin-food-waste/38679780
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