January 09, 2022
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Thinking green: California's compost law brings big change to trash - Bakersfield Now

State Senate Bill 1383 took effect on Jan. 1, requiring Californians to compost organic materials in order to reduce food waste and greenhouse gas emissions.
State Senate Bill 1383 took effect on Jan. 1, requiring Californians to compost organic materials in order to reduce food waste and greenhouse gas emissions.

BAKERSFIELD, Calif. (KBAK/KBFX) — California's newest sustainability law is encouraging millions of Californians to rethink how they handle their food waste.

State Senate Bill 1383, which became law on Jan. 1, requires all residents and businesses to separate organic and compostable waste. City Public Information Officer Joe Conroy said many people have questions about what they can and can't compost.

It kind of reminds me of when the city implemented the blue bins for recycling. Before that, recycling was handled differently. It’s one of those things that’s a change at the start, but pretty soon, you get used to how to do it," Conroy said.

Materials like fruits, vegetables, cooked meats, as well as soiled paper products like dirty napkins and fast-food containers will all need to be tossed into the green bin.

Items you can compost:

  • Fruits and vegetables
  • Eggshells
  • Coffee grounds and filters
  • Teabags
  • Nutshells
  • Shredded newspaper
  • Cardboard
  • Paper

The law was originally passed in 2016 under then-Gov. Jerry Brown. Lawmakers say the purpose of the law is to reduce harmful greenhouse gas emissions and landfill materials, aiming to reduce food waste in landfills by 75% by 2025.

Food that sits in landfills produces methane, a harmful greenhouse gas that is a contributor to climate change. According to Our World in Data, roughly 6% of greenhouse gases are attributed to food waste.

Conroy says the city has been working on composting initiatives for a while.

“We’ve been doing outreach with commercial businesses for about 4 years now. So it’s been something that’s been on our mind, on our radar, and want to make sure people are aware of it," Conroy said.

Here in Bakersfield, organic waste will be composted at the Mount Vernon Green Waste Facility. All residents and businesses are required to have a green compost bin.

"If you’re a customer for our trash and recycling services, you should either have one or you should be able to get one. In fact, you can call up our solid waste division and get a bin from them if you don’t have one already," Conroy said.

Apartment complexes will also need to start setting up composting systems to follow state guidelines. In 2024, the state will start enforcing the law by fining those who compost incorrectly.

In the meantime, the city and state are working to educate and help people with the transition.



source: https://bakersfieldnow.com/news/local/thinking-green-californias-compost-law-brings-big-change-to-trash

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