Organics Recycling

California Senate Bill (SB) 1383 requires all residents, businesses, and multi-family properties to recycle all organic waste, including food waste, paper, cardboard, yard waste.

The law aims to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by diverting the amount of organic waste sent to landfills through collection of material and recovery of edible food. When organic material is landfilled, it breaks down and produces methane, a potent greenhouse gas (GHG).

Learn about the Organics Recycling Program for Businesses and Multi-Family Properties.

FAQs

What laws require organics recycling?

There are two State laws that require organics Recycling: Assembly Bill (AB) 1826 and Senate Bill (SB) 1383.

SB 1383 is a State law aimed at reducing the amount of organic waste sent to landfills by 75% statewide and to recover 20% of edible food statewide that would otherwise be sent to landfills. SB 1383 requires all businesses, multi-family properties, and residents to subscribe to organic waste collection services. The regulations also require some businesses to donate excess edible food. The regulations became effective January 1, 2022.

AB 1826 is the State law that requires mandatory organics recycling for commercial businesses that generate 2 or more cubic yards of solid waste per week. This law has been effective since January 2016 and was originally set up with a tiered approach to target the largest organic waste generators before scaling to most businesses. AB 1826 will be eclipsed by the requirements of SB 1383.

What is Organic Waste?

Organic waste refers to food scraps, yard waste, non-hazardous wood waste, and paper.

In the recycling business, the term “organic waste” or “organics” has a meaning different from the term “organic” in farming. In farming, an “organic” product is one grown without chemically formulated fertilizers, growth stimulants, antibiotics, or pesticides.

Why is SB 1383 important?

Organics like food scraps, yard trimmings, paper, and cardboard make up half of what Californians dump in landfills. Organic waste in landfills releases:

20% of the state’s methane, a climate super pollutant 84 times more potent than carbon dioxide.
Air pollutants like PM 2.5, which contribute to health conditions like asthma.

Recycling organic waste and recovering edible food is a fast track to fighting climate change and improving public health and the environment.

By doing our part to comply with SB 1383, Ventura will help mitigate the climate crisis.

View All FAQs

Get Started

Know what’s required: New state legislation requires all businesses, multi-family properties and residents to participate in a recycling and organics recycling collection program*. Assembly Bill (AB) 341, AB 1826 also apply to businesses and multi-family properties. These requirements are codified via amendments to City Code Chapter 6.500.

*Businesses may also choose to self-haul or back-haul their organic waste to a processing facility if they meet specific tracking requirements. If your business self-hauls or backhauls organic waste, submit a Certification of Recycling Service to provide documentation of self-hauling or back-hauling.

Contact the City’s waste hauler: Determine what service levels are best for your property by calling Donald Sealund with EJ Harrison & Sons at (805) 647-1414 ext. 4318.

Free Tools and Resources

For Businesses

Request Indoor Food Waste Bins: Request free indoor bins to help make separating food waste from other materials a breeze.
Request Container Stickers: Order free stickers and place them on new and existing indoor waste and recycling containers.
Customizable Employee Memo: Use a customizable employee memo to help notify and remind employees about business recycling practices.
Flyers for Employees: Remind employees about recycling practices with a helpful diagram.
Recycling Guideline Posters: Help employees understand what bins should be used for trash, organics, and recyclable materials by posting recycling signs in common areas or near disposal sites.
Recording of November 2021 Workshop for Businesses and Multi-Family Properties

For Multi-Family Properties

Recycling Guideline Posters: Help tenants understand what bins should be used for trash, organics, and recyclable materials by posting recycling signs in common areas or near disposal sites.
Customizable Lease Addendum: Use a customizable recycling addendum for lease agreements to encourage new residents to recycle and establish recycling habits.
Customizable Email Reminder for Tenants: Use a customizable email reminder to encourage residents to recycle and establish recycling habits.
Program Poster for Tenants: Help tenants understand the basics of the food waste recycling program and how to participate.
Schedule a City sponsored pop-up event: Provide resources and educate tenants through a small community event in partnership with City staff. Send us an email at [email protected] to schedule an event.
Request kitchen collection pails: Free kitchen collection pails are available. Send us an email at [email protected] to request bulk delivery for your property.