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Santa Barbara County’s Mandatory Food Scraps Collection Service and Edible Food Donation.

SB 1383 is a California bill aimed at reducing methane emissions through the increased recycling of organic waste. The regulations require a 50% reduction statewide in the disposal of organic waste by 2020 and a 75% reduction by 2025. Additionally, SB 1383 mandates that 20% of currently disposed edible food be recovered for human consumption by 2025.

WHAT

  • SB 1383 is a California bill aimed at reducing methane emissions through the increased recycling of organic waste. The regulations require a 50% reduction statewide in the disposal of organic waste by 2020 and a 75% reduction by 2025. Additionally, SB 1383 mandates that 20% of currently disposed edible food be recovered for human consumption by 2025.
    There are two key pieces to this bill:
  • Organic waste reduction and diversion
  • Edible food recovery

WHO

  • All businesses that create organic waste, including food scraps, and green waste, will be required to recycle organic waste starting in 2022. Some will also be required to recover food for donation. Businesses that must develop food donation programs include the following:

Tier 1
(Starting January 1, 2022)
- Supermarkets
- Grocery Stores with Facilities ≥ 10,000 sq. ft.
- Food Service Providers
- Food Distributors
- Wholesale Food Vendors

Tier 2
(Starting January 1, 2024)
- Restaurants with Facilities ≥ 5,000 sq. ft. or 250+ seats
- Hotels with an On-Site Food Facility and 200+ Rooms
- Health Facilities with an On-Site Food Facility and 100+ Beds
- Large Venues and Events
- State Agency Cafeterias with Facilities ≥ 5,000 sq. ft. or 250+ seats
- Local Education Agency with an On-Site Food Facility
- Non-Local Entities

WHY

  • When organic waste enters the landfill, it emits methane gas. Methane gas is a potent greenhouse gas, and is known as a short-lived climate pollutant (SLCP). With the implementation of these new regulations, all organic waste generators will be required to prevent, reduce the generation of, and recycle organic waste.

How

  • With the County’s new ReSource Center opening in the second half of 2021, along with MarBorg’s affordable and easy service options, we can divert huge amounts of organics from the landfill. 75,000 tons of material will be turned into compost annually, and the methane gas created in the process will be used to generate clean electricity for the facility. Additionally, the recovery of edible food will increase and get food out to those who most need it.

Contact the County today to get in compliance by arranging for food scraps collection service and edible food donation for your business!

Food Scraps Collection Service:
Sam Dickinson and Tori Kampmann

Food Recovery:
Kaitlyn Haberlin and Tori Kampmann

Peruse our other organics and ReSource Center pages for more information on organic waste in Santa Barbara County.

Check out CalRecycle's SB 1383 video here: