Residents across California will soon see changes to the way organic waste is disposed of and recycled. Signed into law in 2016, California Senate Bill 1383 (SB 1383) established a statewide goal to reduce the amount of organic waste disposed of in landfills by 75%. The bill also set a goal to recover at least 20% of edible food waste by 2025.

Research has shown that greenhouse gases released by human activities, such as landfilling organics, like food and yard waste, contribute to climate change. To respond to the climate crisis, the state is requiring all California cities, including Lomita, to reduce organic material waste and rescue surplus food to feed Californians facing food insecurity starting on January 1, 2022.

Organic waste includes the following materials: food waste, green waste, landscape and pruning waste, non-hazardous wood waste, and food-soiled paper waste that is mixed in with food waste. Separating out these materials from regular trash, similar to separating recyclable materials, allows the City’s waste hauler, Athens Services, to repurpose these materials into value-add products like mulch, compost, healthy soil and other materials that help our environment as opposed to harm it.

Effective January 1, 2022, all single-family residential, multi-family residential and businesses will be required to participate in organic recycling. The City of Lomita, together with Athens Services, will launch a new Organics Recycling Program to help everyone navigate the requirements for this state-mandated measure, and to educate residents on the proper way to sort organic waste at home.

The Organics Recycling Program will:

  • Ask residents to dispose of their organic material in their existing green waste bin
  • Create opportunities for businesses, grocery stores and large restaurants to donate edible food to food banks for those in need
  • Reserve California’s valuable landfill space for only products that cannot be recycled
  • Reduce greenhouse gas emissions

The City of Lomita will provide extensive education to residents in the weeks and months ahead. Be on the lookout for important materials that come through your mailbox and inbox and visit our website for updates: LomitaCity.com/SB1383/

Starting on January 1, 2024 all residents and businesses in California including Lomita will be required to recycle their organic waste. Organic waste includes food scraps, food-soiled paper and green waste.

For more information on how this regulation will affect solid waste management, visit CalRecycle’s Organics homepage at CalRecycle.ca.gov/nav/organics.