SB 1383, a sweeping law that calls for a 75% reduction in organic waste disposal by 2025 to reduce methane emissions, has spurred a flurry of activity. Is the state’s current infrastructure ready?
By Cole Rosengren Lead Editor, WasteDive
Editor’s note: This is the first in a multipart series exploring the market effects of California’s sweeping organic waste reduction law, SB 1383.
California has enacted its most ambitious waste policy in decades, SB 1383, and the results could have implications for how organic waste is collected and managed far beyond the state.
SB 1383 is a key component of the state’s effort to mitigate short-lived climate pollutants such as methane. To do so, California’s Department of Resources Recycling and Recovery (CalRecycle) is requiring a 75% reduction in organic waste disposal by 2025. The lengthy regulations underpinning these targets contain numerous complex provisions around newer efforts such as procurement and edible food recovery. But the most visible change is already occurring along curbs and alleys throughout the state, as local jurisdictions must now facilitate comprehensive organics collection for all residents and businesses.
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The organics collection and processing requirements of SB 1383 are an immense undertaking, with CalRecycle in 2018 — prior to the current inflationary environment — estimating the policy could cost potentially $20.9 billion in the 12-year period leading up to 2030. At the same time, the agency anticipated a potential $17 billion economic benefit and thousands of new jobs created over that period.
All told, it’s estimated the state will need to keep 27 million tons of organics from going to disposal annually by 2025, and 18 million tons of that is not eligible for edible food recovery. The pandemic hasn’t helped local jurisdictions’ efforts, leading Gov. Gavin Newsom to sign a bill last year providing some leeway in the enforcement process.
The onus of this law falls on local governments, and the law imposes hefty financial penalties for noncompliance. Many local jurisdictions are having to implement double-digit rate increases to pay for new or expanded collection programs and new infrastructure. Even Bay Area cities with more established collection programs are still working to catch up with all of the law’s requirements. Jurisdictions are weighing choices about collection and processing that will stick with them for years to come. The need for hauling and recycling solutions has also kicked off major changes throughout the California waste and recycling industry.
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