California State Senate Bill 1383 requires the reduction of organic waste – food scraps and food-soiled paper, garden and landscape waste, organic textiles, carpets, and wood waste – disposed of in landfills. To comply with the bill making San Diego more sustainable for everyone, a new Organic Waste Recycling Program is being introduced for all City residents.

Representing the biggest change to trash and recycling in San Diego’s history, the new organic waste recycling program supports the City’s Zero Waste and Climate Action Plan goals.

Organic waste accounts for a significant portion of California’s waste stream and releases heat-trapping methane gas which contributes to climate change. Organic waste in landfills also emits air pollutants such as fine particulate matter, which contributes to health conditions like asthma.

To address these issues, SB 1383 was signed into law and targets the reduction of pollutants, including methane. Cities throughout California must meet the new reduction limits through organic waste reduction and recycling.

The City’s web page, OrganicWasteRecycleSD, includes multi-language resources to help you get started, such as workshops, a list of what goes where and tips to keep your green bin clean.

Following is a Q&A between Peninsula Beacon and Renee Robertson, director of the City’s Environmental Services Department, discussing what the new Organic Waste Recycling Program is all about:

Beacon: When will this Organic Waste Recycling Program begin?

City: The City started rolling out new green bins to City-serviced residential and business customers in January of this year. City-serviced residents in the following beach areas are next to receive expanded organics service:

June – La Jolla, Ocean Beach, Pacific Beach, University City, and Point Loma;

July – Del Mar, Carmel Valley, Scripps Ranch, Mira Mesa, and Sorrento Valley;

August – Rancho Peñasquitos, Rancho Bernardo, and Mission Beach.

A multi-language Curbside Organic Waste Recycling Guide is being sent to those homes, with information including what goes in the green bin and how to keep it clean. Organic waste recycling is a big shift in our habits, so we recommend starting with some easy wins, such as eggshells, coffee grounds, and fruit and vegetable peels. Then work your way up to some of the “ickier” items, like meat and dairy products and leftover meal scraps.

Beacon: What is the purpose of organic waste recycling?
City: Left to decompose in landfills, organic waste releases methane, a gas that traps the sun’s heat and warms the atmosphere. Decomposing organics emit 20% of the state’s methane, a climate super pollutant 84 times more potent than carbon dioxide. Organic waste recycling keeps food and yard waste out of landfill, which helps reduce the amount of methane released into the atmosphere.

Reducing what we throw in the trash also helps San Diego get closer to the City’s Climate Action Plan and Zero Waste Plan goals of zero waste by the year 2040. Zero waste means diverting as much material and resources from the landfill through reducing, reusing, recycling, and composting.

Beacon: What advantages does organic waste recycling present?

City: The most significant advantage is the immediate and positive impact it has on the environment. In fact, it is the single fastest, easiest, and most convenient thing a person can do to fight climate change. Another advantage is the local conversion of food and yard waste into compost, closing the loop and making it available again. The City’s award-winning Miramar Greenery turns organic materials into a nutrient-rich soil additive for local farmers and gardeners to grow food and plants. As a result of so much organic material being processed into compost, our soils are improved and erosion is reduced.

Bonus: City residents may self-load up to two cubic yards of compost or mulch for free with proof of residency.

Beacon: How will trash collection be handled differently under this program than it was previously?

City: Green bins will be collected weekly, on the same day as black trash bin collection (and from the same location). Collection from blue recycling bins will continue as normal, which is every other week.

TIPS TO KEEP YOUR GREEN BIN CLEAN

• Always keep the lid closed.
• If possible, keep your bin in a shaded area.
• If possible, delay adding food scraps to the outdoor bin until collection day.
• Freeze or refrigerate items until pickup day.
• Wrap leftover food in a newspaper, paper bag, or other food-soiled paper products.
• Sprinkle a layer of baking soda on top of organic waste if you notice odors.
• Line the bottom of your outdoor bin with newspaper, a paper bag, or yard waste to absorb excess moisture and prevent food from sticking to the bottom.

Rollout of City’s weekly organic waste recycling collection services:

• Kitchen pails are being delivered to all City-serviced residences.
• Green bins are being delivered to City-serviced residences not previously provided with them.
• When the green bin and kitchen pail arrive, each household can make a big environmental difference by collecting organic waste, discarding the contents into the green bin, and setting the green bin out for collection weekly at your normal trash collection location.
• Deliveries are scheduled based on your current trash collection day. Green bins will be placed on the street, next to the curb, in front of your residence.
• The distribution of new green bins for organic waste recycling will be rolled out by route. If you received a new green bin, you will have the option to exchange the container for a smaller or larger container size or to request an additional bin (requests will be reviewed for eligibility). Available green bin options are 35-gallon, 65-gallon, and 95-gallon sizes.

All bin requests can be made on the Get It Done app at sandiego.gov/get-it-done or by calling 858-694-7000.