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SB 1383: State Organics Regulation

Quick Links: 
- If you would like to enroll in composting, contact Recology here.
- If you would like to apply for a waiver, contact RethinkWaste here.

WHAT IS SB 1383?

SB 1383 is a statewide effort to reduce emissions of short-lived climate pollutants (such as methane from landfills). SB 1383 sets the following targets:

  • Reduce the amount of organic waste going to landfills by 50% by , 2020 and by 75% by  2025.
  • Rescue at least 20% of edible food that is currently going to landfills.
Organic waste is food, landscape trimmings, lumber, cardboard, paper products, and other plant and animal based products.

In San Mateo County, 71% of waste landfilled is organic material. When organic waste breaks down in landfills it produces methane, a potent climate super pollutant. When instead, organic waste is composted it produces compost - a nutritious resource for soil and agriculture. SB 1383 will divert organic waste from the landfill, reduce methane emissions, and help achieve California's climate goals. SB 1383 expands upon the requirements of AB 341: Mandatory Commercial Recycling and AB 1926: Mandatory Commercial Organics.

SB 1383 REQUIREMENTS

All residents and businesses will need to comply with SB 1383. Everyone will be required to divert their organic waste from the landfill through composting.  

What does this mean for residents?
Single-family homes in Burlingame are already enrolled in Recology's composting program.  Residents must compost all organic waste in their green bins. 

Multifamily building owners need to enroll in Recology's composting program. Recology will provide multifamily buildings with the necessary green composting bins and  outreach materials for tenants. Contact Recology to set up composting.

What does this mean for businesses?
All businesses are required to set up a composting service and provide labeled collection bins for organic waste and recyclables next to trashcans for employees, tenants, and customers.

To set up compost service with Recology,  contact Recology San Mateo County 

Examples of Organic Materials for Composting:
- all food scraps
- baked goods
- coffee grounds
- tea bags
- paper bags
- paper food ware (cups, plates, napkins,)
- paper take-out boxes
- pizza boxes
-toothpicks
- wooden chopsticks
- popsicle sticks
- landscape and plant trimmings like grass, flowers, leaves, branches, wood.

Waiver Opportunities
SB 1383 is a statewide mandate and no exemption waivers are granted for individual residents. Business owners that produce little waste (less than 20 gallons of organic waste/week) or have restrictive space limitations may apply for a waiver. Contact Rethink Waste for more details and to apply for a waiver.

Waste Partners
SB 1383 requires expansive changes in waste collection and will significantly impact how organic waste is handled in California. Fortunately in Burlingame, our waste partners will assist the City in being compliant with SB 1383.

  • SBWMA, also known as Rethink Waste, will manager overall compliance with SB 1383 on behalf of Burlingame, including: record keeping, contract management with Recology, and outreach and education.
  • Recology, our waste hauler will work to enroll all residents and businesses with a composting program.
  • County of San Mate Office of Sustainability, will develop an edible food recovery program for the City and assist with outreach and enforcement.

Food Recovery Program
SB 1383 requires jurisdictions to enforce a food recovery program requiring large food-service businesses, like grocery stores and hotels, to donate surplus edible food to food recovery organizations. As part of a countywide effort, the County of San Mateo Office of Sustainability is leading this program on behalf of Burlingame.

Edible food recovery means diverting surplus edible food from businesses, organizations, or events that would otherwise be disposed. The food instead gets distributed for consumption to community organizations.

If you are a large, food-generating business or organization you have new edible food recovery requirements under SB 1383.The City of Burlingame has joined with San Mateo County’s 22 other jurisdictions to create one countywide edible food recovery program to help all affected businesses and organizations meet their new mandatory requirements. This program is managed by the County of San Mateo Office of Sustainability and has recovered millions of pounds of food to date!

Visit https://www.smcsustainability.org/generator-edible-food-recovery-requirements to learn if your business has new edible food recovery requirements, the countywide program, and resources available to help you comply.

Procure Recovered Organics Products
SB 1383 requires jurisdictions to support organic recycling by committing to divert and procure organic products. SB 1383 regulations call for Burlingame to:
  • Purchase a specified amount of compost, mulch, or biogas annually.
  • Purchase recycled-content paper when purchasing paper.
  • Comply with the State's Construction and Demolition Ordinance which requires that 60% of construction debris, like lumber, be diverted from the landfill.
  • Comply with the State's Model Water Efficient Landscape Ordinance which requires that compost and mulch be used in landscaping.

Education and Outreach
Burlingame will be working with its waste partners on a coordinated outreach effort to educate residents and businesses on SB 1383 and composting. 

Compliance and Enforcement
SB 1383 will begin to be enforceable in 2024. When enforcement starts in 2024, the City will be authorized to penalize entities that do not comply with SB 1383.

City of Burlingame SB 1383 Ordinances adopted in 2021.

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