What is SB 1383? Senate Bill 1383 (SB 1383) is a law that was signed by Governor Brown in 2016 that sets methane emissions reduction targets for California (SB 1383 Lara, Chapter 395, Statutes of 2016) in a statewide effort to reduce emissions of short-lived climate pollutants (SLCP). Specifically, the law sets the following targets:

1. Fifty percent (50%) reduction in organic waste disposal by 2020 and seventy-five percent (75%) reduction by 2025.
2. Twenty percent (20%) recovery of all edible food for human consumption by 2025.

Who does SB 1383 impact? SB 1383 applies to every resident (single-family homes and apartments/condos) and business, although the requirements vary based on if you are a resident or business.   

How does SB 1383 impact residents? Every resident must have access and participate in an organics recycling program. Half Moon Bay residents living in single-family homes should have received a green, 96-gallon, collection cart from the City's Solid Waste Franchisee, Republic Services, as part of their base level of solid waste collection service. If you do not have a green compost cart, contact Republic Services to activate this service at no additional cost. 

Residents in condos and multi-family apartment buildings also have an allocated amount of organics recycling built into their solid waste rates and should work with their property management to ensure these services are available.  

How does SB 1383 impact businesses and apartment/condo complexes? 

If you own a business or apartment/condo complex (of five units or more), you are required to:*

1. Divert organic materials from the landfill by:
   • Subscribing to and participating in the organics collection service via Republic Services, or
   • Self-hauling organic waste to a specified composting facility, community composting program, or other collection activity or program.
2. Provide collection containers for organic waste and recyclables to employees, contractors, tenants, and customers.
   • Collection service must be arranged so that access to an adequate number, size, and location of containers with correct labels is available.
   • Provide indoor containers for organic waste and recyclables in all areas where disposal containers are provided for customers, except in restrooms (multi-family dwellings are exempt).
3. For all outdoor and indoor containers, the container bodies or lids shall conform to the following color scheme: gray/black for garbage, blue for recycling, and green for organics. In addition, containers shall have labels with graphic images to indicate primary materials accepted and prohibited. Republic Services may be able to provide these containers and labels at no additional cost.
4. Annually provide educational information about the legal requirements to compost and recycle including how to properly sort between the three waste streams. Contact Republic Services to request audits, trainings, and/or educational materials for your employees and apartment/condo residents.
5. Additionally, if you are a large, food-generating business or organization, you have to comply with the edible food recovery requirements under SB 1383. The City of Half Moon Bay has partnered with the other 22 jurisdictions in San Mateo County 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 this website to check if your business has a new edible food recovery requirements, learn about the countywide program, and access resources available to help you comply.

Why Did the State Pass SB 1383? 

California is experiencing the negative effects of climate change, which is caused by greenhouse gases (GHGs) like methane. Methane comes from the anaerobic breakdown of organic waste and is one of the most potent greenhouse gases over a 20 year period. In California, approximately two-thirds of our waste stream is made up of organic waste (~27 million tons). SB 1383 aims to reduce the amount of organic waste sent to the landfill, thereby reducing the amount of methane produced throughout the state.

Additional Resources:

• California Air Resources Board - About Short-Lived Climate Pollutants
• CalRecycle - California’s Short-Lived Climate Pollutant R
• CalRecycle Presentation Template - SB 1383: Reducing Short-Lived Climate Pollutants in California - An Overview of SB 1383's Organic Waste Reduction Requirements
• SB 1383 Legislative Text 

Questions? Contact Republic Services at 650-592-2411 or via e-mail.