Starting in 2024, householders should be aware that they can be fined for not separating their food waste.
Media channel KCRA announced on January 3 that in certain situations, discarding food scraps from your kitchen into the garbage might violate a California law. From 2024 onwards, according to SB 1383 (which addresses short-lived climate pollutants, methane emissions, dairy and livestock, organic waste, and landfills), cities have the authority to penalize individuals for failing to recycle their food waste.
Under SB1383, organics must now be disposed of separately in dedicated “green bins,” meaning that food waste must be separated from landfill and recyclables.
Organic waste includes all compostable materials such as leftovers, coffee grounds, egg shells, banana peels, and more.
Violations of this law can result in fines of up to $500 per day for individuals or businesses. Local governments that fail to enforce the law could also face fines up to $10,000 per day per violation.
SB1383 includes provisions for food donation to prevent waste. The law mandates that food businesses, such as grocery stores and restaurants, donate edible food that would otherwise be discarded to food recovery organizations, which will distribute it to low-income residents facing food shortages.
The city of Sacramento in Northern California is already installing cameras on garbage trucks to inspect trash contents.
Los Angeles has been replacing black (trash), green (organics), and blue (recyclables) bins in homes since 2022.
Currently, local governments are prioritizing outreach and education over enforcement.
“Enforcement is not intended to punish or penalize residents,” said Jesa David, Media and Communications Specialist at the City of Sacramento. “We will continue to encourage and help people separate their trash so that everyone is properly informed.”
“Residential and commercial property managers should inform their tenants about the implementation of SB1383 and what to expect,” said a representative from the nonprofit StopWaste. “Nonprofits are also actively distributing educational materials to residents about the importance of SB1383 and its enforcement.”
SB1383 was signed by former Governor Jerry Brown in 2016. The law aims to reduce methane emissions and landfill waste, with a goal to decrease statewide organic waste by over 75 percent by 2025.
BY YEOL JANG, JUNHAN PARK [jang.yeol@koreadaily.com]
