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New Organic Waste Recycling Program
California State Senate Bill 1383 (SB 1383), requires the reduction of organic waste disposed of in landfills. Organic waste is food scraps and food-soiled paper from kitchens and food operations and yard waste such as garden and landscape waste, organic textiles and carpets and wood waste.
In order to comply with SB 1383, and to make San Diego a more sustainable and thriving place for everyone, the City of San Diego is pleased to introduce a new Organic Waste Recycling program for all City residents. The program – which represents the biggest change to trash and recycling in San Diego’s history – supports the City’s Zero Waste and Climate Action Plan goals.
Organic waste collection services for households serviced by the City of San Diego’s Environmental Services Department will begin in January 2023 and will continue as a phased rollout, with completion expected by mid-2023.
For information about when you can start participating in organic waste recycling, what items can go in the new green bin, and other vital details, please refer to the Organic Waste Recycling Frequently Asked Questions page.
Organic Waste Recycling Webinars and Workshops
Reason for Changes
According to the Environmental Protection Agency, organic waste accounts for a significant portion of California’s waste stream. Left to decompose in landfills, the organic waste releases methane, a gas that traps the sun’s heat, warms the atmosphere and contributes to climate change. Organic waste in landfills also emits air pollutants such as fine particulate matter (PM 2.5), which contributes to health conditions like asthma. To address this issue, Senate Bill 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.
Collection and Recycling
Implementing Senate Bill 1383 requires extensive procedural changes and significant coordination. The City of San Diego is developing collection operations, amending agreements with non-exclusive franchise haulers, amending the City’s municipal code, enacting building requirements, preparing enforcement responsibilities and strategizing public education and outreach efforts. Participation in this exciting new organic waste recycling program is vital to San Diego's future.
Food and yard waste collected will be recycled using:
- Composting facilities that make soil amendments, materials that are added to soil to change and improve it.
- Anaerobic digestion facilities, technology and microorganisms break down organic waste in closed spaces where there is no oxygen and create renewable natural gas.
Homes Serviced by the City
The City of San Diego is proud to introduce 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 that have not previously been provided with a green bin.
- When the green bin and kitchen pail arrive, each household can make a big difference for the environment 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.
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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 a 35-gallon, 65-gallon and 95-gallon.
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All bin requests can be made on the Get It Done app at sandiego.gov/get-it-done or by calling 858-694-7000.
Estimated Delivery Schedule for Homes Serviced by the City of San Diego
| Current Trash Collection Day | Delivery Months | Total Green Bins to be Delivered |
|---|---|---|
| Wednesday | January - February | 64,224 |
| Thursday | March - April | 62,696 |
| Friday | May - June | 51,207 |
| Monday | June - July | 44,743 |
| Tuesday | July - August | 44,772 |
| Total: | 267,642 |
Helpful Resources to Prepare for Your New Green Bin and Kitchen Pail
Helpful Resources After You Receive Your New Green Bin and Kitchen Pail
Curbside Organic Waste Recycling Guide
Welcome to your new green bin!
Organic Waste Recycling Steps
Helpful tips to prevent any odors or buildup in the new green bin can be found here.
Businesses and Multifamily Serviced by a Private Hauler
Organic waste recycling options for businesses and multifamily apartments and condominiums serviced by a private hauler:
- Contact City-approved franchise haulers or certified recyclers to request new organic waste recycling containers and service needs.
- Contract with a gardening or landscaping service provider to self-haul yard and landscape trimmings and nonhazardous wood waste off your property.
City staff can provide helpful tips and technical assistance for successful setup of organic waste recycling at your site. Please contact sdrecyclingworks@sandiego.gov or 858-694-7000.
Please visit the City Recycling Ordinance page for detailed information on complying with the new organic waste recycling requirements.
Food Waste Prevention and Reduction
These downloadable and printable guides provide tips on how to prevent food waste in both commercial and residential kitchens.
Commercial Food Waste Prevention
Food Storage Best Practices
Date Labels Explained
Freezer-Friendly Food Tips
Edible Food Recovery from Businesses
California is working towards a 2025 goal to redirect and donate 20% of edible food to those in need. SB 1383 categorizes regulated food donors into two tiers that must start donating surplus edible food in 2022 and 2024 to food recovery organizations.
Commercial Edible Food Generators
Tier One Businesses - Effective January 1, 2022
- Supermarkets with gross annual sales of $200,000 or more.
- Grocery Stores with a facility size of 10,000 square feet or more.
- Food Service Providers.
- Food Distributors.
- Wholesale Food Vendors.
Tier Two Businesses - Effective January 1, 2024
- Restaurant with 250 or more seats, or a total facility size equal to or greater than 5,000 square feet.
- Hotel with an on-site food facility and 200 or more rooms.
- Health facility with an on-site food facility and 100 or more beds.
- Large venue.
- Large event.
- A state agency with a cafeteria with 250 or more seats or a total cafeteria facility size equal to or greater than 5,000 square feet.
- A local education agency with an on-site food facility.
Additional Resources for Commercial Edible Food Generators:
- Food recovery frequently asked questions
- List of food recovery organizations in the City of San Diego
- 2022 Food recovery requirements for Tier One businesses (English)
- 2022 Requisitos para la recuperación de alimentos para los negocios de Primer Nivel (Spanish)
- 2022 Mga kinakailangan sa pagbabawi ng pagkain para sa mga negosyong Tier One (Tagalog)
- Các yêu cầu về thu hồi thực phẩm đối với các doanh nghiệp Cấp Một năm 2022 (Vietnamese)
Food Recovery Organizations
Food recovery organizations and services that receive and collect excess edible food (that would otherwise be disposed) from commercial edible food generators are subject to recordkeeping, reporting and outreach requirements as outlined in the Recycling Ordinance. Find the details of these designations and their corresponding requirements below:
Food Recovery Organizations: groups collecting or receiving edible food from commercial edible food generators with a written food recovery agreement.
Food Recovery Services: groups collecting and transporting edible food from commercial edible food generators with a written food recovery agreement. (Food recovery services transport food to food recovery organizations).
Requirements for Food Recovery Organizations
- Maintain records of the following for each commercial edible food generator from which the organization receives edible food:
- Name.
- Address.
- Contact information.
- Pounds per month of edible food received.
- Maintain records of the following for each food recovery service from which the organization receives edible food:
- Name.
- Address.
- Contact information.
- Submit an annual report by Jan. 31 of each year to the City of San Diego Environmental Services Department with the above information including the quantities of edible food received reported in pounds per year (see reporting form below).
- Provide written information of California and Federal Good Samaritan Food Donation Act protection to commercial edible food generators from which the Organization collects edible food.
Requirements for Food Recovery Services
- Maintain records of the following for each commercial edible food generator from which the service collects edible food:
- Name.
- Address.
- Contact information.
- Pounds per month of edible food collected.
- Maintain records of the following for each food recovery organization to which the service transports edible food
- Name.
- Address.
- Contact information.
- Pounds per month of edible food transported.
- Submit an annual report by Jan. 31 of each year to the City of San Diego Environmental Services Department with the information above including the quantities of edible food collected and transported reported in pounds per year (see reporting form below).
- Provide written information of California and Federal Good Samaritan Food Donation Act protection to commercial edible food generators from which the Service collects edible food.
Annual Reporting Form
Annual reports are for the period of Jan. 1 - Dec. 31 and are due on Jan. 31 of each year, commencing in 2023.
You may complete and submit an annual report here.
Additional Resources for Food Recovery Organizations and Services:
Collection and Organic Waste Recycling Options, Signs and Education Handouts
Organic Waste Recycling Options
- Organic waste recycling collection - Approved hauler list for businesses and multifamily properties with private hauler service
- Facility list for self-haul drop-off to recycle yard waste and nonhazardous wood for mulching or composting
- Community composting drop-off sites
Signage
If you're serviced by a private waste hauler, they can also provide signs for your property.
Food Scrap Recycle Sign
- Letrero de reciclaje de residious de comida (English and español)
- Sign ng pagre-recycle ng natirang pagkain (English and Tagalog)
- Dấu hiệu tái chế phế liệu thực phẩm (English and Vietnamese)
Recycle Sign
- Letrero de reciclaje (English and español)
- Sign mag-recycle (English and Tagalog)
- Dấu hiệu tái chế (English and Vietnamese)
Landfill Trash Sign
- Letrero de basura (English and español)
- Sign para sa basura (English and Tagalog)
- Dấu hiệu thùng rác (English and Vietnamese)
Education Handouts
- SB 1383 overview handout - For commercial businesses (English and español)
- SB 1383 overview handout - For multifamily apartment and condo owners and managers to provide to residents (English and español)
Resources and Help
Tips for keeping your green bin clean
Get more information and assistance by contacting the Environmental Services Department at sdrecyclingworks@sandiego.gov or 858-694-7000. For program updates, please continue to check this page.
Visit CalRecycle to learn more about the statewide SB 1383 organic waste recycling and edible food recovery requirements.