Organic Waste Methane Emissions Reductions

In September 2016, Governor Brown signed SB 1383, establishing methane emissions reduction targets in a statewide effort to reduce emissions of short-lived climate pollutants (SLCP) in various sectors of California's economy. Actions to reduce short-lived climate pollutants are essential to address the many impacts of climate change on human health, especially in California's most at-risk communities, and on the environment. SB 1383 establishes targets to achieve a 50% reduction in the level of the statewide disposal of organic waste from the 2014 level by 2020 and a 75% reduction by 2025.

The SB 1383 regulations go into effect January 1, 2022. Following are the implementation dates and thresholds for the legislation:

• January 1, 2020: No later than this date, the state must achieve a 50 percent reduction in the level of the statewide disposal of organic waste from the 2014 level.
• July 1, 2020: By this date, CalRecycle, in consultation with the Air Resources Board, must analyze the progress that the waste sector, state government, and local governments have made in meeting the organic waste reduction targets for 2020 and 2025. If the Department determines that significant progress has not been made in meeting the targets, CalRecycle may include incentives or additional requirements in the regulations to facilitate progress toward achieving the organic disposal reduction targets. The Department may also recommend to the Legislature revisions to the targets
• January 1, 2022: CalRecycle’s regulations to meet the organic waste reduction targets for 2020 and 2025 take effect and are enforceable on this date.
• January 1, 2024: Effective on this date, the regulations may require local jurisdictions to impose penalties for noncompliance on generators within their jurisdiction.
• January 1, 2025: By this date, the state must achieve a 75 percent reduction in the level of the statewide disposal of organic waste from the 2014 level. In addition, not less than 20 percent of currently disposed edible food must be recovered for human consumption.