by Magali Gauthier / Palo Alto Weekly
Uploaded: Mon, Jul 25, 2022, 9:50 am 6 Time to read: about 4 minutes
Embarcadero Media Chief Visual Journalist Magali Gauthier explains Senate Bill 1383, a state law that requires organic waste stops going to landfills and is processed in other ways. Video by Magali Gauthier.
On an early February morning, the sun rises as a huge trailer filled with food scraps, soiled paper and yard trimmings is hoisted to a near vertical position at Recology's Blossom Valley Organics composting facility in Vernalis in San Joaquin County. Immediately, 25 tons of organic waste tumbles out. It'll soon get sorted by machinery and workers to remove any inorganic materials from the mix. Then starts the two-month-long decomposition process before it becomes compost. About 1,500 tons of organic waste are delivered to the facility every day, including what's generated by Mountain View's commercial businesses.
California has a problem with organic waste in landfills, which is responsible for about one-fifth of the state's methane emissions. The state's solution: SB 1383, a law that went into effect in January that requires organic waste stops going to landfills and is processed in other ways. Recology's Vernalis facility is one example.
The law, which was signed in 2016 by Gov. Jerry Brown, sets targets for diverting organic waste from landfills. These targets are based on the 2014 benchmark of 23 million tons of disposed organic waste.
By 2020, California was supposed to divert 50% of its organic waste, or 11.5 million tons. According to CalRecycle, the state agency in charge of keeping the law on track, California did not meet that goal. It estimates the amount of organics going to landfills actually increased slightly over that 2014 baseline. By 2025, the state is supposed to divert 75% from 2014 levels.
Beyond diverting all the organic waste, the other issue is where to process it all. There are a total of 199 facilities, CalRecycle representatives said in an email earlier this year.
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But that's not enough to deal with the estimated 18 million tons that California wants diverted from landfills by 2025.
"CalRecycle estimates the state will have about 10 million tons of new organics processing capacity by 2025," the agency said in an email.
But that still leaves 8 million tons with nowhere to go.
This August, counties and cities across the state will need to have figured out how much organic waste they're generating and where it's going to be processed. Capacity reports are due to CalRecycle by Aug. 1.
Many Bay Area cities and counties already had composting ordinances prior to the law. So are people supposed to do anything differently? We've got answers to common questions about how this law impacts you now.
Are my trash rates going to go up because of this new law?
It depends where you live.
In Mountain View, "there are costs associated with SB 1383 that impact the city's trash rates," like the need for more infrastructure to expand compost collection routes, said Jennifer Cutter, the city's solid waste program manager, in an email. Paula Borges, Palo Alto's solid waste manager, said the city is not expecting rate increases due to SB 1383. Menlo Park's public engagement manager Clay Curtin, said rates are not expected to go up by a lot.
I don't have a countertop compost bin, do I need one?
You can use anything to hold your food scraps. A countertop compost bin is not required, but can be useful because it takes a few days to fill it up. An uncovered bowl on your kitchen counter may need to be emptied every day to avoid attracting bugs.
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Can I use one of those green compostable bags in my countertop bin? What about other compostable plastics?
It depends on where you live and what company services your waste.
GreenWaste of Palo Alto accepts all compostable bags and plastics in the organics bin as long as they are made from corn, potato and other starch and they must be labeled "compostable," according to the service's guide.
For customers in Portola Valley, Woodside and Atherton, mixed compostable plastics should go into the gray cart with food scraps. Everything gets sorted at GreenWaste's Materials Recovery Facility.
Customers serviced by Recology should note that BPI-certified compostable bags are accepted, "but we prefer paper," said Jocelyn Baird, Recology's waste zero manager for Mountain View.
Other types of compostable plastics are not welcome in the green bin. Why? They take longer to break down than food scraps, yard trimmings and soiled paper.
To avoid using compostable bags, lining your bins with paper napkins is a good way to soak up some of the liquid food scraps can create.
Can I compost meat and animal products? Is there anything I shouldn't be composting?
Yes. Both Recology and GreenWaste accept meat and animal products. Products made of glass and traditional plastic should never be placed in green bins. See more detailed lists for Recology at recology.com and for GreenWaste of Palo Alto at greenwasteofpaloalto.com.
If I compost, will it really help the climate crisis?
Landfills are responsible for one-fifth of the state's methane emissions. Even with Californians following SB 1383, there's not going to be a sudden dip in those emissions in the near future. That's because there's still a lot of organic waste already in landfills that is going to decompose and create methane.
The state expects that if Californians are consistent about diverting food and soiled papers and yard trimmings from landfills, methane emissions will decrease over time.
What happens if I don't start composting? Will I get fined?
It's mostly up to cities and counties to get us to change our behaviors around trash sorting. But the state is going to start fining cities and other jurisdictions that are not complying with the law, up to $10,000 per violation per day. By 2024, jurisdictions need to start imposing penalties on residential and commercial customers who don't follow the law.
A bullldozer goes to pick up unsorted organic waste at Recology's Blossom Valley Organics composting facility in Vernalis on Feb. 3, 2022. Mountain View's commerical organic waste is brought to this location for processing. Photo by Magali Gauthier.
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by Magali Gauthier / Palo Alto Weekly
Uploaded: Mon, Jul 25, 2022, 9:50 am On an early February morning, the sun rises as a huge trailer filled with food scraps, soiled paper and yard trimmings is hoisted to a near vertical position at Recology's Blossom Valley Organics composting facility in Vernalis in San Joaquin County. Immediately, 25 tons of organic waste tumbles out. It'll soon get sorted by machinery and workers to remove any inorganic materials from the mix. Then starts the two-month-long decomposition process before it becomes compost. About 1,500 tons of organic waste are delivered to the facility every day, including what's generated by Mountain View's commercial businesses. California has a problem with organic waste in landfills, which is responsible for about one-fifth of the state's methane emissions. The state's solution: SB 1383, a law that went into effect in January that requires organic waste stops going to landfills and is processed in other ways. Recology's Vernalis facility is one example. The law, which was signed in 2016 by Gov. Jerry Brown, sets targets for diverting organic waste from landfills. These targets are based on the 2014 benchmark of 23 million tons of disposed organic waste. By 2020, California was supposed to divert 50% of its organic waste, or 11.5 million tons. According to CalRecycle, the state agency in charge of keeping the law on track, California did not meet that goal. It estimates the amount of organics going to landfills actually increased slightly over that 2014 baseline. By 2025, the state is supposed to divert 75% from 2014 levels. Beyond diverting all the organic waste, the other issue is where to process it all. There are a total of 199 facilities, CalRecycle representatives said in an email earlier this year. But that's not enough to deal with the estimated 18 million tons that California wants diverted from landfills by 2025. "CalRecycle estimates the state will have about 10 million tons of new organics processing capacity by 2025," the agency said in an email. But that still leaves 8 million tons with nowhere to go. This August, counties and cities across the state will need to have figured out how much organic waste they're generating and where it's going to be processed. Capacity reports are due to CalRecycle by Aug. 1. Many Bay Area cities and counties already had composting ordinances prior to the law. So are people supposed to do anything differently? We've got answers to common questions about how this law impacts you now. Are my trash rates going to go up because of this new law? It depends where you live. In Mountain View, "there are costs associated with SB 1383 that impact the city's trash rates," like the need for more infrastructure to expand compost collection routes, said Jennifer Cutter, the city's solid waste program manager, in an email. Paula Borges, Palo Alto's solid waste manager, said the city is not expecting rate increases due to SB 1383. Menlo Park's public engagement manager Clay Curtin, said rates are not expected to go up by a lot. I don't have a countertop compost bin, do I need one? You can use anything to hold your food scraps. A countertop compost bin is not required, but can be useful because it takes a few days to fill it up. An uncovered bowl on your kitchen counter may need to be emptied every day to avoid attracting bugs. Can I use one of those green compostable bags in my countertop bin? What about other compostable plastics? It depends on where you live and what company services your waste. GreenWaste of Palo Alto accepts all compostable bags and plastics in the organics bin as long as they are made from corn, potato and other starch and they must be labeled "compostable," according to the service's guide. For customers in Portola Valley, Woodside and Atherton, mixed compostable plastics should go into the gray cart with food scraps. Everything gets sorted at GreenWaste's Materials Recovery Facility. Customers serviced by Recology should note that BPI-certified compostable bags are accepted, "but we prefer paper," said Jocelyn Baird, Recology's waste zero manager for Mountain View. Other types of compostable plastics are not welcome in the green bin. Why? They take longer to break down than food scraps, yard trimmings and soiled paper. To avoid using compostable bags, lining your bins with paper napkins is a good way to soak up some of the liquid food scraps can create. Can I compost meat and animal products? Is there anything I shouldn't be composting? Yes. Both Recology and GreenWaste accept meat and animal products. Products made of glass and traditional plastic should never be placed in green bins. See more detailed lists for Recology at recology.com and for GreenWaste of Palo Alto at greenwasteofpaloalto.com. If I compost, will it really help the climate crisis? Landfills are responsible for one-fifth of the state's methane emissions. Even with Californians following SB 1383, there's not going to be a sudden dip in those emissions in the near future. That's because there's still a lot of organic waste already in landfills that is going to decompose and create methane. The state expects that if Californians are consistent about diverting food and soiled papers and yard trimmings from landfills, methane emissions will decrease over time. What happens if I don't start composting? Will I get fined? It's mostly up to cities and counties to get us to change our behaviors around trash sorting. But the state is going to start fining cities and other jurisdictions that are not complying with the law, up to $10,000 per violation per day. By 2024, jurisdictions need to start imposing penalties on residential and commercial customers who don't follow the law.
On an early February morning, the sun rises as a huge trailer filled with food scraps, soiled paper and yard trimmings is hoisted to a near vertical position at Recology's Blossom Valley Organics composting facility in Vernalis in San Joaquin County. Immediately, 25 tons of organic waste tumbles out. It'll soon get sorted by machinery and workers to remove any inorganic materials from the mix. Then starts the two-month-long decomposition process before it becomes compost. About 1,500 tons of organic waste are delivered to the facility every day, including what's generated by Mountain View's commercial businesses.
California has a problem with organic waste in landfills, which is responsible for about one-fifth of the state's methane emissions. The state's solution: SB 1383, a law that went into effect in January that requires organic waste stops going to landfills and is processed in other ways. Recology's Vernalis facility is one example.
The law, which was signed in 2016 by Gov. Jerry Brown, sets targets for diverting organic waste from landfills. These targets are based on the 2014 benchmark of 23 million tons of disposed organic waste.
By 2020, California was supposed to divert 50% of its organic waste, or 11.5 million tons. According to CalRecycle, the state agency in charge of keeping the law on track, California did not meet that goal. It estimates the amount of organics going to landfills actually increased slightly over that 2014 baseline. By 2025, the state is supposed to divert 75% from 2014 levels.
Beyond diverting all the organic waste, the other issue is where to process it all. There are a total of 199 facilities, CalRecycle representatives said in an email earlier this year.
But that's not enough to deal with the estimated 18 million tons that California wants diverted from landfills by 2025.
"CalRecycle estimates the state will have about 10 million tons of new organics processing capacity by 2025," the agency said in an email.
But that still leaves 8 million tons with nowhere to go.
This August, counties and cities across the state will need to have figured out how much organic waste they're generating and where it's going to be processed. Capacity reports are due to CalRecycle by Aug. 1.
Many Bay Area cities and counties already had composting ordinances prior to the law. So are people supposed to do anything differently? We've got answers to common questions about how this law impacts you now.
Are my trash rates going to go up because of this new law?
It depends where you live.
In Mountain View, "there are costs associated with SB 1383 that impact the city's trash rates," like the need for more infrastructure to expand compost collection routes, said Jennifer Cutter, the city's solid waste program manager, in an email. Paula Borges, Palo Alto's solid waste manager, said the city is not expecting rate increases due to SB 1383. Menlo Park's public engagement manager Clay Curtin, said rates are not expected to go up by a lot.
I don't have a countertop compost bin, do I need one?
You can use anything to hold your food scraps. A countertop compost bin is not required, but can be useful because it takes a few days to fill it up. An uncovered bowl on your kitchen counter may need to be emptied every day to avoid attracting bugs.
Can I use one of those green compostable bags in my countertop bin? What about other compostable plastics?
It depends on where you live and what company services your waste.
GreenWaste of Palo Alto accepts all compostable bags and plastics in the organics bin as long as they are made from corn, potato and other starch and they must be labeled "compostable," according to the service's guide.
For customers in Portola Valley, Woodside and Atherton, mixed compostable plastics should go into the gray cart with food scraps. Everything gets sorted at GreenWaste's Materials Recovery Facility.
Customers serviced by Recology should note that BPI-certified compostable bags are accepted, "but we prefer paper," said Jocelyn Baird, Recology's waste zero manager for Mountain View.
Other types of compostable plastics are not welcome in the green bin. Why? They take longer to break down than food scraps, yard trimmings and soiled paper.
To avoid using compostable bags, lining your bins with paper napkins is a good way to soak up some of the liquid food scraps can create.
Can I compost meat and animal products? Is there anything I shouldn't be composting?
Yes. Both Recology and GreenWaste accept meat and animal products. Products made of glass and traditional plastic should never be placed in green bins. See more detailed lists for Recology at recology.com and for GreenWaste of Palo Alto at greenwasteofpaloalto.com.
If I compost, will it really help the climate crisis?
Landfills are responsible for one-fifth of the state's methane emissions. Even with Californians following SB 1383, there's not going to be a sudden dip in those emissions in the near future. That's because there's still a lot of organic waste already in landfills that is going to decompose and create methane.
The state expects that if Californians are consistent about diverting food and soiled papers and yard trimmings from landfills, methane emissions will decrease over time.
What happens if I don't start composting? Will I get fined?
It's mostly up to cities and counties to get us to change our behaviors around trash sorting. But the state is going to start fining cities and other jurisdictions that are not complying with the law, up to $10,000 per violation per day. By 2024, jurisdictions need to start imposing penalties on residential and commercial customers who don't follow the law.
I just throw fruit/vegetable peelings, egg shells, seafood shells and bones directly into the backyard garden. No need for any compost bin.
There's a young movement about using human bodies for composting that solve two problems. The human body, after it degrades naturally, makes great compost. Also, human compost helps grow tall trees, fast -- one of the things that is causing climate change is the lack of shade from all of the denuded forests. A bonus byproduct of this is we could save billions of acres that are otherwise used for mahogany boxes buried six feet under that do not degrade at all. Web Link
@MyFeelz While your idea/concept has some environmental logic, human compost would also pose a potential public health problem/issue depending upon how the body was disposed of and cause of death. Many people cremate and scatter ashes. This method works well in most cases providing one does not toss the ashes into the wind.
"By 2024, jurisdictions need to start imposing penalties on residential and commercial customers who don't follow the law." Ahh - the garbage can inspectors are on the way. Since animal waste has to go in garbage and not in the compost bin, they may have a messy job "pawing" through the trash.
Having visited with family/friends in other areas, I find that the rules are different everywhere. We seem to be able to compost a great deal more than other places. I still find it hard to believe that we are composting various paper products as well as animal bones and flesh which cannot be good for crops or even home grown produce. Perhaps we should be told exactly what our compost is being used for. Can we actually buy the compost for our own needs? How long does it take for our compost to be usable? Can we be sure that rodents and other scavengers are not attracted to the compost as it is breaking down? Can general compost such as we produce actually be used by organic farming techniques?
Greg, it's not my concept, that's why I posted the link. The concept is a real workable solution conceptualized by someone who applied science to solve multiple problems. Eliminate fossil fuels, and save a plot of land from going to waste. If you watch the video, you will see bodies being encased in pods where they are covered in other compostible natural plant material. The body takes a couple of months to decompose. All that's left after the process is complete is dirt. Safe dirt. No more dangerous than what you would buy in a bag at a big box store. Corpses that have had massive radiation or lived with a highly infectious disease like tuberculosis wouldn't be allowed. Washington, Oregon and Colorado have legalized the process, using the method as shown in the video. It's part of a "death positive" movement that strives for more death options -- or maybe to state differently, it opens up more avenues (and more affordable avenues, and more planet friendly ways) to dispose of a body (LEGALLY -- don't try this at home, practicing on your neighbors). Cremation requires as much fuel as a 600 mile trip in a car. Composting a body uses zero fuel and the best byproduct is useful for the planet. What you do with cremated ashes is your business but the ashes don't grow anything, they're just dead ashes. Compost can be used to grow plants that sustain life. Death and corpses are taboo subjects in most cultures. I hope I'm in OR, WA, or CO when I croak. CA is lagging behind in passing similar legislation.
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