Council to Conduct First Reading of Organics Recycling Ordinance

The City Council on Monday will conduct the first reading of an ordinance designed to bring the city in compliance with a new organics recycling law.

SB 1383 requires jurisdictions expand organic waste recycling, reduce the amount of organic material going to landfills, and thereby reduce greenhouse gasses such as methane that significantly contribute to climate change.

The new law also requires a 75% reduction in organic waste by 2025. Under the new law, cities in California are required to provide organic waste collection service to all residents and businesses.

Under the law, the city must provide adequate resources for the implementation of organic waste collection service to all residents and businesses, establish edible food recovery and donation programs for supermarkets, wholesale food vendors, hospitals, large venues, large restaurants, commercial edible food generators.

The city must also conduct education and outreach to all organic waste generators;, procure certain levels of recyclable and recovered organic products; and monitor compliance and, effective January 1, 2024, conduct enforcement.

“With this action, the fiscal impact to the City’s Refuse Fund is anticipated to be about $400,000 per year,” according to a city staff report. “Currently, there are sufficient funds in the refuse fund account 40622088 to absorb these costs through the next fiscal year.”

A comprehensive rate study will be performed in 2022 to determine the overall cost of providing service and corresponding rate adjustments to cover continued operating costs and reserves as required. The last solid waste rate study was performed in 2010, with rates last updated in 2012. Staff will utilize the existing budget to provide technical assistance to impacted businesses and conduct community outreach and educate the public via print ads publicizing the new ordinance and new program best practices.

Earlier this year,  Pasadena residents were required to bag their food waste and put it into the existing green waste container starting on January 1 after the City launched a new mandatory Food Waste Recycling Program in accordance with the law.

In a letter sent out earlier, the City reminded residents about its new Food Waste Recycling Program, and advised them to not place food waste directly into the green waste container “in order to prevent green waste contamination and avoid additional processing costs.”

“Clear plastic bags are recommended but not required and are available at local retailers and online sales outlets.” the letter said. “Organic waste is mainly comprised of food scraps and yard waste such as landscape waste, green waste and pruning waste.”