Pasadena Public Works to Detail Significant Progress Implementing Citywide Composting Programs Required by Pasadena’s Climate Action Plan

Pasadena’s Department of Public Works will report it is “making significant progress implementing” the City’s Solid Waste Reduction Program before the City’s Environmental Advisory Commission when it meets on Tuesday, June 14, starting at 6 p.m.

Solid Waste Reduction was earlier identified as a key climate strategy to reduce Pasadena’s greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, as part of the Pasadena Climate Action Plan (CAP).

In a memorandum submitted to the Environmental Advisory Commission, the Public Works Department focused on progress with two Pasadena CAP measures: a citywide composting program to limit the amount of organic material being thrown into landfills, and three-bin compost systems being placed at public parks to compost all trimmings and waste on-site.

These measures are in consonance with various state laws, such as AB 1826 signed in 2014 which requires all businesses to recycle their organic waste, and SB 1383 signed in 2016 expanding organic waste recycling and requiring a 50-percent reduction in organic waste disposal by 2020 and 75-percent by 2025.

SB 1383 also requires Pasadena and other local jurisdictions to provide adequate resources for the implementation of such programs as organic waste collection service to all residents and businesses, edible food recovery and donation for commercial food businesses, education and outreach on organic waste handling, and procuring certain levels of recyclable and recovered organic products.

After the City Council adopted the City’s organic recycling ordinance on March 14, councilmembers directed Public Works staff to bring the item back to the Environmental Advisory Commission to discuss organic processing and see if there are any recommended changes to the adopted ordinance.

As part of the report for Tuesday’s meeting of the EAC, Public Works will report how many of City residents are actively composting, taking advantage of a program by which the City offered to sell backyard composters at cost. Residents may also receive a free composter if they attend a compost workshop and show proof of residency, the Public Works Department said.

Staff will also report on the progress of a program to establish community compost hubs in Pasadena’s City parks – seven of them, with a composting hub in every Council District.

At these hubs, residents may drop off vegetative food scrap that will be turned into compost. These hubs, Public Works said in the report, are ideal for residents who do not have a backyard or time to compost on their own.

The EAC meeting begins at 6 p.m. and is accessible via https://us02web.zoom.us/j/86518101910 or by calling (669) 900-6833 and using the webinar ID 865 1810 1910.

Public comment may be sent by email to ahudgins@cityofpasadena.net.