CLARITY: 2022 ushers in a series of new laws and rules regarding your family’s contribution to climate change. California Senate Bill 1383 requires city landfills reduce organic waste by 75%.
This means, leftover fruit, vegetables and other food scraps may not be thrown in the trash. Required by law, they must be recycled.
As of January 1, 2022, residential and commercial customers across the city are required to keep food scraps out of trash bins. All organic waste must be placed in your green recycle bin.
The education campaign to inform residents about the new law will ramp up in 2022 and continue through 2023. Fines and strict enforcement of the law will not be carried out until 2024.
At its December 20 meeting, Simi Valley City Council unanimously approved the waste recycling requirement.
To help the public adjust, Waste Management and city staff are partnering to develop a variety ways to inform residents and businesses about the new waste recycling rules.
Organic waste includes all food waste such as fruits, vegetables and meats, as well as grass cuttings, tree branches, wood and paper products.
The new law also requires supermarkets, grocery stores, restaurants and schools to recover at least 20% of ‘still edible’ food products and donate that food beginning in 2024. They are also required to report their recovery numbers to the city, which will give that information to the state. Potentially, this requirement opens the door to fines and other consequences for failing to comply.
What do you think about having to separate your table scraps to stop climate change? Leave a comment below.
