WHAT IS SB 1383?

In September 2016, former Governor Jerry Brown signed into law Senate Bill 1383 (SB 1383) establishing a statewide effort to reduce emissions of short-lived climate pollutants (SLCP).  The law specifically sets the following targets:

• Reduce statewide disposal of organic waste by 50% by January 1, 2020 and by 75% by January 1, 2025 (based on 2014 disposal levels).
• Recover and redistribute at least 20% of currently disposed edible food for human consumption by 2025.

CalRecycle, the state agency responsible for creating the regulatory standards for SB 1383, has established the following key dates:

• Effective January 1^st, 2022: CalRecycle’s regulations to meet statewide organics reduction and food recovery requirements take effect.  
• Effective January 1^st, 2024: Regulations may require local jurisdictions to impose penalties for non-compliance on regulated businesses.

WHY ORGANIC WASTE?

When organic waste, such as food, green waste, and paper products decompose in a landfill, they produce methane gas – a potent greenhouse gas pollutant.  The intent of the organic waste diversion goal is to reduce the emissions of methane gas to combat global climate change.

WHAT CHANGES SHOULD RESIDENTS EXPECT?

• Mandatory Recycling – SB 1383 requires all residents to subscribe to and participate in the City’s recycling and organics curbside collection service.  For the majority of Vacaville residents, organics and recycling services have been in place for several years, though some may not be utilizing it to its full potential.  Residents are now required by law sort out their recyclables and organic waste from the trash.  Proper sorting of waste will be monitored annually though random collection route reviews.  If improper sorting is found, a notice will be provided to the resident, along with additional resources and educational materials.  Beginning in 2024, repeated instances of improper sorting may result in further enforcement actions, including financial penalties.
• Cart Colors and Labels – Recology Vacaville Solano provides trash, recycling, and organics carts to all residents for their weekly waste collection.  SB 1383 requires that those carts meet specific requirements:
  • Cart Colors:  Garbage carts must be gray or black, recycling carts must be blue, and organics carts must be green.  Fortunately, all carts within the City of Vacaville are already compliant with this requirement.
  • Cart Labels: Carts must be clearly labeled to show which materials are allowed and prohibited in the container.  As old carts are replaced or carts are deployed to new customers, residents will begin to notice color coded labels on their carts.  If a resident would like to request labels for their carts, please contact the City of Vacaville Solid Waste and Recycling Office at (707) 469-6509, or email recycling@cityofvacaville.com.
• Complimentary Kitchen Pails – For added convenience, Recology Vacaville Solano will be distributing free kitchen pails to all single-family residential customers.  Kitchen pails provide easy collection and disposal of kitchen scraps into the organics cart.  Residents can expect to receive their free kitchen pail in December 2021.

WHAT CHANGES CAN LEISURE TOWN RESIDENTS EXPECT?

SB 1383 requires that all residents subscribe to and participate in the City’s organics and recycling services, which means more significant changes for our Leisure Town customers. For those that currently subscribe to garbage service only, blue recycling and green organics carts will be arriving in December 2021.  Here are some things to know about these changes:

• Cart Sizes – A variety of service and cart options are available for Leisure Town customers.  By default, all customers will receive three 32-gallon carts. These smaller carts are optimal for limited space or those who have difficulty maneuvering larger carts.  For customers who prefer to upsize one or all of their carts, there are options available to do so.  Each resident will be able to customize their service to fit their needs.  Leisure Town customers will be contacted by mail to make their cart selections in November 2021 and delivery of the carts is scheduled for late December 2021.
• Service Days – There are no changes to the service days in Leisure Town.  Once residents receive their three carts, all three will be serviced on the same day.
• Free Kitchen Pail – Leisure Town customers will receive a complimentary kitchen pail to conveniently collect and transport their kitchen scraps to their green organics bin.
• Low-Capacity Trucks – Due to the unique construction of the streets in Leisure Town, the weekly use of standard garbage trucks would result in damage to the streets, therefore Leisure Town customers will be serviced by smaller “pony” trucks. 
• Rates – Due to the use of the smaller “pony” trucks, Leisure Town customers will be charged at a special Low Capacity Truck Rate.  Depending on each customer’s current service level and the cart sizes selected for the three carts, customers in Leisure Town can expect a minimal rate increase ranging from $0.15 to $1.24 per month.

RESOURCES

Want to know more about SB 1383?  Visit www.calrecycle.ca.gov/Climate/SLCP/.    

For questions about service changes, please contact Recology Vacaville Solano at (707) 448-2945.

For all other questions, contact the City of Vacaville Solid Waste and Recycling Office at (707) 469-6509 or email us at recycling@cityofvacaville.com.