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How Is California's 'Compost Law' Going For You?
A huge pile of finished compost at Recology's composting facility near Bakersfield. The company sells about 300,000 pounds of compost to nearby farms every year.
(
Alborz Kamalizad
/
LAist
)
Topline:
In 2022, a California law went into effect requiring that food waste be kept out of landfills. But two years later, implementation has been inconsistent. We want to know what it’s been like for you.
What is the compost law? Officially called SB 1383, it made California the second state in the U.S. after Vermont to make large-scale composting required by law — the biggest change to the state’s waste management since curbside recycling. The law requires all cities, counties, institutions, residents, and businesses to divert food and other organic waste from landfills. Instead, that waste will be composted, donated, or turned into fuel.
Why it matters: Food waste makes up nearly 20% of the stuff in our landfills. When that food decomposes, it releases methane — a super-heating greenhouse gas that’s driving the climate crisis. That’s why landfills are California’s third largest source of methane emissions. The requirements and rollout look very different depending on where you live, and the effort has lagged.
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How has your experience been? We want to hear from as many folks as possible — renters, homeowners, business owners, restaurants, grocers, landlords, local governments and more. Share your experiences in a short survey to help guide our reporting on the compost law and help us understand how the law is playing out across the Southland.
How is California's "compost law" going for you?
Read our previous reporting: Our past reporting has focused mostly on the city of L.A., so we would especially love to hear from folks in unincorporated areas and smaller cities in LA County, and across Orange County, the Inland Empire and Santa Barbara and Ventura counties.
California Mandated Composting. How Will It Work In LA And What Are We All Expected To Do?
LA’s Composting Program Expands, But Enrolling Renters and Businesses Is Slow
Getting Food Out Of Landfills Is A Big Climate Solution. So Far California Is Lagging On Its Efforts
Mandatory Composting Is A Climate Win, But Who Will Pay For It?
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Your support for independent local news is critical. With federal funding for public media gone, LAist faces a $1.7 million yearly shortfall. Speaking frankly, how much reader support we receive now will determine the strength of this reliable source of local information now and for years to come.
This work is only possible with community support. Every investigation, service guide, and story is made possible by people like you who believe that local news is a public good and that everyone deserves access to trustworthy local information.
That’s why we’re asking you to stand up for independent reporting that will not be silenced. With more individuals like you supporting this public service, we can continue to provide essential coverage for Southern Californians that you can’t find anywhere else. Become a monthly member today to help sustain this mission. It just takes 1 minute to donate below.
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