Organic waste includes materials that come from plants or animals and can be recycled or processed into new products. Examples include:

• Food scraps
• Food-soiled paper
• Yard trimmings, including leaves, grass, and branches
• Other materials accepted by local organic waste recycling programs

Accepted materials and sorting instructions depend on the collection system serving your area.

Collection services vary by location.

Areas with mandatory residential collection: Residents in these areas receive collection services that comply with SB 1383. Most areas have a three-cart system:

• Green cart: Organics
• Blue cart: Recyclables
• Gray cart: Trash

Some areas use a two-cart system that combines trash and recyclables in one cart and collects organics separately.

Areas without mandatory residential collection: Residents may subscribe to a collection service that complies with SB 1383 or self-haul their materials. Residents who self-haul must separate materials appropriately and deliver them to facilities that can properly process or recycle each material type.

Contact your local waste collector for information about service options in your area.

Accepted materials vary depending on the collection system provided by your waste collector. Follow your collector's instructions for sorting trash, recyclables, and organic waste.

Example of typical three-cart compliant system

If you are unsure where an item belongs, contact your waste collector.

Residents in areas with mandatory collection services must participate in the applicable collection program and properly sort materials.

Residents in areas without mandatory collection services may use a compliant collection service or self-haul materials in accordance with applicable requirements.

Collection rates depend on the waste collector, service area, and services provided. Contact your waste collector for current rates and service information.

SB 1383 regulations took effect on January 1, 2022. Local jurisdictions are responsible for implementing the requirements, including organic waste collection, recycling, edible food recovery, education, monitoring, and enforcement.