Passed in 2016, SB 1383 calls for a 75% reduction in the amount organic waste disposed of in landfills by 2025. This is because landfills are California’s third largest stationary source of methane emissions, a greenhouse gas over 84 times more potent than carbon dioxide and a leading contributor to climate change. This law also requires recovery of 20% of edible food for human consumption that would have otherwise been disposed. In the City of SLO, source separated organics are taken to an in-vessel anaerobic digestor and made into compost.

Learn more about SB 1383

Recycling is the practice of recovering used materials from the waste stream and then incorporating those same materials into the manufacturing process.

CalRecycle estimates that disposed packaging makes up about 25% of waste landfilled in California and recycling 75% of these materials would reduce climate pollution equal to removing 3.2 million cars from the road every year. City of SLO source separated recyclables are taken to a materials recovery facility where items are sorted and prepped for further processing. 

Participating in these program helps fight Climate Change and supports the State’s effort to move California from a disposal to a fully circular economy.  Starting in 2024 the City is mandated to make sure all households and businesses are participating in these programs and properly sorting their materials. See what goes in what bin below!

While recycling is a great start to fighting climate change, reducing waste at the source is even better!