SB 1383 Municipal Program Consulting
We help cities design, implement, and document composting programs aligned with SB 1383 requirements—ensuring compliance while creating community-based systems with measurable diversion data and procurement reporting.
What Is SB 1383?
SB 1383, the Short-Lived Climate Pollutant Reduction Act, is California’s most significant organic waste policy. Signed into law in 2016 and enforced starting January 1, 2022, it requires California to achieve a 75% reduction in the landfill disposal of organic waste by 2025 and to recover at least 20% of edible surplus food for human consumption by 2025.
SB 1383 covers several sources of short-lived climate pollution. Organic waste sent to landfill is one of them, and it is the source that determines what cities and counties have to do.
Organic waste—including food scraps, yard trimmings, and paper products—decomposing in landfills produces methane, a greenhouse gas far more potent than CO₂ in the short term. SB 1383 targets organic waste specifically because diverting it from landfills is one of the most cost-effective ways California can reduce near-term climate emissions.
Who Does SB 1383 Apply To?
SB 1383 applies broadly across California’s economy. Requirements vary by entity type:
- Jurisdictions — Cities, and counties for unincorporated areas, carry the five obligations set out below.
- Residents — Must use their jurisdiction’s organic waste collection bin (green or food scrap bin) and keep organics out of the trash.
- Multifamily residential properties (5+ units) — Must subscribe to organic waste collection service and provide accessible containers to residents.
- Commercial businesses — Must subscribe to organic waste collection and edible food recovery services. Businesses that generate significant amounts of food waste have additional edible food recovery obligations.
- Haulers — Must collect and transport organic waste to facilities that recover the material.
- Facilities — Composting, anaerobic digestion, and other organic waste processing facilities must obtain or update permits to handle SB 1383-covered materials.
What Every Jurisdiction Must Do
The responsible jurisdiction is the city, or the county where the area is unincorporated. Each one carries five obligations:
1. Educate
Tell residents and businesses what the law requires and how to meet it.
2. Divert
Keep organic waste out of the landfill.
3. Recycle
Process the diverted material into compost or energy.
4. Procure
Buy back recovered organic products, at a target set by population.
5. Report
Document all of it to CalRecycle.
SB 1383 also allows community composting as a way to meet these obligations. Material stays in the community, the finished compost goes back into local soil, and both the diversion and the procurement happen inside the jurisdiction rather than being trucked elsewhere.
A Closed Loop That Stays in the Community
This is what a compliant community system looks like on the ground. Every stage happens locally, and the material never leaves the community it came from.
Stays in the
community
1. Collect
2. Compost
3. Grow
4. Feed
5. Employ
6. Replicate
- Collect. Organic waste is collected from homes, schools, and community spaces at locally established composting sites.
- Compost. Collected organic material is processed on-site using proven methods, generating documented diversion credit for SB 1383 compliance.
- Grow. Finished compost is applied to local growing spaces, including school gardens, community plots, and neighborhood farms.
- Feed. Food grown through the system is distributed within the community, supporting schools, markets, and food access programs.
- Employ. Each site creates stable, year-round roles including compost operators, growers, coordinators, and educators.
- Replicate. The model is implemented in new locations using the same proven framework, enabling cities to adopt, scale, and sustain the system.
What Counts as Organic Waste Under SB 1383?
SB 1383 covers a broad range of material. The list below is what the law counts as organic waste across California, not a list of what any one site accepts.
- Food scraps (all food types)
- Yard and garden trimmings
- Landscape and pruning waste
- Wood and lumber waste
- Paper products and cardboard
- Printing and writing paper
- Manure
- Biosolids
- Compostable serviceware and packaging (certified)
How PP&C Helps You Comply
Prema’s Permaculture & Composting builds and runs community composting sites. We do not operate a collection service and do not accept material drop-offs. We work with California jurisdictions and their partners on the planning, design and operation of programs that meet SB 1383 requirements:
- Program planning. Assessment of your current organic waste streams and a written plan that maps them to your SB 1383 obligations.
- Site design. Layout, sizing and workflow design for community-scale composting sites, from demonstration plots to neighborhood-scale operations.
- Site operations. Running community composting sites day to day, including process monitoring, record keeping and staff training.
- Training and education. Workshops and hands-on classes for municipal staff, community partners and residents.
- Reporting support. Documentation and records to support your jurisdiction’s SB 1383 reporting.
Penalties for Non-Compliance
Jurisdictions that fail to implement SB 1383 programs face administrative civil penalties of up to $10,000 per day per violation from CalRecycle. Individual businesses and property owners can face fines from their local jurisdiction. Establishing a documented organic waste diversion program is the surest way to protect your property from enforcement risk.
Get Compliant Today
Don’t wait until your jurisdiction starts issuing notices. Contact PP&C for a free compliance consultation—we’ll review your property type, estimate your organic waste volume, and recommend a collection and diversion plan tailored to your needs.