Senate Bill 1383: Organic Waste reduction requirements

Read about SB 1383 here, and check back for more info as we work to implement these requirements for our Ridgecrest Community! (Updated 1/2023)

 Jump to SB1383 (Ridgecrest) Frequently Asked Questions(FAQs)

Watch the SB1383 (Ridgecrest) Overview Video

Senate Bill 1383: Reducing Short-lived Climate Pollutants in California, Organic Waste Reduction requirements are:

1. Statewide residential & commercial organics recycling collection 2.edible food recovery. 3.procur

The most basic element of this regulation is requiring jurisdictions to provide an organic waste collection service that meets the regulatory requirements to each of their residents and businesses. This means a third brown "Organics" bin will be added.

Residential Container Transition

As part of the City of Ridgecrest's efforts to comply with new waste and recycling container identification and labeling requirements under SB 1383, WM will begin transitioning residential carts starting on Monday, December 5th. This container transition will include replacing lids on existing 96-gallon trash carts with new black lids and delivering the new organic waste carts and kitchen pails along with an updated residential service guide. To prepare for the cart transition, WM has provided the following guidance to residents:

  • On your regularly scheduled service days, if possible, please place trash cart out before 6 a.m. and leave it out until 6 p.m. Please repeat this each week during the month of December until your lid has been replaced.
  • Please check the inside of your new organics cart for your kitchen pail and residential service guide. 
  • Weekly Organic Waste Collection is scheduled to begin the week of January 9, 2023. Please do not place any materials in your organic waste cart prior to the collection start date.

If, after December 31st, your 96-gallon trash cart lid has not been replaced or you have not received your organics cart, residential customers may contact WM Customer Service at (760) 463-6024. Please Note: for residential customers with 64-gallon or 35-gallon trash carts, WM will be replacing the lids for those sized carts at a later date.

For more detailed information regarding this announcement, view the WM Press Release - Residential Cart Roll-out. 

  1. Why is action necessary?


   - Landfilling organics produces methane, a potent greenhouse gas that contributes to climate change in CA with both environmental and economic impacts. [ex: billions spent on wildfire management; drought cost $2.7 billion loss in agriculture industry]- Organic waste is composed of green waste, wood waste, food waste, and fibers such food-soiled paper/cardboard products & comprises 2/3 of current waste stream with food waste alone accounting for the largest waste stream in CA [18% of disposal in 2014 study]
- Diverting the organic waste stream from landfills extends the life of our current landfill, reducing the likelihood of a costly landfill creation project in the future.

  - Recovering edible food from the waste stream helps to feed the millions of Californians that are food insecure


Waste Pie chart

1 IN 5 CHILDREN GOES HUNGRY EVERY NIGHT IN CALIFORNIA.


   - Redirecting perfectly edible food that is currently being disposed of, to instead feed those in need, will help alleviate this problem.

CALIFORNIA THROWS OUT OVER 6 MILLION TONS OF FOOD WASTE EACH YEAR!


  1. What is Food Recovery?
  1. Proposal & Intent to Comply
  1. Local Assistance Grant Program
  1. Recycling Services
  1. Construction & Demolition (C&D) Debris
  1. Commercial Services

Sb1383 Frequently Asked Questions

  1. What is SB 1383?

Senate Bill 1383 is a CA state law that requires local jurisdictions to provide sanitation services to all residents and businesses, including collection services for solid waste, recycling, and organic materials. CalRecycle is the state agency responsible for overseeing the implementation and enforcement of SB1383 regulations. 

  1. Why doesn't the City refuse to comply with SB 1383 regulations?
  1.  So now I’m required to have an additional organics bin? Why?
  1. What materials will be accepted in each bin? 
  1. Doesn't all the material end up in the same place anyway - what's the point?
  1. I already have other ways to dispose of organic materials (i.e. landscaping service, self-haul, at-home composting, garbage disposal) - why am I required to use this service?
  1. What services are included under the new WM contract?
  1. How much will this cost me? Are there ways to reduce my bill?
  1. When do these rates go into effect? Why? 
  1. What is the City doing to reduce rate impacts to residents and/or businesses?
  1. What's the deal with the new bi-weekly collection frequency? Isn't the organic material collection going to create public health concerns (i.e. odors, pests, etc.)?
  1.  I don’t want to pay for a service that I don’t want and/or need - what if I refuse WM service?
  1. How will the City be enforcing these regulations?
  1. What's going on with the community recycling bins on Ridgecrest Blvd?
  1. Will compost be available to citizens as part of this change?
  1. What if my address is outside City limits? Will SB 1383 affect me?
  1. Who should I contact with questions or concerns regarding this program?