California’s food scrap fine goes into effect

Starting Jan. 1, an enforcement provision has gone into effect for California’s compost law, which means throwing away food scraps rather than recycling could bring a fine.

The bill mandates city and county governments to recycle organic waste to reduce methane greenhouse gas emissions in landfills in line with the state’s goal to have 75 percent of all organic waste recycled.

RELATED: San Diego boasts 71 percent diversion rate in 2022

California’s Department of Resources Recycling and Recovery (CalRecycle) is overseeing implementation of the program, according to KCRA in Sacramento, and reports 75 percent of all California cities have incorporated the recycling program for residents.

In Sacramento, for instance, the Sacramento Recycling and Solid Waste Division asks residents to throw food waste in the green bin with leaves and yard trimmings. The city launched its organics waste recycling program in July of 2022 to comply with the state bill, giving away free organic waste bins to keep on the kitchen counter.

With cameras on all collection trucks, the city has tracked four months of pick-ups and found a 14 percent increase in organic recycling and a 10 percent reduction of waste taken to the landfill, according to KCRA.

In the city of Rancho Cordova, those residents found to be out of compliance with state law will receive a notice of violation and a 30-day opportunity to correct, in addition to education.