Food waste mandate in Sacramento County: What to know if you live outside city limits
All California residents, regardless of jurisdiction, are required to recycle their organic food and green waste.
If you live in Sacramento County, outside city limits, here’s what to know:
What if I live in a multi-family home?
All multifamily properties including apartments, condos and duplexes up to fourplexes were required to establish a hauler or any franchised hauler so tenants could start recycling their organic waste material in 2022, according to the county’s business and multifamily organics page.
And to enforce the new rule, Sacramento County Code Officers will conduct inspections and issue violations to property owners who don’t comply to the organic food waste program.
For more information on how to recycle your organic waste in a multifamily home, visit this tenant brochure.
What if I receive curbside green waste service?
Starting July 4, residents living in the unincorporated part of Sacramento County will be required to toss their organic food and green waste material into their green waste cart (soon to be organics cart) for weekly pick up, according to the county’s waste management and recycling page.
Organic waste material will be picked up alongside garbage, while recycling will continue to be collected every other week, according to the county’s curbside organics page. Those who don’t have a cart will be given a 30-gallon organics waste specified bin at their residence starting in May.
Be sure not add your organic waste material until the start date because according to the county, it’s still working with organic processors for the upcoming change.
What organic waste material is accepted?
Before tossing any organic food waste material into the bin, remove stickers, twist ties and rubber bands from the produce.
Here’s what should be recycled as organic food and green waste material, according to the county website:
- Fruit
- Vegetables
- Bread
- Cereal
- Dairy
- Meat (including bones)
- Shells
- Coffee grounds
- Paper coffee filters
- Tea bags
- Food soiled paper: paper towels and napkins, paper plates, greasy pizza boxes, paper lunch bags.
- Food scraps: moldy food, leftovers, rotting food.
- Green waste: branches, grass, leaves, tree trimmings, prunings.
Here’s what shouldn’t go into the bin, according to the website:
- Plastic bags
- Styrofoam
- Takeout containers
- Utensils
- Glass
- Metal
- Liquids
- Pet waste
- Water hoses
A good rule of thumb: don’t toss any material into the bin that doesn’t grow from the earth.
What about odors and pests?
To eliminate or decrease pests and odors, residents can use a compostable bag, layer food with newspaper or store food scraps in the freezer or refrigerator (especially for meats and fish during hot weather). But unlike the city, the county suggests its residents dump their food waste material daily or close to collection day to reduce odors.
When it’s time to dump the material, be sure that your bin is lined with leaves, newspaper or paper bags to keep it clean.
What if I don’t have space for an organic waste container?
People who are currently exempt from green waste collection services and don’t have space for another 30-gallon organics cart at their home can fill out a physical space constraint wavier application.
An on-site inspection will be done to approve the application and in some circumstances, a shared cart service could be an option, according to the curbside organics page.
What if I live within city limits?
The cities within Sacramento County will have different systems than unincorporated area. You can visit the websites below for your applicable jurisdiction.
Why does it matter where my food scraps go?
Food waste makes up the largest item in the waste stream, making up 30% of what people throw away, according to Sacramento County’s website. Instead, starting July 2022, waste material will be broken down and made into compost to increase soil quality, water retention and crop yield.
When organic waste material is dumped at landfills, it generates methane, which according to Cal Recycle, has a heat-trapping effect about 80 times greater than carbon dioxide over a 20-year span.
The change, according to the county, will reduce the production of gasses that cause climate change and waste that would otherwise end up in landfills.
This story was originally published March 16, 2022 at 11:08 AM with the headline "Food waste mandate in Sacramento County: What to know if you live outside city limits."