California has a statewide mandatory organic waste collection rule under Senate Bill 1383, which affects how households, apartment blocks and businesses sort food scraps, yard trimmings and paper. This guide summarises CalRecycle’s pages on the programme, collection requirements, enforcement and complaints. It covers California only and does not describe UK, Irish or other US state rules, which are covered elsewhere on this site. It is general information, not legal advice; local programme rules vary and the local jurisdiction’s guidance should be checked.

What SB 1383 does

CalRecycle says California passed SB 1383 (Lara, 2016) to reduce methane and other short-lived climate pollutants, because food and other organic waste rotting in landfills emits methane. The law set targets for 2025 of 75% less organic waste sent to landfills and 20% of unsold, still-edible food sent to food recovery organisations. CalRecycle describes organic waste as including food, green material, landscape and pruning waste, organic textiles and carpets, lumber, wood, paper products, printing and writing paper, manure, biosolids, digestate and sludges.

What local governments must provide

Under the collection requirements, a “jurisdiction” is a city, county, city and county or special district that provides solid waste collection services. CalRecycle says jurisdictions must provide organic waste collection services to all residents and businesses, unless they hold an exemption or waiver for low population or high elevation, or instead require people to separate organics, recyclables and landfill waste that they haul to disposal facilities themselves. Jurisdictions choose which collection services suit their communities, but SB 1383 requires consistent bin colours and labels across California. They must educate residents and businesses electronically, in print or through direct outreach, and must monitor contamination and give feedback.

What households and small buildings must do

For single-family homes and multifamily complexes of fewer than five units, CalRecycle says residents must take part in their local organics curbside collection programme and sort their organic waste into the correct containers. Some jurisdictions allow residents to haul their own organic waste to disposal facilities, and CalRecycle tells residents to contact their local programme for its rules.

Apartment blocks of five or more units

Multifamily complexes of five or more units must either take part in the jurisdiction’s organics collection or self-haul organic waste to a composting facility, community composting programme or other collection activity. The owner or manager must provide organic waste collection for employees and tenants, provide an adequate number, size and location of correctly labelled or coloured containers, educate employees and tenants annually on sorting, and give new tenants information within 14 days of occupation. Tenants must sort correctly or self-haul according to local rules.

Businesses and public bodies

Businesses must either take part in the collection service or self-haul, and must place organic waste and recycling containers in all areas with disposal containers for customers, except restrooms. A container is not needed for materials a facility does not generate. They must also inspect organic waste containers for contamination, inform employees when containers are contaminated, and educate employees, contractors, tenants and customers annually and within 14 days for new tenants. If a business already uses containers with the right colours, indoor containers do not need replacing until they no longer work or until 1 January 2036, whichever comes first.

Public schools and school districts, state agencies, special districts and federal facilities fall outside a jurisdiction’s authority. They must subscribe to a collection service the jurisdiction provides, contract independently, or self-haul.

Enforcement and complaints

CalRecycle says the regulations require both jurisdictions and the State to enforce. Jurisdictions must run an inspection and enforcement programme for organic waste generators, while CalRecycle evaluates jurisdictions and oversees organic waste generators outside jurisdiction oversight, such as state and federal facilities. Members of the public can file complaints with CalRecycle about missing signage or labelling on bins, lack of education materials, no bin inspections, no edible food recovery, and no blue or green waste bin collection service or a missing bin. CalRecycle says it will make reasonable efforts to protect complainants’ confidentiality, but contact details may be given to local jurisdictions or law enforcement for investigation, and it may need to release information in response to records requests.

FAQs

Does SB 1383 ban putting food in the trash?

CalRecycle describes a requirement to take part in organics collection and sort waste correctly, with local programmes setting the specific rules. Residents should check their local programme.

Does the law require a green bin in every home?

Jurisdictions must provide organic waste collection services to all residents and businesses unless they have a waiver or exemption, or choose to require sorting of material that people haul to disposal facilities themselves.

Where do I complain about missing bins?

CalRecycle has a recycling services and edible food collection complaints form for issues such as a missing blue or green bin or missing signage.

The bottom line

California’s SB 1383 requires jurisdictions to provide organic waste collection to all residents and businesses, and requires residents, apartment complexes of five or more units and businesses to take part or self-haul. Owners and managers must provide labelled bins and education, and complaints about missing service can go to CalRecycle. Rules differ from UK and Irish schemes, and local programmes set the details. This is general information, not legal advice.

Sources

This guide draws on the following primary sources, current as of 25 September 2026:

• CalRecycle, “California’s Short-Lived Climate Pollutant Reduction Strategy”
• CalRecycle, “Statewide Mandatory Organic Waste Collection”
• CalRecycle, “Enforcement of Organics Waste Collection, Processing, and Diversion from Landfills”
• CalRecycle, “Recycling Services and Edible Food Collection Complaints”

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