The Antlerette Volume 97
August 2022
Issue 1
California’s New Composting Law and Why It Matters
Adrian Bayardo, Staff
Done with your meal? Don’t throw your leftovers in the trash! A new California law (Senate Bill 1383) in effect this year requires all food waste to be composted with green waste. This law was passed with the hope of lowering methane emissions from food waste decomposing in landfills. Methane is one of the main contributing factors to our rapidly changing climate, and it is even more detrimental than carbon dioxide. With catastrophic consequences of climate change being seen all over the world, the timing has never been better to implement the necessary changes for a healthier environment. Before SB 1383 going into effect, the only materials allowed in the green waste bin were plant matter like grass trimmings and tree limbs. Now, everything from meat, pasta, eggshells, fruit, vegetables, and more belong with the green waste to be composted rather than rotting in a landfill. Instead of tossing your leftovers in the trash, try putting food scraps into a smaller or separate container, then emptying that into the green waste bin. Don’t worry, you can still dump food into the garbage disposal, but it's recommended that only smaller scraps go in to reduce the strain on water treatment plants that filter the materials.
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