To Compost or Not to Compost. That is the Question.
By Vic Leipzig
The League Climate Change Task Force recently heard a presentation about coming changes to Orange County trash collection. Our speakers were Deborah Jubinsky of the city of Huntington Beach and Debbie Killey of Republic Services who told us about changes that are still being planned.
Back in 2016, the state legislature passed SB 1383 with the goal or reducing emissions of methane from landfills. The law mandated that local trash operators develop systems for collecting and composting organic waste—mostly food scraps. Although some families compost in their own back yards, most food scraps now either go into regular landfill trash or go down the kitchen sink.
Although SB 1383 imposed deadlines for establishing community-wide composting, many Orange County cities do not yet have systems in operation. Huntington Beach is one of those. When the new procedures will be announced is not at clear. The good news is that the change for many residents will be relatively modest: the new rules will simply allow food scraps to be tossed into the green trash bins that are currently to be used only for yard waste. Changes for industrial, commercial, and especially for restaurant operations, may be more complicated. Since each city will have its own unique system, it will be necessary for residents to contact their own city Public Works department or trash hauling company to learn the new procedures at their location. Fortunately, the agency called Orange County Waste and Recycling (which operates our landfills) has an excellent website that carries a list of every city and trash hauling company in Orange County along with the appropriate phone number to call for information valid wherever you live! Find your information at OC Waste and Recycling, under the tab, “SB 1383”. The CCTF encourages all League members to utilize their new system and help the flight against climate change.
