June: City Update

Complying with the State’s Senate Bill 1383

Did you know that organics (food scraps, yard trimmings, paper, and cardboard) make up half of what Californians dump in landfills? Those cast offs contribute to the emission of air pollutants like methane, a climate super pollutant 84 times more potent than carbon dioxide.

Here in Visalia, our Public Works Department began collecting organics back in 2012. Residents are familiar with their green bins and Dump On Us continues to run through the year with great participation. However, the State of California’s Senate Bill (SB) 1383 mandates that Visalia, and communities across the state, must do more work to prevent food from being landfilled. In fact, the State is calling on the millions of Californians, its businesses, and every level of government to reduce landrill methane emissions by achieving a 75% statewide reduction in organic waste disposal by 2025.

Certain Food Generators are required to prevent food from being landfilled or composted by increasing donations to food programs and by properly disposing of food waste and organics. In fact, enforcement with potential penalties began in January of this year.

SB 1383 breaks down Food Generators into two tiers, which include, but is not limited to, wholesale food distributors, grocery stores and restaurants. Those that fall under SB 1383’s Tier 1 or Tier 2 are required by the State to comply with recovery and donation requirements.

Our Public Works Department is here to help Visalia businesses navigate SB 1383 and can show how to reduce landfill bound waste streams and bring accounts into compliance with State law.

To schedule a Waste Stream Assessment, and confirm compliance with SB 1383, contact Nathan Garza, City of Visalia Public Works Department, at (559) 713-4532 or email nathan.garza@visalia.city.

For more information on the City of Visalia and SB 1383, visit www.visalia.city/sb1383.

For the latest updates and news from the City of Visalia, visit www.visalia.city or visit them on social media @CityofVisalia.