Starting July 1, Carlsbad residents and businesses will start recycling food scraps, yard clippings and other “organic” materials in one bin as part of a new state law that just went into effect. The July 1 timing coincides with when the city’s new waste hauling contractor, Republic Services, takes over from Waste Management.
Why organics recycling is important
Organic waste makes up about half of everything currently sent to landfills.
As it decomposes, organic waste produces methane gas, which is 84 times more potent than carbon dioxide and very harmful to the environment.
Organic waste in landfills contributes to 20% of the methane generated in California.
What is it?
Some common sources of organic waste include:
Food
Yard trimmings
Weeds
Lumber
Wood
Cardboard
Paper products
Printing and writing paper
Carlsbad’s plan
California’s new organics recycling requirement became effective Jan. 1, 2022, but legislation was passed that allows cities to begin implementation after that date. On Dec. 14, 2021, the Carlsbad City Council approved a comprehensive implementation plan for managing materials in a more sustainable manner overall, including recycling organic materials.
What do I need to do?
Residents will be able to place their food scraps with their yard waste. Republic Services will provide a free kitchen food pail to all residential customers to conveniently separate food scraps in their kitchen before placing them outside with their yard waste.
Businesses will need to set up organic recycling services. Republic Services started meeting with city businesses late last year to assess their needs and help them comply with the new regulations.
Food recovery
In addition to reducing organic waste, the new law sets a goal that at least 20% of edible food that now gets thrown in the trash be redirected to people in need by 2025.
Carlsbad is expanding its edible food recovery program and raising awareness about food donation in the community.
Commitment to the environment
The Carlsbad City Council has identified environmental sustainability as a top goal. In September 2020, the City Council declared a climate emergency, which is part of a worldwide effort to raise awareness of the impacts of climate change and instill a greater sense of urgency to address it. The declaration affirms the city’s current sustainability efforts and ongoing commitment to protecting the environment.
Over the next three years, the following changes will be phased in to support the City Council’s goal and comply with new state requirements:
A single-use plastic and expanded polystyrene food ware upon-request ordinance by June 1, 2022 and phased-in material ban throughout the city by July 1, 2023
A ban on the use of plastic beverage bottles for city facilities and city-affiliated events by July 1, 2023
A ban on intentionally releasing balloons, which would go into effect by July 1, 2023
A phased-in plastic bag ban which would go into effect for retail only in July 2023 and expand to restaurants by July 2024
