Contact

For general questions about SB 1383, email:

zerowaste@sanjoseca.gov

If you have questions:

Call (408) 535-3500 or 3-1-1 from within San Jose
Visit SJ 311: sanjoseca.gov/311
Email: customerservice@sanjoseca.gov
Walk-in: San Jose City Hall Information Desk, 200 E Santa Clara St, First Floor, San Jose, CA 95113
Mail in: Customer Service 200 E Santa Clara St, 11th floor, San Jose, CA 95113

California Senate Bill 1383 (SB 1383)

What is SB 1383?

Since 2022, California is implementing statewide organic waste recycling and surplus food recovery to reduce emissions of methane from food and organic waste in landfills. Methane is one of the most potent greenhouse gases and a major contributor to climate change. Landfills are the third-largest source of methane in California, emitting 20% of the state’s methane. Organic waste like food scraps, yard trimmings, paper and cardboard make up half of what Californians dump in landfills.

This strategy is part of California’s Short-Lived Climate Pollutant Reduction Law, also known as SB 1383. The law also aims to reduce food insecurity by ensuring more surplus food reaches people in need instead of being thrown away.

SB 1383 requires the state to:

Reduce 75% of organic waste disposal in landfills by 2025.

Rescue at least 20% of currently disposed surplus edible food by 2025.

This also reduces toxic air contaminants that affect air quality, public health and climate change.

See below to learn about the impacts to San José residents, multi-family property owners/managers, and businesses.

How will SB 1383 affect San José residents and businesses?

Residents

There are no changes for residents setting out garbage, recycling and yard trimmings. San José’s Residential Garbage & Recycling Program is compliant with SB 1383 because organics are composted through two streams. The important thing for all residents to do is sort correctly: food and food-soiled containers go in the garbage and not in your yard trimmings piles or carts.

Garbage is sorted at the GreenWaste Materials Recovery Facility (MRF), which uses technology and manual labor to separate food scraps and compostable paper (organics) from the waste stream. Organics from yard trimmings piles and carts arrive at the MRF for sorting before being composted. Follow the yard trimmings setout guidelines and find out what goes where at SanJoseRecycles.org. Download the What to Recycle Guide and the What Not to Recycle Guide for proper sorting requirements.

Even though San José residential food scraps are composted, it’s still important to avoid wasting food in the first place. Get food waste reduction tips and tricks and learn more about waste reduction on the City’s website. Residents are also encouraged to try home composting to turn organic material into compost for their yard or garden.

To learn more about SB 1383 requirements for single-family residents, please refer to this handout available in English, Español, and Tiếng Việt.

Multi-Family Property Owners and Managers (Complexes with 5 units or more)

There are no changes to multi-family property garbage and recycling collection.

Organics collected with garbage at multi-family properties are separated and composted. Do NOT put food waste in yard trimmings piles or carts.

Yard trimmings are also required to be composted at a facility. Setting up yard trimmings collection with GreenWaste meets SB 1383 requirements. Call GreenWaste at (408) 283-4800 to get started. If MFDs use personal landscapers for yard trimmings, the material must be composted at a facility. Property managers and owners should ensure their landscapers comply with this law.

There are additional outreach requirements for the multi-family complex’s property owner or manager:

Annually educate employees and tenants about how to properly sort organic waste into the correct containers,

Provide information to new tenants within 14 days of occupation of the premises. Download What to Recycle for Multifamily Complexes and the What Not to Recycle Guide.

To learn more about SB 1383 requirements for multi-family properties, please refer to this handout available in English, Español, and Tiếng Việt.

Businesses

Many businesses and commercial institutions must take additional steps to come into compliance with Senate Bill 1383.

Businesses are required to have solid waste collection through San José’s exclusive franchised hauler, Republic Services. To be in compliance with both SB 1383 and the City of San José Municipal Code, all businesses in the City of San José must divert organics from the landfill by:

Subscribing to and participating in Wet service via Republic Services, OR

Being approved to follow one of the alternative compliance options listed on the City’s Recycling and Organics Regulations page; and

Providing collection bins (aka “receptacles”) for organics to employees, contractors, tenants, and customers where garbage receptacles are present, except in restrooms.

Additionally:

Labeling your receptacles with signs depicting permitted and prohibited material. Free signage is available from Republic Services upon request.

Placing your receptacles in appropriate locations for use by employees, contractors, tenants, and customers.

Providing education to employees, contractors, tenants, and customers about sorting requirements. Consider distributing an educational memo or scheduling a staff training to review new sorting requirements. Free trainings are available from Republic Services upon request.

Monitoring, adjusting, and reeducating employees to ensure a successful sorting. Address improper sorting issues promptly and provide reminders to employees about proper sorting requirements. For a complete list of all SB 1383 requirements for businesses and institutions review the SB 1383 Business Checklist available in English, Español, Tiếng Việt, and 中文.

City of San José’s environmental inspectors are currently conducting visits to businesses in San José to ensure compliance with the San José Municipal Code and SB 1383 requirements.

For more information on Senate Bill 1383, self-hauling, and other solid waste regulations, visit the City’s Recycling and Organics Regulations webpage.

For resources to help coming into compliance with Senate Bill 1383 and other commercial solid waste regulations, visit the City’s Commercial Resources webpage.

Edible Food Recovery (applicable to most businesses that sell or serve food)

SB 1383 requires certain businesses and institutions to donate any surplus edible food that would have gone to waste and instead give to those in need. Below is the tiered system for businesses that may be required to recover their edible food:

Commercial Edible Food Generators

(Image courtesy of CalRecycle)

The City of San José is collaborating with other jurisdictions in Santa Clara County to develop resources and the infrastructure needed for recovering edible food.

For more information on the Santa Clara County Food Recovery Program and to determine if your business or institution is required to comply, please visit SCCFoodRecovery.org . To access the current list of food recovery organizations and services serving our community, visit the Program’s webpage.

Schools and School Districts

SB 1383 applies to all local education agencies, including:

K-12 public and charter schools

Schools districts

County office of education (that are not subject to the control of the City or County solid waste regulations)

SB 1383 requires schools to educate employees and students about organic waste prevention. For more information, visit CalRecycle’s Home Page for Requirements on Local Education Agencies: K-12 Public Schools and School Districts.

The information and documents contained on this page include both current and past entries. In accordance with ADA Title II requirements mandating WCAG 2.1 AA compliance for state and local government digital content by April 24, 2026, materials dated prior to this deadline may not meet current accessibility standards. If you require an accessible version of any material, please contact us at SJEnvironment@SanJoseCA.gov.