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 already composted. The important thing for all residents to do is Recycle Right. Food and food-soiled containers go in the garbage and not in your yard trimmings piles or carts. Garbage is then sorted at the GreenWaste Materials Recovery Facility (MRF), which uses technology and manual labor to remove food scraps and compostable paper (organics) from the waste stream. Keep recyclables clean and follow the yard trimmings setout guidelines. Find out what goes where at SanJoseRecycles.org. Download the What to Recycle Guide (created June 24, 2020) and the What Not to Recycle Guide  (created June 24, 2020) 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 – but not required – to try home composting to turn organic material into compost for their yard or garden.

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

Multi-family properties are compliant with SB 1383 because organics are already composted when collected with garbage. Do NOT put food waste in with yard trimmings. There are, however, new 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 (created June 7, 2023) and the What Not to Recycle Guide (created June 7, 2023).

To learn more about SB 1383 requirements for Multi-family properties, please refer to this handout (created November 28, 2023) available in English, Español, and Tiếng Việt. 

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 approaches listed on the City’s Recycling and Organics Regulations page.

• 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 (created August 2, 2024) available in English, Español, Tiếng Việt, and 中文.

Beginning January 2024, City of San José’s environmental inspectors will conduct visits to businesses in San José to ensure compliance with the San José Municipal Code and SB 1383 requirements. 

For more information on the new regulations and self-hauling, visit the City’s Recycling and Organics Regulations webpage. If you need to add Wet service to become compliant, please contact Republic Services at (408) 432-1234 or SanJoseRecyclingTeam@republicservices.com to speak with a Sustainability Advisor.

A major component of SB 1383 is preventing organics from entering the waste stream in the first place. Through food recovery, we can divert edible food from disposal and distribute it to those most in need. Below is the tiered system for businesses that may be required to recover their edible food:

(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, please visit  SCCFoodRecovery.org . To access the current list of food recovery organizations and services serving our community, visit the Program’s webpage.