Organics Recycling

Organics Recycling Changes Coming Soon to Baldwin Park

Baldwin Park residents and businesses will soon see changes to the way organic materials, such as food scraps and yard trimmings, are disposed of and recycled.

New organics recycling programs and other measures are required by Senate Bill 1383 –– a statewide effort to reduce emissions of short-lived climate pollutants. The bill requires all California cities, including Baldwin Park, to reduce organic materials in landfills and rescue surplus food sources from commercial establishments to feed Californians facing food insecurity (instead of letting them go to waste).

Senate Bill 1383 will change how Baldwin Park community members sort their organic waste, and how the City’s waste hauler will collect and process organic materials.

What does this mean for you?

At this time, Baldwin Park residents may continue to sort your waste and recyclables as you have been. (For details, please refer to the Residential Waste and Recycling Service Guide.)

Until the new organics recycling program is finalized and rolled out, residents are encouraged to reduce food waste at home by:

  • Buying only the food you need
  • Storing food wisely
  • Using or freezing leftovers
  • Composting food scraps
  • Donating unused food

Where is the City in its rollout of SB 1383?

Baldwin Park is making progress in implementing the organics recycling requirements and other measures required by SB 1383.

First, the City of Baldwin Park is working on a waste hauling agreement to provide an organics collection program for businesses and residents, including multi-family residents and individual home-owners. Along with the collections program, the waste hauler will also handle monitoring and reporting to the state. Once the organic waste collection program is debuted, the City and the waste hauler will distribute more information on the new process for properly sorting and recycling organic materials.

Second, in partnership with other agencies in the region, the City is working to implement SB 1383’s food recovery mandates. The City has joined the San Gabriel Valley Council of Governments’ regional food recovery program and will also begin work on creating one “mini food recovery hub” within Baldwin Park. Local businesses and eligible food donors will be able to partner with these local food recovery organizations to safely donate edible food.

Third, the City of Baldwin Park is launching a plastics recycling pilot program intended to help residents successfully abide by recycling guidelines. The plastics recycling program will include individualized bins designated for plastics recycling, further education on what can and cannot be recycled, and an expanded waste hauling program.

For additional information on organics, recycling and trash pickup in Baldwin Park, please visit Waste Management’s webpage on Baldwin Park services.

More information on the new recycling programs are to come, so please stay tuned for more details!

Frequently Asked Questions

What is organic waste?
Organic waste is any material that is biodegradable and comes from either a plant or an animal. Biodegradable waste is organic material that can be broken into carbon dioxide, methane, or simple organic molecules.

 

What items are considered organic waste?
Grass
Leaves/Tree Branches
Shrubs/Brush
Plants/Weeds
Garden Trimmings
Sawdust
Meat, Fish, Poultry
Dairy Products
Coffee Grounds
Fruits & Vegetables
Bread, Pasta, Rice, Grains
Bones, Eggshells, Seafood Shells
Plate Scrapings
Food Soiled Paper/Napkins

What items are NOT considered organic waste?
Animal waste,
Palm fronds
Soil,
Rocks,
Paper, plastic, silverware/dishware,
Glass, metal, rubber,
Food packaging material,
Compostable or biodegradable products
Treated Lumber

 

Why are the requirements changing?
A focus on recycling organic materials is central to California’s efforts to combat climate change. When organic materials such as food scraps, yard trimmings, and paper decompose anaerobically (without oxygen) in a landfill, they produce methane, which is one of the most potent climate pollutants in the atmosphere and a major contributor to climate change.

Where will organic waste go?
SB 1383 requires cities and counties to procure annually a quantity of recovered organic waste products to meet their annual procurement target. Per CalRecycle, these procurement requirements will strengthen California’s green, self-sustaining economy. Demand for these products will drive infrastructure investment and create new green collar jobs in the state.

Recovered organic waste products can:

  • Benefit local communities and spaces such as parks
  • Improve soil and air quality
  • Support local environmental initiatives, such as Climate Action Plans

CalRecycle assigns an annual procurement target to each jurisdiction based on its population. Jurisdictions can fulfill their target by procuring any combination of the following recovered organic waste products:

  • Compost
  • Mulch
  • Renewable Energy (Transportation Fuel, Heat, and Electricity) from Anaerobic Digestion and Electricity from Biomass Conversion

Each jurisdiction has the flexibility to choose what mix of recovered organic waste products it wants to procure, and may choose to either use or donate these products to meet its procurement target, depending on its local needs.

Where will recovered surplus edible food go?
Recovered surplus edible food will be donated to food banks, homeless shelters, and other organizations for those who are food insecure. Starting in 2022, food service businesses must donate surplus edible food to food recovery organizations. This will help feed almost 1 in 4 Californians who are without enough to eat. California has a 2025 goal to redirect 20% of surplus edible food (currently being thrown away) to people in need.

In partnership with other agencies in the region, the City is working to implement SB 1383’s food recovery mandates. The City has joined the San Gabriel Valley Council of Governments’ regional food recovery program and will also begin work on creating two 'mini food recovery hubs' at Baldwin Park's Serenity Homes family site and the city's new homeless shelter Esperanza Village. Local businesses and eligible food donors will be able to partner with these local food recovery organizations to safely donate edible food.

Am I required to participate? What if I don’t change anything about how I dispose of my trash?
Yes, everyone is required to participate and properly sort discarded materials into the correct bins or receptacles provided. If you choose not to participate, you may receive contamination charges from Waste Management. Additionally, by January 2024 the state has mandated the City to fine residents and businesses who are not participating. We appreciate all Baldwin Park residents for putting in the extra time and effort into properly sorting their waste.