HomeTop StoriesWhat happens to the food waste collected under California's recycling law?

What happens to the food waste collected under California’s recycling law?

A look at how California’s organic recycling law fared


A look at how California’s organic recycling law fared

02:02

SACRAMENTO – Jan. 1 marks the two-year anniversary of California’s organic recycling law, which requires cities to collect food waste separately from trash.

Starting next month, the law will require 75% of that material to be diverted from landfills.

“During the holidays, Americans throw away an average of 316 million pounds of food,” said Jessica Pureco-Garcia of CalRecycle, the state recycling agency.

The Environmental Protection Agency says waste increases 25% between Thanksgiving and New Year’s Day. Cal Recycle is reminding people that a law now requires food scraps to be thrown in the green waste bin – not the trash.

Places like the city of Davis in Yolo County have a team of waste trackers going around town lighting up people’s eyelids. A warning is being issued to people caught throwing green waste in the bin.

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The goal is to keep organic matter, such as leftover fruits and vegetables, out of landfills where it decomposes and produces greenhouse gases.

“If it just sits there, it turns into methane and contributes to the overall warming of our planet,” says Pureco-Garcia.

Since the law went into effect two years ago, 93% of California communities now collect household organic waste.

“We are seeing positive progress across the board,” Pureco-Garcia said.

What happens now with the tons of food waste that are collected?

“Once your scraps are picked up, they are taken to composting facilities and that compost makes its way to various farms in California and back into our crops,” Pureco-Garcia said. “So from kitchen to crops.”

The state says the compost helps farmers grow healthier crops by reducing the need for chemical pesticides and fertilizers. It also helps conserve water during drought years by retaining more moisture in the soil.

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“Every little change has a big impact,” Pureco-Garcia said.

People who have bought real Christmas trees are also being encouraged to avoid throwing them into landfill by cutting them up and throwing them in with the green waste – or by taking them to one of the free mulching collection points in the area.

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