To reduce methane pollution and other short-lived climate pollutants, California passed SB 1383 (Lara, 2016).
The law set targets for 2025:
• 75% less organic waste sent to landfills.
• 20% of unsold, still-edible food sent to food recovery organizations.
Landfills Are Third Largest Source of Methane in California
Organic waste in landfills emits:
• 20% of the state’s methane, a climate super pollutant that heats 84 times more than carbon dioxide.
• Air pollutants like PM 2.5, which contributes to health conditions like asthma.
Organics like food scraps, yard trimmings, paper, and cardboard make up half of what Californians dump in landfills.
Cutting short-lived climate pollutants can have the fastest impact on the climate.
Reducing methane emissions has many important benefits—for the environment, human health, and even the economy. Here's a breakdown:
🌍 Environmental Benefits
1. Slows Climate Change (Fast!)
Methane is a super potent greenhouse gas—over 80 times more powerful than CO₂ at trapping heat over 20 years. Cutting methane gives us a quick win in slowing global warming.
2. Improves Air Quality
Methane contributes to ground-level ozone (a harmful air pollutant). Lower methane = less smog and cleaner air.
💨 Health Benefits
1. Reduces Respiratory Issues
Ozone from methane causes asthma, bronchitis, and other respiratory problems. Less methane = fewer ER visits and healthier lungs.
2. Protects Vulnerable Populations
Kids, the elderly, and people with preexisting conditions are especially sensitive to ozone pollution. Methane reduction directly helps them.
💰 Economic Benefits
1. Prevents Climate-Related Costs
Wildfires, floods, heatwaves—these are expensive. Cutting methane helps curb the extreme weather that drives these costs.
2. Captures a Valuable Resource
Methane is the main ingredient in natural gas. Instead of letting it leak, we can capture and sell it—a win for business and the planet.
3. Job Creation
Monitoring and repairing leaks creates jobs in technology, infrastructure, and energy.
🌾 Agricultural and Ecosystem Benefits
1. Protects Crops and Ecosystems
Ozone damages crops and forests. Reducing methane = higher crop yields and healthier ecosystems.
Senate Bill 1383 and Food Recovery
To reduce food waste and help address food insecurity, SB 1383 requires that by 2025 California will recover 20 percent of edible food that would otherwise be sent to landfills, to feed people in need. The law directs the following:
• Jurisdictions must establish food recovery programs and strengthen their existing food recovery networks
• Food donors must arrange to recover the maximum amount of their edible food that would otherwise go to landfills
• Food recovery organizations and services that participate in SB 1383 must maintain records
Food Waste in California
Californians send 2.5 billion meals worth of still-fresh, unsold food to landfills each year as 1 in 5 Californians does not have enough to eat.
These households often must choose between eating and basic needs like housing or medical bills.
To reduce food waste and address food insecurity, surplus food that is still safe for people to eat will be donated to food banks, soup kitchens, and other food recovery organizations and services to help feed Californians in need.
This will cut waste sent to landfills and lower methane climate pollution from organic waste rotting in landfills.
SB 1383 Mandate - Edible Food Waste Recovery
The San Joaquin County Environmental Health Department administers the edible food component of SB 1383. Applicable businesses that sell or distribute food are required
to recover edible food that would otherwise go into the waste stream and divert it for human consumption through agreements with food recovery organizations/services. These businesses must keep records of edible food recovery operations.
For the recovery of edible food waste, food generators are split into two tiers:
Tier One must comply with edible food recovery requirements by Jan. 1st, 2022.
This includes: • Supermarkets • Grocery stores (with a total facility size ≥ 7,500 sq. ft.) • Food service distributors • Wholesale food markets
Tier Two must comply with edible food recovery requirements by Jan. 1st, 2024.
This includes: • Restaurants (with ≥ 250 seats, or ≥ 5,000 sq. ft.) • Hotels (with on-site food facility and ≥200 rooms), • Health facilities (with on-site food facility and ≥100 beds), • State agencies
(with a cafeteria with ≥ 250 seats, or ≥ 5,000 sq. ft) • Local education agencies (with an on-site food facility) • Large venues – annually seats or serves ≥ 2,000 people/avg/day • Large events –
serves ≥ 2,000 people/event/day
