Residential Organics Recycling

RESIDENTIAL FOOD WASTE (ORGANICS) RECYCLING PILOT PROJECT

The Utilities Department’s residential food waste (organics) recycling pilot project is helping Santa Maria prepare for the future.  California law, Senate Bill 1383 (SB 1383), established a requirement of reducing the amount of Organics Waste (food waste, green waste, paper products, etc.) that ends up at the landfill by 75 percent by the year 2025.

The residential pilot project will include approximately 1,000 households within the City of Santa Maria. Participating households were mailed a postcard discussing the pilot project and new outdoor green organics containers started rolling out to these households in April 2021.

The new organics containers replace the old-style green waste containers, which means the new container may be used for both food waste and green waste. Pilot program participants should start using the new container right away. Place the new containers on the curb for pick-up on the existing green waste collection day.

Keeping food out of landfills is an important way to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Food scraps recycled from the organics containers will be recycled into fertilizer to enrich soil in local gardens and farms.

COMPLIMENTARY KITCHEN PAIL FOR PILOT PROGRAM PARTICIPANTS

A complimentary indoor kitchen pail is available for pilot program participants to provide a convenient way to collect food waste before depositing in the new organics container. Participants can pick up a kitchen pail at the Utilities Administration Building at 2065 East Main Street (Santa Maria Regional Landfill) Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. No appointment necessary, one per household.