Background and Overview

In September 2016, Governor Brown signed into law Senate Bill (SB) 1383 (Chapter 395, Statutes of 2016) establishing methane emissions reduction targets in a statewide effort to reduce emissions of short-lived climate pollutants (SLCP) in various sectors of California's economy. SB 1383 establishes targets to achieve a 50 percent reduction in the level of the statewide disposal of organic waste from the 2014 level by 2020 and a 75 percent reduction by 2025.

Methane emissions resulting from the decomposition of organic waste in landfills are a significant source of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions contributing to global climate change. Organic materials--including waste that can be readily prevented, recycled, or composted--account for a significant portion of California's overall waste stream. Increasing food waste prevention, encouraging edible food rescue, and expanding the composting and in-vessel digestion of organic waste throughout the state will help reduce methane emissions from organic waste disposed of in California's landfills.

For more information on SB 1383, please visit CalRecycle’s SB 1383 webpage.

For more background information on short-lived climate pollutants, please visit Climate and Clean Air Coalition’s Short-Lived Climate Pollutants webpage.