Composting

Required Composting and SB 1383

Senate Bill (SB) 1383 (Short-Lived Climate Pollutant Reduction law) went into effect in 2022 and affects all Californians. The law addresses “short-lived climate pollutants” or the greenhouse gases caused when food is sent to landfills instead of compost. The law requires that everyone – residents, businesses, and schools – keep compostable waste out of our landfills.

Properly dispose of food scraps, plant material, and food-soiled paper or cardboard in the green cart. Place clean paper or cardboard in the recycling cart. Separate your trash, recycling, and compost into the correct carts. The Mill Valley Refuse Service (MVRS) "What Goes Where?" tool can help you decide which can to use to properly recycle or dispose of an item. Tiburon residents do not need to change their hauler services as Mill Valley Refuse Service provides residential composting, recycling, and garbage collection as part of their standard pickup. MVRS is the approved solid waste, recyclable material. and organic waste hauler for Tiburon by franchise agreement. 

Why is it Important?

Food scraps and food-soiled paper make up 23% of Marin's residential waste stream. When you compost, your organic waste will be diverted from the landfill to create a rich and nutritious soil amendment that can be put back in the earth, closing the "recycling loop". 

When food scraps and other organic matter go to the landfill, the rotting process releases methane, a powerful greenhouse gas pollutant that contributes to climate change. California SB 1383 has two main goals:

  • Reduce the disposal of compostable waste to landfills by 75% by 2025.
  • Recover at least 20% of edible food currently disposed of in landfills by 2025

Food scraps, food-soiled paper, and yard waste are processed into Homegrown Compost, a premium, affordable compost which you can purchase directly from Redwood Landfill's VMEarthCare Center in Novato.

Additional Resources

Residential Requirements

Residents in Tiburon are already provided with curbside recycling and organics collection containers. If you don't have the service or containers, contact Mill Valley Refuse Service, or if you live in a multifamily building with five or more units, contact your property manager. 

Residents (single family and multi-family 2-4 units) are required to place organics (yard waste, food waste, and food soiled paper) in their organics container and paper and cardboard in their recycling container.  Organic waste and recyclable materials should not be placed in the garbage container. 

General Commercial Requirements

Businesses are required to have organics collection  

Mill Valley Refuse Service has recycling and organics collection as part of their regular service

  • Ensure each trash enclosure has sufficient carts for all recyclables and organics 
  • Include a cardboard recycling bin or designated area

Businesses are also required to:  

  • Provide ample recycling and organic waste containers for employees and contractors
  • Position recycling and organic waste bins adjacent to customer trash bins  
  • Equip restrooms with organics bins for paper towel collection, if applicable 
  • Ensure bins comply with color codes (grey/black for landfill, blue for recycling, green for organics) OR labeling specifications. See more on the Mill Valley Refuse Service website
  • Include in contracts with gardening or landscaping services a stipulation to keep yard trimmings out of landfill 
  • Annually educate all stakeholders on waste diversion requirements and proper sorting 
  • Prohibit employees from putting waste in incorrect bins and inspect for contamination

Flyer for General Business Requirements

Landlord Requirements

Multifamily and single-family housing is required to have organics collection  

Mill Valley Refuse Service has recycling and organics collection as part of their regular service

  • Ensure each trash enclosure has sufficient carts for all recyclables and organics 
  • Include a cardboard recycling bin or designated area 

Landlords are also required to: 

  • Inform new tenants about waste sorting requirements within 14 days of occupying premises 
  • Provide ample recycling and organic waste containers for tenants, contractors, and employees 
  • Ensure bins comply with color codes (grey/black for landfill, blue for recycling, green for organics) OR labeling specifications. See more on the Mill Valley Refuse Service website
  • Include in contracts with gardening or landscaping services a stipulation to keep yard trimmings out of landfill 
  • Annually educate all stakeholders on waste diversion requirements and proper sorting 

Flyer for Landlord Requirements

Self-Hauling Organic Waste Requirements

Self haulers are commercial businesses, such as landscapers, who haul organic waste from a residence or business to a transfer/processing facility, composter, or other organic waste recovery activity

Self haulers are required to separate organic waste from landfill and recycle it properly  

Self haulers are also required to: 

  • Keep a record of the amount of organic waste each time you go to the facility for recycling including 
    • Delivery receipts and weight tickets 
    • Total number of cubic yards or tons transported 
  • If the facility you use does not have scales take record of  
    • The facility name 
    • Date the organic waste was delivered 
    • Estimated amount in cubic yards that you delivered 
  • Keep your records for five years to ensure that compliance is being met

Use this Recordkeeping Tool for Self Haulers made by CalRecycle to help ensure compliance 

Flyer for Self-Hauling Requirements

Methods for Food Waste Prevention

There are still things that we all can do as individuals or businesses to help make a difference – such as preventing food waste, keeping food waste and other organic materials out of our landfills, and composting at home. Learn more about ways to reduce your edible food waste

Edible Food

Edible food is defined as food that is safe for human consumption. SB 1383 includes goals to get more edible food that would have otherwise been landfilled, to humans for consumption. 

SB 1383 regulates two “tiers” of commercial businesses that generate edible food.  Beginning January 1, 2022, Tier 1 generators must arrange for recovery of surplus edible food by establishing a contract or written agreement with a food recovery organization(s) or service. Beginning January 1, 2024, Tier 2 generators will be required to do the same. 

Tier 1 Commercial Edible Food Generators

  • Supermarkets;
  • Grocery stores with a total facility size equal to or greater than 10,000 square feet;
  • Food service providers;
  • Food distributors; and
  • Wholesale food vendors.

Tier 2 Commercial Edible Food Generators

  • Restaurants with 250 or more seats, or a total facility size equal to or greater than 5,000 square feet;
  • Hotels with an on‐site food facility and 200 or more rooms;
  • Health facilities with an on‐site food facility and 100 or more beds;
  • Large venues;
  • Large events;
  • State agencies with a cafeteria with 250 or more seats or total cafeteria facility size equal to or greater than 5,000 square feet; and
  • Local education agency facilities with an on‐site food facility.

For more information including model contracts, please visit CalRecycle Food Recovery

Commercial Edible Food Generator Requirements

  • Recover the maximum amount possible of surplus edible food generated  
  • Partner with one or more food recovery organizations or services to pick up or receive surplus edible food
  • Have a written contract or agreement with the food recovery organization(s) or service(s).  Visit the CalRecycle website to read their Model Food Recovery Agreement to use as a reference when creating your own agreement.
  • Safely recover edible food in accordance with the California Retail Food Code
  • Track and maintain records of food recovered each month including type, frequency of collection and amounts in pounds
  • Allow the Enforcement Agency to review records upon request
  • Commercial businesses that fit one of the two tiers above, or other commercial businesses that want to donate edible food, should contact the following organizations to arrange for food recovery:
    1. SF/Marin Food Bank: Suitable for large volume donations. Call 415-282-1900 ext. 239 to get started.
    2. Extra Food: Suitable for smaller donations and prepared foods. Call 415-997-9830 to get started.