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Help to Reduce Food Waste

Join Novato Sanitary District in its Goal to Achieve ZERO Waste

Novato Sanitary District's franchise agreement with Recology requires recycling and composting of organics to reduce food waste in our landfills and make progress toward our ZERO waste goals. For questions or information about composting, visit Recology's  website

How You Can Reduce Food Waste

  • Plan meals in advance and buy only what you know you will eat.
  • Store fruits and vegetables properly so they stay fresh longer inside or outside your refrigerator.
  • Prep perishable food as soon as you get home from the store and place your fresh food items in clear storage containers for snacks and easy cooking.
  • Incorporate leftovers in meal planning. Shop in your refrigerator first! Cook or eat what you already have at home before buying more.

Resources:

Reducing Food Waste Benefits Us All

… Saves Money
  • 40% of our food is wasted, an average of 400 lbs per person each year.
  • The average family of 4 wastes $1,800 on uneaten food.
… Helps the Planet
  • 100 lbs of food waste in our landfills sends 8.3 lbs of methane into the atmosphere.
  • 25% of the world's fresh water supply is used to grow food that is never eaten.
… Helps Others
  • If our country reduced food waste by only 15%, we could feed 25 million more people every year.
…And is Required by California Law
  • California is a leader in reducing food waste and greenhouse gases, and has enacted rigorous waste disposal legislation, such as SB1383, which mandates a 50% reduction in organic waste disposal by 2020, a 75% reduction by 2025 and a 20% improvement in edible food recovery by 2025.

Food Waste Must Go In the Green Cart - It’s the New State Law

Illustration of curbside compost bin with compostable items falling in

Senate Bill 1383 Requires that All Food Scraps Go In the Green Compost Cart for Composting

Senate Bill 1383 (SB1383) is state legislation that requires all residents and businesses to divert organic materials, including food scraps, plant trimmings, and unlined soiled paper products from the landfill. Recology, your franchise waste hauler, has provided green carts for food waste since 2011. Beginning January 1, 2022 SB1383 mandates their use.

How Diverting Organics Will Make a Difference.

California has been enduring record-breaking temperatures, more extreme droughts, longer and hotter fire seasons and rising sea levels. Diverting organics from the landfill will:

  • Reduce methane emissions from landfills.
  • Recover edible food for people in need.
  • Store carbon in compost and the soil.

What You Can Do

Please dispose of all food scraps in your green compost cart, including meat and bones. Do not use plastic bags or “bio-bags.” Paper bags or newspaper are OK.