Recycling Organics Waste at Home
Athens Services is partnering with your city to implement food scrap collection for single-family home residents and multifamily complexes. Per Senate Bill 1383, single-family home residents and multifamily complexes across California will be required to place into their green waste container ALL of their landscaping waste, food scraps, and food-soiled paper (100% fiber-based).
WHAT’S CHANGING?
You will be able to use your green organics container for the collection of landscaping waste, food scraps, and 100% fiber-based, food-soiled paper.
DID YOU SAY FOOD SCRAPS?
Yes, Athens will accept all types of food scraps. Our American Organics compost facility converts organics waste into nutrient-rich soil amendment. The resulting compost is used by commercial farmers, city projects, garden shops, landscapers, and residents.
HOW DO I PARTICIPATE?
To collect your kitchen food scraps, you can choose to use a portable, reusable pail-like container with a tight-fitting lid. It could be plastic, metal, or ceramic.
Consider reusing a coffee canister, large yogurt or margarine tub, or juice pitcher.
Pail options can be purchased at a retail store or searched online for “Kitchen Pail.”
Storage ideas can include the kitchen counter, under the sink, in the freezer, or wherever you feel is best.
WHY ORGANICS RECYCLING?
Landfills are the third largest source of methane in California. Organics waste emits 20% of the state’s methane; a climate super pollutant up to 84 times more potent than carbon dioxide. By diverting organics from the landfill, you are part of the solution in helping to protect the environment and future generations.
ARE BAGS ACCEPTED?
Liners are optional. Plastic and bioplastic “compostable” bags are accepted in the organics container, but must be CLEAR or translucent-green, and bag contents must be visible. Acceptable organics will be processed, but the bags will not be recycled or composted.
WHERE CAN I GET MORE INFORMATION?
Athens is here to support the community with this new program and will provide resources and training to help you get started.
If you have any questions about the new organics collection program, please contact the Athens Customer Care Center at (888) 336-6100 or visit AthensServices.com/SB-1383.
For more information on SB 1383, also check out CalRecycle.ca.gov/Organics/SLCP.
