Santa Monica Shifts To Organic Waste Recycling In 2022

SANTA MONICA, CA — The new year will bring with it new recycling regulations for Santa Monica businesses and residences.

Beginning on Jan. 1, residents and businesses will be asked to separate out food products from their trash and recycling and put them into the green organics bin without a trash bag. This means you'll be dumping your scraps from produce, meat, dairy items, egg shells, coffee grounds and tea bags, bakery and dry goods and yard waste into the green bin.

For those who don't currently have a green organics container, residents, businesses and multi-family dwelling mangers can set up organic recycling with the city of Santa Monica by emailing recycling@santamonica.gov. The city will deliver a green bin for free.

Here's what you need to do, according to the city:

"Take collected food materials to your green bin every few days. When ready, dump out the food scraps into your green bin, rinse out the container, and reuse it for the next batch. Place yard materials, shredded paper, or shredded cardboard at the bottom of your green bin before placing food scraps, if possible, to absorb moisture. Layer yard materials or paper with food throughout the week before collection day."

More information can be found on the city's website.

Wasted food accounts for eight percent of global greenhouse gas emissions, according to a report from The Washington Post. In the United States, wasted food has a bigger carbon footprint than the airline industry. Over a third of all produced food doesn't actually get consumed, and instead ends up rotting in landfills, the Post reported.

The organic waste program in Santa Monica is a result of a new state law, SB 1383, which passed earlier this year ro reduce methane emission from landfills.

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