Californians throw away approximately 5.5 million tons of food waste every year. SB 1383 is the State’s newest recycling law that requires all California residents to separate their food waste from other trash and recyclables in an effort to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. The City of Huntington Beach and Republic Services will launch a state-mandated food waste recycling program for all households in mid-2023.

To prepare for the new program, the City was awarded a one-time CalRecycle grant of $278,000 to assist with implementation. The funds will be used to purchase two-gallon kitchen pails for distribution to HB residents to make it easier to collect food scraps. These useful pails are odor resistant, lightweight, have a ventilated lid, and are dishwasher safe. They can be stored on the counter or under the sink to make it more convenient to collect food scraps in between trips to the organics collection bin.

The City recognizes that residents will have individual preferences for how they choose to collect their food scraps, so the intent is to provide these pails as an option to all households that want one.  When the waste collection program launches next year, the City and Republic Services will work together to distribute the pails, and will provide information on the program prior to implementation.

When the program begins, residents will have to separate food waste into the green container for composting. If you don’t have a green container, Republic Services will provide one. For those living in an apartment, townhome, or condo with shared bins, Republic Services will deliver additional new containers for food waste and for recycling. You will have to sort materials into the proper bins.

For now, please continue to to put food waste with trash until instructed differently.