SB 1383 FAQ general, residential, and business questions
SB 1383
What is SB 1383?
SB 1383 is a California law that was passed in 2016 put in place to reduce methane pollution and other short lived climate pollutants in California. In 2022, the goal was to reduce organic waste in landfills by 50%. As of 2025, the goal is to reduce organic waste in landfills by 75% and increase edible food recovery by 20%. SB 1383 official legislative text can be viewed here.
How does SB 1383 affect me and my community?
The Madera County Code, in accordance with SB 1383, requires that certain Census Tracts within the County to be subject to SB 1383. All property owners within the Madera County SB 1383 compliance area are required to comply starting on July 1, 2025.
You can find out if your property is located in an SB 1383 compliance area by entering your property address into the Waste Collection Service Look-up Tool located on the Madera County Solid Waste website. If your property is located in a compliance area, it is your responsibility to comply with the law by either subscribing to organic collection services, self-hauling source separated food waste, or managing organic diversion independently.
What are the benefits of SB 1383?
Organic waste trapped in landfills produces methane, a greenhouse gas several times more potent than carbon dioxide. SB 1383 aims to lower these emissions, which will have immediate beneficial impacts on air quality, public health, and climate change. In addition to environmental benefits, SB 1383 aims to combat food insecurity and reduce wasted edible foods.
What is the difference between SB 1383 and previous waste laws, such as AB 1826?
AB 1826 is a California law signed in 2014 that mandated businesses and multifamily housing complexes to recycle organic waste. SB 1383, signed into law in 2016, also mandates the recycling of organic waste but affects businesses, multifamily housing, and also residential property owners.
Residents
What are the SB 1383 requirements for residents?
If your property is within the SB 1383 compliance area, you can choose from the following three (3) options.
- Subscribe to organic collection services with your area’s solid waste hauler (Redrock or Emadco). The County’s franchise solid waste haulers are required to provide legally compliant organic waste recycling services. You can determine your area’s franchise solid waste hauler using the Waste Collection Service Look-up Tool.
- Self-haul source separated food waste into two County drop off sites. Material must fit within the rolling carts provided at the facilities with the lid closed.
- North Fork Transfer Station, 33699 Rd 274, North Fork, CA
- Fairmead Landfill, 21739 Road 19, Chowchilla, CA.
- Manage food waste on-site through backyard compost, animal feed, or edible food recovery.
Will there be a charge for food waste self-haul delivered to the North Fork Transfer Station or the Fairmead Landfill?
Self-hauling to North Fork Transfer Station or Fairmead Landfill is free for residential and commercial food waste. However, there is a limit to 64 gallons of waste per visit.
Businesses
What are the SB 1383 requirements for businesses?
If your business is within the SB 1383 compliance area, you can choose from the following four (4) options.
- Subscribe to organic collection services with your area’s solid waste hauler (Redrock or Emadco). The County’s franchise solid waste haulers are required to provide legally compliant organic waste recycling services. You can determine your area’s franchise solid waste hauler using the Waste Collection Service Look-up Tool.
- Self-haul source separated food waste to two County drop off sites. Material must fit within the rolling carts provided at the facilities with the lid closed.
- North Fork Transfer Station, 33699 Rd 274, North Fork, CA
- Fairmead Landfill, 21739 Road 19, Chowchilla, CA.
- Manage food waste on-site through backyard compost, animal feed, or edible food recovery.
- Providing collection containers for organic waste to employees, contractors, tenants, and customers on the commercial business premises.
- Arranging to recover the maximum amount of edible food that would otherwise be disposed.
- Request for a waiver.
Can I apply for a waiver for my business?
Commercial businesses may qualify for a De Minimis Waiver in one of two ways:
1. If business' total solid waste collection is no more than 20 gallons of organic waste per week for two or more cubic yards per week .
2. If business’ total solid waste collection is no more than 10 gallons per week for less than two cubic yards per week.
Commercial businesses may qualify for a Physical Space Waiver if the County has evidence that the premises lacks adequate space for any of the Organic Waste container configurations.
The waiver form mentioned above is linked below. Please note, residential property owners do not qualify for waivers.
Senate Bill (SB) 1383_Business Organic Waste Recycling Waiver Request Form
For more details about these waivers, please see the Madera County Code of Ordinances, 7.24.107 - Organic waste requirements for SB 1383 Census Tracts, G. County Waivers.
If you have further questions, please contact Madera County Public Works Department at (559) 675-7811 or by email SolidWaste@maderacounty.com.
Organic Collection FAQs
What can I put in my green container and what happens to the waste?
Organic materials such as vegetable and cooked meat food scraps, yard waste, untreated wood, food soiled paper and cardboard, eggshells, and other compostable items are all allowable materials in your green container. The collected material is brought to a compost facility, where it is processed into nutrient rich compost for agricultural end-users.
Plastics, including compostable plastics or plastic bags are not allowed. Unfortunately, compostable bags don’t break down like food. They take longer to decompose and can often jam up equipment during shredding operation at a composting facility. We ask that you do not place these products in your organic container.
Medications, pesticides, and other hazardous materials are not allowed in any of the three containers. For the most up to date information, please visit your franchise waste hauler's website at either Red Rock Environmental Group or Emadco Disposal Services.
What happens if my container is contaminated and what are the penalties for non-compliance?
Compliance with the County’s ordinance will be monitored randomly through compliance reviews, route reviews, investigation of complaints, and an inspection program. Residents and business owners will be provided with warnings and educational material to aid in compliance prior to fines being issued. The County may impose penalties for non-compliance in amounts listed below.
- First violation: $50-100
- Second violation: $100-200
- Third and subsequent violations: $250-500
What kind of containers can be used for organic collection?
If subscribed to a collection service, residents must use hauler provided containers. For self-hauling, residents may use their own containers.