Starting Jan. 6, 2025, residents in unincorporated Nevada County must separate food waste from regular trash to comply with the state mandate under Senate Bill 1383. The law aims to mitigate climate change by diverting organic waste from landfills. Many other communities in California have already been separating out food waste since 2022.
There are three options for WM (Waste Management) customers to dispose of their food waste, depending on which service options are available to their residential address: small bathroom garbage bags
Unincorporated WM customers who bring carts to end of driveway.
Unincorporated WM customers who bring carts to end of shared roadway.
Unincorporated residents who do not have trash, recycling or organics carts because they don't subscribe to curbside service or it's unavailable at their residential address*.
* WM service is not available to unincorporated residents living above 4,500 feet and in low-populated census tracts with less than 75 residents per square mile. These residents are exempt from the food waste state mandate but would be required to separate food waste from trash if using the McCourtney Road Transfer Station.
WM delivered green carts to most curbside or subscribed community stop customers in Dec. 2024. For questions on WM service, email nevadacountyorganics@wm.com or call (530) 615-2020 to reach WM's dedicated customer support on food waste collection.
Residents living within the City of Grass Valley or City of Nevada City should check their websites for information and requirements of each jurisdiction's solid waste program.
SB1383 requires that cities and counties across the state implement an organic waste recycling program to divert organic waste generated by businesses, including multifamily residential dwellings that consist of 5 or more units. To comply, businesses can subscribe to local curbside collection service or self-haul their waste to an approved facility. They also have the option to donate their edible food to a food recovery organization.
WM is offering senior or low-income discounts. You may qualify for either the senior OR low-income discount, not both. For seniors, eligible customers must be head of household and at least 62 years of age. For low-income, eligible customers must be head of household and enrolled and approved in the PG&E "CARE" Program.
If you qualify, apply through WM for the discount. Visit their website and download and submit the proper forms found under "helpful resources." Email ncdiscountrate@wm.com or call (530) 615-2020 for questions about the discount program.
For questions about Food Waste Collection or other Solid Waste programs, contact Nevada County Solid Waste by phone (530) 265-7111 or email.
SB 1383 Organics Collection Program is expected to begin in Nevada County in January 2025, upon completion of the McCourtney Rd Transfer Station Renovation Project. So what does that mean for you?
For those residents that live in the city or town limits of Nevada County such as the Town of Truckee and the City of Grass Valley and Nevada City, you should reach out to your jurisdiction for more information about how SB1383 will impact your collection service.
The bundle includes Trash, Recycling, and Food Waste/Yard Waste Carts.
Residential Organic Waste Rates at the McCourtney Road Transfer Station:
The 2025 Rate Sheet can also be found on WM's site under Helpful Resources.
WM is offering senior or low-income discounts. You may qualify for either the senior OR low-income discount, not both. Review the Senior or Low-Income Discount Rate Form for WM.
For more information, visit www.nevadacountyca.gov/organics or contact Solid Waste by phone at (530) 265-7111 or email
As a result of Senate Bill SB1383, the County must offer a 3-bin solid waste collection service (trash, recycling, and organic waste) to all residents and businesses. The new 3-bin service will require disposing of organic materials separately, which will cut methane emissions and preserve our landfill capacity for the benefit of future generations.
How can your business comply?
To apply for a waiver, complete the online fillable application We also have a printable and fillable version available that you can complete and return by email to Solid Waste.
For questions about commercial requirements of SB1383, please contact the Solid Waste Division at 530.265.7111 or by email. OR visit CalRecycle's webpage
Commercial SB1383 Requirements:https://nevadacountyca.gov/DocumentCenter/View/56518/Commercial-SB1383-Handout-PDF Edible Food Generators FAQ: https://nevadacountyca.gov/DocumentCenter/View/56521/Edible-Food-Generators--FAQ-Flyer-PDF
Commercial customers may chose to self-haul their organic waste to the McCourtney Road Transfer Station using personal or company vehicle(s) and employee(s). Businesses requesting an Alternative Compliance waiver from collection service from a non-exclusive franchised hauler and choosing to self-haul organic waste must agree to keep receipts or weight tickets from the processing facility and proof that the material is being recycled. These records must be made available upon County request.
Self-Hauler Annual Reporting Form (Online/Fillable) - To be completed by February 1 each year.
Zero Foodprint (ZFP) is a California nonprofit organization with the goal of reducing the carbon footprint of the food industry in California. In response to SB1383, ZFP created the farmer-facing program “Compost Connector.” This program matches farms and ranches seeking compost with funding from jurisdictions interested in meeting SB1383 procurement targets, which creates the financial opportunities for additional compost use throughout the State. Under the program farmers enter into an agreement that allows them to procure SB1383 compliant material from any appropriately permitted transfer/processing facility. Farmers then receive rebates once they provide documentation that they meet the minimum requirements of the program, which are intended encourage proper application and guarantee compliance with SB1383 requirements. In addition to the procurement services, ZFP maintains all records of the compost transaction and use, providing project level details and reporting documentation as required by SB 1383.
Edible food is defined as food that is safe for human consumption. Unfortunately, too much of it ends up being wasted. More efforts are needed to get wasted edible food to those who are hungry. Learn more about Food Recovery in Nevada County.
SB 1383 establishes two “tiers” of commercial edible food generators to which the regulations apply. Beginning January 1, 2022, Tier 1 generators must arrange for recovery of edible food and keep a record of recovery activities, including a contract with a food recovery organization(s). Beginning January 1, 2024, Tier 2 generators will be required to the requirements described above.
For more information, including model contracts, please visit CalRecycle's Food Recovery page.
Secure contracts or written agreements with Edible Food Recovery Services and/or Organizations to recover the maximum amount of edible food that would otherwise be disposed of. Visit the CalRecycle Food Donors page to read their Model Food Recovery Agreement to use as a reference when creating your own agreement.
Maintain a list and copy of all Edible Food Recovery Services and/or Organization's contracts or agreements that collect or receive its edible food.
Maintain a record of the following for each contract or written agreement; 1) name, address, and contact information of the service or organization, 2) the types of food that will be collected by or self-hauled to the service or organization, 3) the established frequency that food will be collected or self-hauled, and 4) the pounds of food per month collected or self-hauled to a service or organization for food recovery.
There are still things that we all can do as individuals or businesses to help make a difference – such as preventing food waste or taking steps to keep food waste and other organic materials out of our landfills. Find tips for more purposeful shopping and cooking, and good food storage techniques, check out the Environmental Protection Agency's Reducing Food Waste at Home page. Composting at home is also a great option.
For a full history of California Solid Waste Law visit CalRecycle.
2022 – Senate Bill (SB) 1383 Effective January 1, 2022, statewide regulations require all residents and businesses to recycle their organic waste – things like all food scraps (vegetables, meat, bones, dairy, grains, and coffee grounds), food-soiled paper products (paper towels, pizza boxes, egg cartons, coffee filters, and tea bags) yard waste, paper, and cardboard. In addition, some food service businesses may be required to donate edible organics to food recovery organizations with the goal of redirecting 20% of edible food that is currently ending up in the landfill to those in need.
Organic waste is targeted by this law because it produces methane, a potent greenhouse gas, when organics decompose in a landfill. Landfills are the third-largest source of methane in California and organic materials in landfills emit 20% of the state’s methane, a climate super pollutant 84 times more potent than carbon dioxide.
2020 – Assembly Bill (AB) 827 As of July 1, 2020, all businesses (except full-service restaurants) must provide recycling and organics containers at front-of-house to collect waste generated by customers from products they purchase and consume on the premises.
2016 – Assembly Bill (AB) 1826 AB 1826 extended mandatory commercial and multi-family residential recycling requirements to add organics recycling. Under AB 1826, jurisdictions are obligated to identify covered generators that will be subject to compliance, ensure that organics recycling services are available to them, and perform outreach/education and compliance monitoring to make them aware of the requirement to participate. As with AB 341, CalRecycle requires annual reporting on program offerings and compliance efforts.
2012 – Assembly Bill (AB) 341 AB 341 increased the statewide diversion goal to 75% and instituted mandatory recycling service for all businesses, multi-family properties (5+ units), and public entities that generate more than four cubic yards of solid waste per week. The Bill also requires education and outreach programs to be implemented to inform covered generators of their obligation to meet the regulation terms. Efforts to comply with this Bill are included in the Electronic Annual Report to CalRecycle.
1989 – Assembly Bill (AB) 939 AB 939 established a 50% diversion requirement for all solid waste generated in the State of California. Local jurisdictions or their recognized Regional Agencies are required to report progress towards this goal to CalRecycle via the Electronic Annual Report (EAR) in August of every year. AB 939 also mandated that long-term waste management plans be produced and updated regularly by jurisdictions or their representative Regional Agencies.
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