Most people don't realize how much food they throw away each day – from uneaten leftovers to old produce or food.
Here's some food for thought: Californians send 11.2 billion pounds of food to landfills annually, and organic waste makes up over 50 percent of what landfills receive each year. Unfortunately, food waste also increases greenhouse gas emissions, which harm the environment.
That's why Roseville and other California communities are rethinking and improving their recycling practices. In 2016, California passed SB 1383, which established statewide targets for local jurisdictions to work toward composting organic waste and reducing the amount sent to landfills. This legislation aims to reduce statewide organic waste disposal by 75 percent by 2025, which will help reduce methane gas – a significant contributor to the rise in Earth's temperature.
Since Roseville uses a Materials Recovery Facility to sort recyclables from trash, customers can continue to use their trash and recycling bins as part of the City’s broader effort to reduce organic waste sent to landfills. Over time, these efforts are intended to increase the recovery of organic material that can be used for compost.
Recycling food waste is one of the most significant developments in the trash and recycling industry in 30 years. The goal is to lower climate change super pollutants to reduce challenges, including:
- Bigger fires
- Longer droughts
- Higher temperatures
- Stronger storms
Food for Soil: Addressing food insecurity while reducing impacts of climate change
Discarded food is often still fresh. Roseville plans to assist with food recovery to feed those in need by coordinating with local food banks, soup kitchens, and food recovery organizations.
This coordination includes developing partnerships and encouraging grocery stores and distributors to recover and redirect excess fresh food rather than waste it. These efforts help address food insecurity in our community while also supporting compliance with state regulations.
Diverting food waste through residential programs and food recovery efforts helps reduce the amount of organic material sent to landfills over time, lowering greenhouse gas emissions. When organic material is successfully diverted, it can be put to beneficial use as compost, returning nutrients to the soil.
This resource is available for purchase at the landfill located at 3195 Athens Ave, Lincoln, CA 95648.
Questions and answers
Currently, our collection process uses a two-cart system: one for trash and recyclables combined and another for green waste (e.g., yard waste). Your combined trash and recycling bin is collected weekly and delivered to our mixed waste processing facility, where waste is sorted to recover marketable recyclables. The green waste bin is collected every other week, and the material is composted.
Local jurisdictions – Sacramento County, City of Sacramento, and others – are moving to curbside organics recycling in July based on Senate bill 1383.
In Placer County – including Roseville – we use a high diversion waste facility known as the Materials Recovery Facility, where recyclables are sorted from your regular trash before waste is sent to the landfill. Because of our approach, Roseville is not moving to curbside organics collection. Instead, we will meet organic recycling regulations with this approach.
For now, customers can continue to place food scraps and food-soiled paper in your trash bin which is also your recycle bin. We will continue to evaluate this approach over time and might move to an organic curbside program in three to five years. If we decide on a different approach than you are accustomed to, we will provide information about any changes well in advance.
Things like uncooked vegetable cuts can be placed in your green waste bin. Anything else, please continue to use your combined trash and recycling bin for other food-related items.
Our most recent rate adjustments can be viewed here. It is important to note that we review rates every two years to ensure we have the necessary revenue to cover expenses.
We recognize the odor and pest issues regarding food waste collection when this waste is set loose in the bin. We are in the process of determining the best and most cost-effective approach to these issues. Some residents used one option to store food in the refrigerator or freezer and only place the material in their bin on collection day. Or, as part of the pilot, customers have placed their green waste at the bottom of their container to create a liner to reduce sludge generation. Unfortunately, plastic liner bags are not allowable at this time.
Your gray or black can is the designated collection container for trash, recycling, and food scraps at this time. The City empties these cans weekly and empties green waste cans every other week. If we find it necessary to modify our approach to meet the requirements of SB 1383, we will notify residents in plenty of time to prepare for any changes.