Boost Cal Cities’ organic waste advocacy efforts by responding to a short survey

The League of California Cities is calling on the state to include $180 million in the 2022-23 State Budget to help cities develop and implement SB 1383 (Lara, 2016) organic waste recycling programs. To help inform and bolster advocacy efforts, Cal Cities is collecting information about the impacts of changing recycling markets and recently enacted organic waste regulations on cities.

SB 1383 aims to reduce landfill disposal of organic waste by 75% and to increase edible food waste recovery by 20%. Once in landfills, food waste generates methane, a greenhouse gas dramatically more potent than carbon dioxide. 

Cal Cities’ first statewide survey on solid waste and recycling rates found that nine out of 10 cities expected their rates to increase, with more than seven out of 10 anticipating a 1-20% increase. California cities of every size anticipate solid waste and recycling rate increases through 2023.

Information from that survey helped Cal Cities secure $60 million in grant funding for SB 1383 implementation — the largest amount ever set aside for cities in a single fiscal year.

This year’s requested $180 million in state funding would build on the $60 million in grant funding approved by the Legislature in 2021.

The 2022 survey is available online. Responses are confidential and the survey will take approximately 10-15 minutes to complete. Most questions are simple, multiple-choice. The last few questions ask cities to identify implementation challenges and estimated costs.

Responses are due May 9, 2022. For questions, or for additional time to complete this survey, please contact Legislative Representative Derek Dolfie.