Required Residential Composting

What’s happening? California and Vermont both require residences to compost food waste. Vermont was first to the composting game and California’s law went into effect at the beginning of 2022, based on a 2016 bill.

Why is this important? To California, the concern was emissions (methane) from food waste. The State can also fine cities up to $10,000 for not complying. California’s 2025 goal is to cut organic waste in landfills by 75% from 2014 levels.

How will this be important? California will take the food waste and turn it into either (1) biogas or (2) compost.  it “is the single easiest and fastest thing that every single person can do to affect climate change, ” according to Rachel Wagoner, director of the California Department of Resources Recycling and Recovery.

AP | California pushes composting to lower food waste emissions