Local Education Agencies

California is home to more than 10,000 K-12 schools and 6 million students. Local education agencies (LEA’s) play a vital role in fighting climate change and protecting the environment for future generations.

SB 1383 Composting Law

SB 1383 applies to all local education agencies, including:

  • K-12 public and charter schools
  • School districts
  • County offices of education

Local education agencies are required to maintain mandatory commercial recycling and organics recycling (compost) programs, including ensuring that schools have properly labeled recycling and composting containers to collect bottles, cans, paper, cardboard, food waste, and other recyclable materials. SB 1383 builds upon these efforts by expanding the definition of organic waste to include food scraps, landscape and pruning waste, lumber, wood, and more.

School staff and administrators must educate employees and students about organic waste prevention. Staff and administrators must periodically:

  • Inspect organic waste containers for contamination.
  • Inform employees if containers are contaminated.
  • Instruct employees on how to properly sort material into the correct containers.

School staff and administrators must provide containers to collect organic waste and recyclables in all areas where disposal containers are provided, except in restrooms.

However, a school is not required to provide an internal collection container if a specific material type is not generated in a particular room (e.g., food waste in a classroom). Containers must conform to the proper color or labeling requirements.

Please visit CalRecycle's website and Zero Waste Marin's website for more information on the new law.

Resources

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