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COMPOSTING
IN ARCADIA
Learn here about the three ways to compost in Arcadia and the organics green waste bill - SB1383 - requring composting in California.
What is composting?
Composting is the process of breaking down organic waste like food scraps, leftovers, yard clippings, and old leaves. Composting consists of layering GREEN materials like food, fresh leaves and flowers, leftover food, coffee grounds, and eggshells and BROWN materials like dead leaves, wood chips, and shredded newspaper and brown bags. When these items are layered and turned with occasional watering, they turn into a soil amendment called compost which can be added to plants and trees for health and nutrients of the ecosystem.
Three ways to compost in Arcadia
1. Green Cart
Arcadia's residential hauler, Waste Management, accepts appropriate food scraps, yard waste, and other organic materials in your green cart. They will collect your green waste your collection day and then turn it into compost at a facility off site.
2. Composting
at home
If you have space at your residence, then you can start a backyard compost pile. You can seek out a tumbler, bin, or DIY a holding container for green and brown organic matter. Most important is to remember to layer green and brown materials to abate unwanted critters and help lead to healthier compost.
3. Community Compost Bin
Arcadia residents are invited to participate in the first community compost bin program in the Arcadia Library parking lot. You can register on this website below and get the code to the lock to place your accepted green organic waste as often as you would like. Residents can keep scraps in freezer or enclosed container to bring by the bin and then use the onsite brown material to cover their green matter. Compost generated will be distributed back to the local community.
ADDING
What is SB 1383?
In September 2016, Governor Edmund Brown Jr. set methane emissions reduction targets for California (SB 1383 Lara, Chapter 395, Statutes of 2016) in a statewide effort to reduce emissions of short-lived climate pollutants (SLCP).
The targets must:
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Reduce organic waste disposal 75% by 2025.
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Rescue for people to eat at least 20% of currently disposed surplus food by 2025.
Landfills Are Third Largest Source of Methane in California
Organic waste in landfills emits:
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20% of the state’s methane, a climate super pollutant 84 times more potent than carbon dioxide.
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Air pollutants like PM 2.5, which contributes to health conditions like asthma.
Organics like food scraps, yard trimmings, paper, and cardboard make up half of what Californians dump in landfills. Reducing Short-Lived Climate Super Pollutants like organic waste will have the fastest impact on the climate crisis.