Elk Grove details progress, challenges in complying with state organic waste law

City officials told the Elk Grove City Council during their December 10 meeting that the city has made progress in complying with California's organic waste reduction law, Senate Bill 1383. While progress has been made, it was also acknowledged that full compliance will require expanded programs, continued enforcement, and additional costs in the coming years.

During a presentation at the council's Wednesday, December 10 meeting, Kimberly Taylor, Recycling & Waste Manager, outlined efforts to reduce organic waste sent to landfills, recover edible food for donation, and meet state procurement mandates designed to cut methane emissions and fight climate change.

SB 1383, adopted by the state in 2016, requires cities to divert food scraps and other organic material from landfills, ensure certain businesses donate edible food, and purchase recycled organic waste products such as compost and mulch. The law is a cornerstone of California's strategy to reduce short-lived climate pollutants.

City staff said Elk Grove has expanded weekly green-cart service for residents, increased contamination monitoring, and conducted outreach campaigns to encourage proper sorting of food waste. Commercial and multifamily properties are subject to site visits and inspections to ensure they have required organics collection and maintain records, according to the report.
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A significant focus of the city's work has been edible food recovery. Elk Grove participates in the Capital Food Access Alliance, a regional partnership that coordinates food donation efforts across Sacramento County and neighboring jurisdictions.

Through a regional grant program, dozens of food recovery organizations have expanded storage, transportation, and food-safety capacity, with several serving Elk Grove residents experiencing food insecurity.
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The city council was also briefed on the city's obligation to procure recycled organic waste products. Based on its population, Elk Grove is required to secure more than 14,000 tons annually.

In 2025, the city met roughly a quarter of that requirement through free compost distribution and use of compliant mulch on city-maintained properties, with officials projecting full compliance in 2026.
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During the deliberations, Mayor Bobbie Singh-Allen and her four councilmen discussed enforcement, public awareness, and residents' and businesses' concerns about compliance expectations, including the potential for inspections and penalties if contamination persists.

Those concerns echo comments made by City Manager Jason Behrmann in January 2023, when he said the city could ultimately be required under state law to inspect garbage and organics containers to verify compliance (see video). Behrmann emphasized at the time that education and outreach were the city's preferred approach, but noted that SB 1383 mandates enforcement if voluntary compliance proves insufficient.

The staff report estimates the cost of implementing SB 1383 in Elk Grove at about $1.5 million from 2022 through 2026, partially offset by more than $700,000 in state grant funding. Remaining costs include staffing and the city's share of regional food recovery grants.