Pasadena Ramps Up Organic Waste Recycling Enforcement

Pasadena is preparing to intensify enforcement of its residential organic waste recycling program in response to impending state audits, a City official said Monday. The move comes as City officials reported significant success in diverting food waste and yard trimmings from landfills, with 91,504 tons of yard waste composted since 2020.

“Beginning January 1, 2024 State required mandatory local enforcement,” said Thanos Gauthier, Public Works Administrator for Pasadena’s Resource Recovery and Recycling program.

“We’ve been tagging cans for the last 20 years, so we’re already used to this, but it’s now going to getting to the point that we’re going to have a couple of fellows that we have from the governor’s office come out and work with us in the next few months because CalRecycle (California Department of Resources Recycling and Recovery)  in the next 16 months is going to come out and tip every lid of every can in the City themselves.”

The enforcement plan includes reviewing every trash can in the City at least once a year to ensure proper sorting.

This initiative aligns with Senate Bill 1383, which aims to reduce methane emissions by mandating local jurisdictions to implement organic recycling programs and conduct outreach, education, inspection, and enforcement.

Pasadena’s organic waste recycling program, which began on Jan. 1, 2022, allows residents to place bagged food waste in yard waste containers.

The City was “the first and only City in southern California that provided its residents food waste collection for diversion from landfills” based on the state-mandated start date. The collected material is then separated, with yard waste sent to a composting facility in Ventura and food waste converted into a bio slurry. This slurry is then used in anaerobic digestion to produce electricity, biogas, and renewable natural gas.

City data shows impressive results, with 463 tons (926,000 pounds) of food waste diverted from landfills between January 2022 and August 2024. The program’s success has positioned Pasadena as a model City recognized by CalRecycle for its diversion programs and best management practices.

To further boost participation, the City is distributing free organic recycling pails to residents with City refuse service. These pails will be available at various events, including an e-waste and shredding event scheduled for Dec. 7, 2024, at Rose Bowl Lot I.

Pasadena has also implemented community compost hubs, with one in each council District. This initiative has been praised by CalRecycle as a model program.

As the City prepares for CalRecycle’s on-site reviews in the coming 16 months, officials are ramping up their efforts to ensure compliance. “Staff will conduct reviews in the next 90-days,” Gauthier said, underlining the urgency of the situation.

The intensified enforcement reflects Pasadena’s commitment to meeting state-mandated recycling goals and reducing methane emissions from landfills. The City has conducted extensive outreach and education efforts, including workshops with the Chamber of Commerce and business associations, marketing campaigns, and social media outreach. By focusing on these efforts and now stricter enforcement, the City aims to maintain its position as a leader in sustainable waste management practices.