In 2016, Governor Brown signed Senate Bill 1383 into California law, establishing statewide greenhouse gas emission reduction goals:
- By 2020, reduce the amount of organic material disposed in landfills by 50% from the 2014 level, and
- By 2025, reduce the amount of organic material disposed in landfills by 75% from the 2014 level.
- By 2025, no less than 20% of edible food currently disposed must also be recovered for human consumption.
This law expands upon the requirements of AB 341: Mandatory Commercial Recycling and AB 1826: Mandatory Commercial Organics. However, SB 1383 is unique in that it impacts residents in addition to businesses, and it requires some businesses to donate excess edible food to feed people in addition to diverting organic materials from the garbage. As the most aggressive waste reduction law to be adopted in California for the past 30 years, SB 1383 includes significant penalties for non-compliance.