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Residents of Los Angeles are now required to compost their food scraps to help reduce organic waste.
“Organic waste makes up a large portion of waste that goes to disposal in landfills,” officials explain. “When organic waste is buried in landfills it can decompose anaerobically (without oxygen) and generate methane gas, a potent greenhouse gas that has negative effects on our environment.”
The program is called Organic L.A. and it was passed into a law for all businesses and resident to separate their "green" waste from their traditional waste. Beginning in 2024, those who don't comply with this new law will face some "hefty fines" up to $500 if they "contaminate their green waste with the wrong items." Residents can get a free kitchen pail to put their food scraps in that they collect during the week or they can just put all organic waste in their green bin. Confused as to what items you should be placing in your green bins? See the lists below:
Items You CAN Place Into Green Bins
- fruits, vegetables
- dairy, eggshells
- bread, cereal, grains, rice, pasta, beans
- meat, bone, fish, shells
- coffee grounds and filters
- food soiled paper products (pizza boxes, napkins, coffee filters)
- yard waste, flowers, and clean untreated wood
Items You CANNOT Place Into Green Bins
- plastics, waxes, coatings, etc.
- products labeled "biodegradable" or "compostable"
- glass
- produce stickers
- rubber bands
- twisty ties
To avoid the nasty odors, pests or messes inside your home, they suggest to: use paper towels to line the pail, sprinkle baking soda in the pail, empty kitchen pail into green bin regularly, wash the kitchen pail and wrap the smellier items and store them in the fridge/freezer until you throw them out on pickup day. Click here for more.