Whittier requires every resident and business to separate organic waste into a 96-gallon green cart, provided by Athens Services, to comply with California SB 1383. As a city over 70,000 population, Whittier is NOT eligible for the rural/low-population exemption, so the full mandate applies.
Organic waste separation in the City of Whittier is mandatory under California Senate Bill (SB) 1383, the Short-Lived Climate Pollutant Reduction Strategy, effective January 1, 2022. Per Athens Services' City of Whittier FAQ, the city is 'enhancing its source-separated waste and recycling program to comply with Senate Bill (SB) 1383, which requires the diversion of organic waste from landfills,' and the city selected Athens through competitive bid to provide trash, recycling and organics collection to residents, multifamily properties and commercial customers. Each residence receives a 96-gallon green organics cart for food waste, green (yard) waste and food-soiled paper; food-soiled paper items must be 100% plant-fiber based with no petroleum-based plastic. SB 1383 requires all residents and businesses to separate organics (and recyclables) from trash and subscribe to the collection service. CalRecycle requires jurisdictions to adopt enforcement in their municipal code, and since January 1, 2024 jurisdictions may issue notices of violation and fines for noncompliant generators. Critically, Whittier's population (~87,000) far exceeds 70,000, so the city does NOT qualify for SB 1383's rural/low-population exemption - the full organics mandate applies citywide. Whittier's Municipal Code Chapter 8.12 (Solid Waste) provides the local solid-waste framework. This applies to the incorporated city; unincorporated South/West/East Whittier are covered separately by LA County's SB 1383 program.
Failing to separate organic waste violates SB 1383; since January 1, 2024 the jurisdiction may issue notices of violation and fines to noncompliant generators under its municipal code. Athens supplies the green cart; the city/CalRecycle framework governs enforcement.
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