Why aren't more Redding residents on board with new food waste disposal mandate?

Some Redding residents are being slow to comply with the city’s new program to reduce food and other organic waste in landfills, six months after the program was implemented for households.

But that's gradually changing, said utility officials.

Redding put an ordinance in place on Jan. 1, 2024, to comply with California Senate Bill 1383, state legislation intended to slow the flow of organic waste into landfills, where it gives off harmful greenhouse gases, according to the state.

While the state law went into effect in 2022, legislators gave Redding and other cities extra time to buy equipment, update permits, arrange to get organic waste hauled away and make other necessary preparations, said Redding Deputy Director of Public Works Paul Clemens in January.

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So Redding’s public works department launched its “Let's Get Scrappy” campaign to help people learn what’s expected and to help them get set up with green bins for food waste, grass clippings and other organic waste.

How is Redding doing six months into the food waste program?

Most Redding residents remember to throw their grass clippings into their green waste bin. But as of early July, response to disposing of food waste in those green bins has been mixed, said Leo Coleman, Assistant Project Coordinator at Redding Public Works/Solid Waste.

People on social media said it's just too much trouble to separate out their food waste, so they prefer to just throw it in their kitchen garbage.

Others said they really don't know exactly what to do with the scraps or they don't have room to store a bag of spoiled food in their refrigerator until it's time to set it outside on collection day.

But some residents posted that they were happy to put food scraps into a green waste bin for composting, especially a positive step for people who don't have their own compost bin.

Coleman acknowledged that the program got off to a slow start, but outreach efforts are beginning to work as more residents are changing their habits once they know what to do, Coleman said.

As of early July, the city was collecting almost 15 tons of food waste per week, according to Coleman. That's triple the five tons that were processed weekly in 2023, before the city ordinance went into effect, he said.

Organic waste in green bins goes to Redding's composting facility, not to landfills. That difference in the way the waste is processed reduces methane and other harmful greenhouse gases organic waste produces, according to the city.

But a lot of food waste still ends up in landfills.

Food waste accounts for approximately 30% of what Californians throw away, including fruit and vegetable peels, cores, coffee grounds and filters, meat and plate scraps.

“A lot of residents…do their part,” said Coleman, while others “are slightly more hesitant to change the way they have been doing things, so convincing them to now recycle their food waste has proved to be a slightly more challenging."

The fine for breaking the ordinance is $100 for first offenses. As of July 10, the city hasn’t fined anyone for throwing food scraps into their kitchen garbage, Coleman said.

He and other city officials said they hope it never comes to that.

"Instead of issuing fines, we really want to make sure everyone has a chance to get accustomed to the new way of doing things,” said Coleman. That means reaching out business owners, school officials and apartment managers to show them how to make the program work for their organizations, he said.

Ultimately, the city’s priority is to keep food waste out of the trash and in green organic waste bins, but in order for that to happen, everyone needs to pitch in, Coleman said.

Here's what to do with those food scraps

City of Redding services come with three colored bins: Gray for trash, blue for recycling and green for grass clippings and other organic waste.

Food waste can go into a paper bag, a newspaper or cardboard container like a pizza box or a tissue box. Then put the bag or box into the same green bin with grass clippings, Clemens said.

Don't put plastic bags ― even biodegradable or compostable ones — into the green bin, he said. And remove any cans, plastic including plastic wrap or cups, Styrofoam, coated paper, twist ties or rubber bands, he said.

People who don't have a green bin can get one by calling the public works department at 530-224-6201.

For information about how to get a green bin and where to throw different waste items, go to the city’s website at cityofredding.gov/government/departments/recycling___solid_waste.

Jessica Skropanic is a features reporter for the Record Searchlight/USA Today Network. She covers science, arts, social issues and news stories. Follow her on Twitter@RS_JSkropanic and onFacebook. Join Jessica in the Get Out! Nor Cal recreation Facebook group. To support and sustain this work,please subscribe today. Thank you.