The City of Folsom is committed to providing safe, reliable, and high-quality solid waste services that comply with state mandates as well as preserve our city’s distinctive natural environment and excellent quality of life.

As part of this effort, the city’s new business and apartment community organics program rolled out earlier this month. The city’s residential organics recycling program starts July 1 for single-family homes.

The city’s rollout of this state-mandated program, known as SB 1383, was thoughtfully developed over several years and addresses the state’s broader effort to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. There are many components to the program, including:

• A five-year rate increase for solid waste services, which passed in late 2021. This increase covers the significant increase in cost for the city to implement the required programs that are part of this law.
• Organic waste recycling for all California residents and businesses.
• Folsom Food Rescue, a new edible food rescue program to help feed people in need.

Working together, we can make a difference for our community and planet.

Here are the answers to some frequently asked questions to help you put your waste in the proper place when the organics program starts at your home.

Why is this change happening?

The city is launching the program to comply with a new state law (SB 1383) designed to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

What are the benefits of this new program?

Recycling organics and rescuing food is simple and provides many benefits to our community and our planet:

• Feeding California’s food insecure residents: Currently, more than 11 billion pounds of food end up in landfills each year. Some of this food is fresh enough to have been recovered and feed hungry residents.
• Reducing pollution: Pollution saved by every 2.5 tons of food rescued is equivalent to taking one car off the road for an entire year. Sacramento Valley has some of the worst air quality in the country and reducing these harmful pollutants at local landfills will improve air and environmental quality.
• Reducing greenhouse gas emissions: Methane emissions resulting from the decomposition of organic waste in landfills are a significant source of greenhouse gas emissions that contribute to air pollution and global climate change.

What should city residents and businesses expect?

All residents and businesses are required to have a green organics bin to separate food scraps from garbage in 2022. Green bins have already started to roll out in March at the city’s businesses and apartment communities. The program starts for single-family homes July 1.

What is organic waste?
Organic waste includes all food scraps, uncoated food-soiled paper, yard waste, and wood.

What do I do with my organic waste?

How do I collect my food scraps and organic waste inside my home?

Organic waste can be separated in the kitchen in many ways, for example, countertop pails, pedal trash cans, gallon buckets, three-bin systems (trash, recycle, organics), or old Tupperware.

Why do we need to bag our food scraps?

Bagging your organic waste helps keep your bins clean and reduce odors.

Who supplies the required bags?

Most clear plastic bags from grocery stores’ produce sections or checkout lines can be used as a food scraps bag.

You can also use compostable bags, including paper bags to line your kitchen organics bin before disposing in the green bin. Compostable bags can be purchased at many online retailers and stores in Folsom.

Bags help the processor separate the food waste from the yard waste for additional handling during the composting process.

Other cities are not requiring plastic bags. Why is Folsom?

The City of Folsom is developing our Green Bin program with guidance from our composting facility, SB1383 requirements, and in partnership with the City’s hauling operation. Collection processes may look different in other communities across California.

How often will my green bin get picked up?

Green organics bins will be picked up weekly. Recycle bins will continue to be picked up every other week.

What if I do not have a green waste bin?

Residents without a green bin will be given one when the program launches. Residents without a blue recycle bin will also receive a blue bin.

Where do these need to be located?

Organics bins will be stored at the same location as recycling and garbage bins at your home. If you live in an apartment building, organics will be stored at the garbage enclosure at your apartments.

If residents don’t use the correct organics container and they throw waste away in the regular trash bin, is there a fine or additional charge passed onto us?

Residents are required to dispose their material in the correct bin based on city guidelines. After education and compliance notices, a fine can be issued if there is contamination in the bins, for example, trash in a green bin or organic waste in the trash. The City of Folsom will provide educational information to help households to comply with program requirements prior to enforcement.

How can I learn more?

We appreciate your help to make the City of Folsom’s new organics program a success! If you would like to learn more, please visit the city’s recycling webpage for more information and FAQ.