Organics Recycling Program
The City of Coronado has launched an Organics Recycling Program to reduce the amount of organic waste entering landfills, in compliance with Senate Bill (SB) 1383. In California, food waste accounts for over 40% of materials in waste streams. Because food waste cannot properly breakdown in landfills, food waste emits large amounts of greenhouse gases. The Organics Recycling Program will help to increase the diversion of organic materials away from landfills and toward the production of value-added products such as compost, fertilizers, and biofuels.
EDCO Disposal Corporation provides solid waste disposal and recycling services to residences and businesses in the City of Coronado. EDCO’s Organics Collection Program will collect food scraps and yard waste mixed in your Green Cart. EDCO’s Anaerobic Digestion Facility will transform food waste into natural gas and help to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
Green Waste Bin: EDCO customers must place food scraps and food-soiled paper along with yard waste in their green waste container to be recycled. Do not use any kind of plastic bags (including certified compostable or biodegradable bags) for any type of green waste as they contaminate the Anaerobic Digester. All organic material must be placed loosely inside the green cart for collection. Paper bags are acceptable. There is no reason to believe that organic food waste co-mingled with green yard waste will produce any more odor or attract any more rodents or vectors. Disposal of organic waste is simple and much more beneficial than disposing via a sink disposal.
Anaerobic Digestion Facility: EDCO’s anaerobic digestion facility breaks down microorganisms from food and yard waste and transforms it into renewable natural gas (RNG) that will be used to run EDCO vehicles. EDCO’s use of RNG will help the City of Coronado meet its annual procurement target of recovered organic waste products, as required by SB 1383.
Kitchen Caddie: As part of EDCO’s Organics Collection Program, residents can request a kitchen caddie to conveniently transfer food scraps from the kitchen to the organics cart or compost pile. Any reusable container can be used as a kitchen caddie to collect organic waste, and organic material must be placed loosely or in a paper bag into the green cart. Visit EDCO’s Organics Recycling page to learn more about the program and to request a kitchen caddie.
State Mandate: Reducing contaminants in recycling will help meet the goals of SB 1383, which set a target of reducing organic waste by 50 percent by 2020, and 75 percent by 2025 to fight climate change and reduce methane emissions. The regulations require that jurisdictions automatically provide organic waste collection, perform contamination monitoring, and conduct education and outreach on organics recycling to all residents and businesses. The City is working with EDCO to inform residents and businesses about the program.
Self-Hauling and Waivers: As an alternative to the City’s collection service, provided by EDCO Disposal Corporation, regulations allow for Self-Hauling of organic waste. Additionally, if certain conditions are met, the City may issue waivers to Commercial Businesses (including multi-family residential dwellings) that exempt them from some or all the organic waste collection requirements. Upon receipt and approval of an application, a waiver may be issued for period of up to five years.
To apply for exemption, please complete and submit the ORGANICS RECYCLING REGULATIONS WAIVER REQUEST FORM and any supportive documentation to: City of Coronado – Public Services; 101 B Avenue; Coronado, CA 92118 or via email to environmentalservices@coronado.ca.us. Only those who have requested and received a waiver from the City can avoid mandated participation. If a waiver is not approved by the City, your business or property will be required to participate in mandated services. There are three types of exemptions:
- De minimis - generating a very limited amount of organic waste
- Physical space - lacking space for separate or additional Green Containers
- Self-Hauling - commercial businesses that self-haul must keep a record of the amount of organic waste that is self-hauled. This record shall be subject to inspection by the City.