FAQs

The Organics Recycling Program will help reduce the amount of organic waste entering landfills. Customers will be able to place food scraps and food-soiled paper along with yard waste in their green waste container to be recycled.

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. Organic waste is a renewable natural resource that comes mainly from yard and kitchen waste from homes and from industrial and commercial operations. Recycling organic waste helps reduce greenhouse gas emissions and helps meet state mandates that require organic recycling. In September 2016, Senate Bill (SB) 1383, Short-Lived Climate Pollutants, was signed into law to establish methane emissions reduction targets, reduce organic waste disposal and increase edible food recover. SB 1383 regulations outline specific requirements related to organics collection, edible food recovery, and compliance tracking and monitoring; mandating significant action by local jurisdictions, residential and commercial organics generators, haulers, and facilities to significantly reduce organics landfill disposal.

Beginning in 2022, SB 1383 requires every jurisdiction to provide organic waste collection services to all residents and businesses. EDCO's Organics Recycling Collection Program launched in March 2021.

Food scraps: fruit, vegetables, meat, bones, dairy, eggshells and prepared food.

Yard waste: plants, leaves, branches and grass.

Food-soiled paper: napkins, tea bags, paper plates, coffee filters.

Part of this effort includes EDCO’s construction of an advanced technology anaerobic digestion facility, the first in San Diego County. Anaerobic digestion is a natural process in which microorganisms break down organic materials such as food waste, green waste, fats, oils and greases in closed spaces where there is no oxygen and transform it into natural gas. EDCO will use the natural gas produced from this facility to power its trucks.

EDCO, as the City's waste hauler, provides an optional free kitchen caddie to all residents as a convenient way to dispose of food scraps. Place recyclable organics directly into your designated green cart. Do not use any plastic bags (including certified compostable or biodegradable bags) for any type of green waste, food waste, or other organics collection or disposal, as they contaminate the Anaerobic Digester. All organic material must be placed loosely inside the green cart for collection. Paper bags are acceptable.

For any additional questions related to collection services, please contact EDCO at (619) 287-7555 or visit their website at www.edcodisposal.com. For all other Organics Recycling Program questions, please contact Public Services at (619) 522-7380 or envronmentalservices@coronado.ca.us.