Food Waste Collection

Residential Organic Waste Collection 

SB 1383 Organics Collection Program started in unincorporated Nevada County January 2025, upon completion of the McCourtney Rd Transfer Station Renovation Project. 

• If you are a resident of Unincorporated Nevada County and subscribe to garbage collection services, services now includes a three (3) cart system; regular waste (black), regular recycling (blue), and organic waste (green).  
  • Your organics waste cart will be collected once a week along with your regular waste pick-up.
• Am I required to have an organics waste bin if I currently don't have one? 
  • Yes, if you have curbside service through WM (Waste Management), curbside subscription service now includes 3 bins. 
  • If you are part of a neighborhood collection area or community stop, you will have the option to subscribe based on space availability OR you may self-haul and/or compost at home.  If you opt to self-haul, you will need to separate your organics and self-haul to the McCourtney Road Transfer Station or other permitted disposal facility.
  • If you do not have collection service through WM, you will be required to separate your organics material and self-haul to the McCourtney Road Transfer Station or other permitted disposal facility.
• What if I already compost my waste or generate little to no waste? 
  • Home composting is encouraged. However you will likely have waste that cannot be used in home composting. It is your responsibility to properly dispose of your waste. 

For those residents that live in the city or town limits of Nevada County such as the Town of Truckee and the City of Grass Valley and Nevada City, you should reach out to your jurisdiction for more information about how SB1383 will impact your collection service. 

For more information regarding SB1383, please review the following resources:

• CalRecycle SB1383 Program
• Nevada County Solid Waste Ordinance
  
  

Residential Customer Rates Effective July 1, 2025

The bundle includes Trash, Recycling, and Food Waste/Yard Waste Carts.

Residential Organic Waste Rates at the McCourtney Road Transfer Station:

WM's Rate Sheet Effective July 1, 2025

The 2025 Rate Sheet can also be found on WM's site under Helpful Resources. 

Senior or Low-Income Discount

WM is offering senior or low-income discounts. You may qualify for either the senior OR low-income discount, not both. 
Senior Discount Application or Low Income Discount Application

SB1383 & Food Waste Collection Program FAQ

What is SB1383?

Commercial Organics Recycling (SB1383)

As a result of Senate Bill SB1383, the County must offer a 3-bin solid waste collection service (trash, recycling, and organic waste) to all residents and businesses. The new 3-bin service will require disposing of organic materials separately, which will cut greenhouse gas emissions and preserve our landfill capacity for the benefit of future generations. 

How can your business comply?

• Subscribe to curbside collection service with WM (Waste Management).
• Self-haul organic waste to a permitted solid waste facility operation, that processes or recovers source separated organic waste.   If you chose to self haul, you must complete the self hauler form for alternate compliance.  You must agree to keep receipts or weight tickets from the processing facility for material being recycled and have available for inspection by County staff. 
• Your business may be eligible for a waiver if you do not generate organic waste or lack physical space for the additional waste collection bin.  A commercial business may be waived from some or all of the organic waste requirements if the business provides documentation or the County has evidence that demonstrates the following:
  
  
  1. De Minimis Waiver:  A commercial business may be waived from some or all of the organic waste requirements if the business provides documentation or the County has evidence that demonstrates the following:
     • The commercial business' total solid waste disposal of  two (2) cubic yards or more per week; includes organic waste of less than 20 gallons per week 
     • The commercial business' total solid waste disposal of less than two (2) cubic years per week; includes organic waste of less than 10 gallons per week
  2. Physical Space Waiver:
     • A commercial business may be waived from some or all the organic waste collection service requirements if the commercial business or property owner provides documentation, or the County has evidence from its staff, a hauler, licensed architect, or licensed engineer demonstrating that the premises lack adequate space for any organic waste collection containers. 

To apply for a waiver, complete the online fillable application, which will be submitted to Solid Waste staff for review. Processing time is approximately 1-2 weeks. Staff will respond to you by email with questions and/or approval. A site inspection by Solid Waste Staff is required as part of the waiver process to ensure site conditions comply with SB1383 regulations.    

For questions about commercial requirements of SB1383, please contact the Solid Waste Division at 530.265.7111 or by email.  OR visit CalRecycle's webpage 

Commercial SB1383 Resources:
Commercial Waiver Online Application
Commercial SB1383 Requirements
Edible Food Generators FAQ
Self Hauler Alternate Compliance Application

Commercial Requirements for Self-Hauling of Organic Waste

Commercial customers may chose to self-haul their organic waste  to the McCourtney Road Transfer Station using personal or company vehicle(s) and employee(s). Businesses requesting an Alternative Compliance waiver from collection service from a non-exclusive franchised hauler and choosing to self-haul organic waste must agree to keep receipts or weight tickets from the processing facility and proof that the material is being recycled. These records must be made available upon County request. 

Self-Hauler Annual Reporting Form (Online/Fillable) - To be completed by February 1 each year. 

2025 Nevada County Compost Procurement Rebate Program

Nevada County farmers and ranchers are invited to apply for a rebate of up to $39/ton for five or more tons of compost purchased from a list of approved vendors through the County's Zero FoodPrint Compost Connector Compost program. 

Zero Foodprint (ZFP)  is a California nonprofit organization with the goal of reducing the carbon footprint of the food industry in California. In response to Senate Bill 1383, ZFP created the farmer-facing program “Compost Connector.” This program matches farms and ranches seeking compost with funding from jurisdictions interested in meeting SB1383 procurement targets, which creates the financial opportunities for additional compost use throughout the State. Under the program farmers enter into an agreement that allows them to procure SB1383 compliant material from any appropriately permitted transfer/processing facility. Farmers then receive rebates once they provide documentation that they meet the minimum requirements of the program, which are intended encourage proper application and guarantee compliance with SB1383 requirements. 

For information on the program and how to apply, visit zerofoodprint.org/cc-nevada-county

Edible Food

Edible food is defined as food that is safe for human consumption. Unfortunately, too much of it ends up being wasted.  More efforts are needed to get wasted edible food to those who are hungry. Learn more about Food Recovery in Nevada County.

SB 1383 establishes two “tiers” of commercial edible food generators to which the regulations apply. Beginning January 1, 2022, Tier 1 generators must arrange for recovery of edible food and keep a record of recovery activities, including a contract with a food recovery organization(s). Beginning January 1, 2024, Tier 2 generators will be required to the requirements described above.

Tier 1 Commercial Edible Food Generators

• Supermarkets;
• Grocery stores with a total facility size equal to or greater than 10,000 square feet;
• Food service providers;
• Food distributors; and
• Wholesale food vendors.

Tier 2 Commercial Edible Food Generators

• Restaurants with 250 or more seats, or a total facility size equal to or greater than 5,000 square feet;
• Hotels with an on‐site food facility and 200 or more rooms;
• Health facilities with an on‐site food facility and 100 or more beds;
• Large venues;
• Large events;
•  State agencies with a cafeteria with 250 or more seats or total cafeteria facility size equal to or greater than 5,000 square feet; and   
• Local education agency facilities with an on‐site food facility.

For more information, including model contracts, please visit CalRecycle's Food Recovery page. 

Commercial Edible Food Generator Requirements

Secure contracts or written agreements with Edible Food Recovery Services and/or Organizations to recover the maximum amount of edible food that would otherwise be disposed of. Visit the CalRecycle Food Donors page to read their Model Food Recovery Agreement to use as a reference when creating your own agreement. 

Maintain a list and copy of all Edible Food Recovery Services and/or Organization's contracts or agreements that collect or receive its edible food.

Maintain a record of the following for each contract or written agreement; 1) name, address, and contact information of the service or organization, 2) the types of food that will be collected by or self-hauled to the service or organization, 3) the established frequency that food will be collected or self-hauled, and 4) the pounds of food per month collected or self-hauled to a service or organization for food recovery.   

Potential Places to Donate Food:

• Placer County Food Bank
• Sierra Community House
• Interfaith Ministry
• Nevada County Food Bank

For more detailed information, visit: 

• Food Recovery in California - CalRecycle Home Page

Organic Resources and Methods of Prevention

There are still things that we all can do as individuals or businesses to help make a difference – such as preventing food waste or taking steps to keep food waste and other organic materials out of our landfills. Find tips for more purposeful shopping and cooking, and good food storage techniques, check out the Environmental Protection Agency's Reducing Food Waste at Home page. Composting at home is also a great option.

• Organics Recycling Guide
• Compost Connector Program aims to make the best use of California's increasing supply of Compost. See flyer.
• Watch Nevada County Forum: Big Changes Coming to Your Garbage Collection

Assembly Bill History

For a full history of California Solid Waste Law visit CalRecycle.

2022 – Senate Bill (SB) 1383 Effective January 1, 2022, statewide regulations require all residents and businesses to recycle their organic waste – things like all food scraps (vegetables, meat, bones, dairy, grains, and coffee grounds), food-soiled paper products (paper towels, pizza boxes, egg cartons, coffee filters, and tea bags) yard waste, paper, and cardboard. In addition, some food service businesses may be required to donate edible organics to food recovery organizations with the goal of redirecting 20% of edible food that is currently ending up in the landfill  to those in need. 

Organic waste is targeted by this law because it produces methane, a potent greenhouse gas, when organics decompose in a landfill. Landfills are the third-largest source of methane in California and organic materials in landfills emit 20% of the state’s methane, a climate super pollutant 84 times more potent than carbon dioxide.  

2020 – Assembly Bill (AB) 827 As of July 1, 2020, all businesses (except full-service restaurants) must provide recycling and organics containers at front-of-house to collect waste generated by customers from products they purchase and consume on the premises.

2016 – Assembly Bill (AB) 1826  AB 1826 extended mandatory commercial and multi-family residential recycling requirements to add organics recycling. Under AB 1826, jurisdictions are obligated to identify covered generators that will be subject to compliance, ensure that organics recycling services are available to them, and perform outreach/education and compliance monitoring to make them aware of the requirement to participate. As with AB 341, CalRecycle requires annual reporting on program offerings and compliance efforts.

2012 – Assembly Bill (AB) 341 AB 341 increased the statewide diversion goal to 75% and instituted mandatory recycling service for all businesses, multi-family properties (5+ units), and public entities that generate more than four cubic yards of solid waste per week. The Bill also requires education and outreach programs to be implemented to inform covered generators of their obligation to meet the regulation terms. Efforts to comply with this Bill are included in the Electronic Annual Report to CalRecycle. 

1989 – Assembly Bill (AB) 939 AB 939  established a 50% diversion requirement for all solid waste generated in the State of California. Local jurisdictions or their recognized Regional Agencies are required to report progress towards this goal  to CalRecycle via the Electronic Annual Report (EAR) in August of every year. AB 939 also mandated that long-term waste management plans be produced and updated regularly by jurisdictions or their representative Regional Agencies.