Monterey County residents can put food scraps in their green curbside cart that will be used to create compost. No need to add another cart.

You will need a pail or bowl

Collect your food scraps in a pail or bowl

Place food scraps in the green cart. DO NOT THROW PAIL IN CART

Kitchen Pail Pick-up Locations

* If you need assistance in getting a pail, please call our office to provide reasonable accommodations

If you don’t have organic service (a green cart) at home contact your waste hauler.

Information for Salinas Valley Residents:

Visit Salinas Valley Recycles or download their informational flyer here English/Spanish and kitchen pail label here English/Spanish.

Information for Peninsula Residents:

Visit Monterey Regional Waste Management District or download their informational flyer here English/Spanish and kitchen pail label here English/Spanish.

Residents already composting at home, we applaud and encourage you to keep up the great work, you can now place your excess food scraps and organic waste in your green curbside cart.

For information on composting at home visit Salinas Valley Recycles.

• Multifamily Complexes shall subscribe to Organics Collection Services, Yard Waste Service, or both.
• Multifamily complex with Physical Space Constraints shall submit an Organic Waste Disposal Reduction – Waiver Application.

Multifamily Complexes do not Qualify for a De-Minimis Waiver.

• Subscribe to Organics Collection Service, Yard Waste OR
• Submit anOrganic Waste Disposal Reduction - Waiver Application (English)(Spanish) for businesses that generate a minimal amount of organic waste or for businesses with physical space constraints.
• Submit a Certification of Alternate Recycling Service Application (English) (Spanish) for businesses that self-haul, back-haul organic waste, recycle organic waste with a third-party hauler, or compost onsite.
• Establish Contracts and Written Agreements with Food Recovery Organizations and Services
• Tier one (1) businesses are required to donate edible food by January 2022 and Tier two (2) businesses are required to donate beginning 2024.

2022 Monterey County Commercial Business & Multifamily Brochure – English & Spanish

Please contact your Local Hauler to Subscribe to Organics Collection Service:

De-packaging services for Salinas Valley Businesses Only

Salinas Valley Landfill and Transfer Stations:

Peninsula Landfill and Transfer Station:

Food Recovery for Edible Food Generators:

Edible food recovery resources include:

• Careit Food Donation App – A free online marketplace that connects food donors such as restaurants, grocery stores, caterers, institutions and municipalities with nonprofits that recover food for people in need. Nonprofits can claim available food, coordinate pickup, and track donations through the app.
• View a list of local edible food recovery organizations
• Learn more about Edible Food Recovery Grants
• Visit CalRecycle to learn more SB 1383 requirements for food recovery organizations
• Best Practice Guide for Food Recovery Organizations and Services

Food recovery means collecting edible food that would otherwise go to waste and redistributing it to feed people in need. This is the highest and best use for food that would otherwise go to waste. Feeding hungry people through food recovery is the best use for surplus food and a vital way for California to conserve resources and reduce waste thrown in landfills.

To reduce food waste and help address food insecurity, SB 1383 requires that by 2025 California will recover 20 percent of edible food that would otherwise be sent to landfills, to feed people in need.

• Food donors must arrange to recover the maximum amount of their edible food that would otherwise go to landfills
• Establish Contracts and Written Agreements with Food Recovery Organizations and Services and maintain records
• Food recovery organizations and services that participate in SB 1383 must maintain records
• Tier one (1) businesses are required to donate by January 1st, 2022, and Tier (2) businesses are required to donate by January 1st, 2024.
• Tier one (1) businesses typically have more produce, fresh grocery, & shelf stable foods to donate.
• Tier two (2) businesses typically have more prepared foods which often require more careful handling to food safety requirements

List of Edible Food Recovery Organizations

Schools in Monterey County will need to adhere to SB 1383 regulations by subscribing to organic/food waste collection service with their franchised hauler and under Tier 2 schools will be required to recover/donate edible food. For assistance in setting up food waste programs contact a recycling coordinator to schedule a site visit at Recycle@co.monterey.ca.us.

Below are resources from local, state, and federal agencies.

Salinas Valley Recycles – for schools in the Salinas Valley 

Monterey Regional Waste Management District – for schools in the Peninsula 

CalRecycle 

https://calrecycle.ca.gov/recycle/schools/food/ 

CA Department of Education 

https://www.cde.ca.gov/ls/nu/sn/platewaste.asp 

Use of Share Tables 

Smarter Lunchrooms Movement 

EPA 

https://www.epa.gov/sustainable-management-food/tools-preventing-and-diverting-wasted-food 

USDA 

https://www.usda.gov/foodlossandwaste/schools 

Reducing Food Waste Infographic (PDF) 

Bill Emerson Good Samaritan Food Donation Act” makes it easier for businesses to donate to food rescue and food bank programs. It protects donors from liability when donating to nonprofit organizations and protects donors from civil and criminal liability should the product donated in good faith cause harm to the needy recipient. FAQ’s