A new California law is designed to cut back on the organic waste in landfills responsible for emitting methane gas, and it will change the way residents sort trash, and it aims to stop food waste from restaurants.
"About 20% of what goes to landfills is food waste," said Gina Van Stratten of Orange Compos.Stratten runs Orange Compost, a nonprofit food scrap collection service. Whatever she gathers ends up in compost piles at community gardens . The nutrient rich soil is then used to grow fruits and vegetables: a full circle of waste not, want not.
"It's really this community loop, right? The food waste from community compost -- from the community and used for food for the community," Stratten said.Every city will have a different method. Some garbage companies will have separate bins at the street, and others will ask you to simply add the pungent leftovers to the green waste bin.
But it’s not just scraps. The law mandates 20% of excess edible food from restaurants, hospitals and supermarkets be sent to food banks. Mike Learokos started Abound Food Care a decade ago, and owns one of seven repurposing kitchens in Orange County. "This is going to be vacuumed sealed, blast frozen, and go to one of 300 nonprofits that feed hungry people," he said.The composting law goes into effect first day of 2022, but officials say it will take until August before the donors, nonprofits, cities and counties get it together and make this an everyday occurrence.
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