WM provides trash, recycling, and organic waste containers for weekly collection.

Please do not place your organic waste in a bag. Unfortunately, even biodegradable bags will interfere with recycling the material. Instead, you can use a portable, reusable pail-like container with a tight-fitting lid (like the one pictured) to collect your kitchen food scraps before you place them in the provided WM container for collection. It could be plastic, metal, or ceramic. Pails are widely available from retailers online and hardware/home improvement stores. Storage ideas can include the kitchen counter, under the sink, freezer, or wherever you feel is best. The City will also be handing containers out at various City events. So, keep an eye out to get yours!

Additionally, the City of Lancaster will continue to provide educational outreach to help residents understand this new State regulation.

In the City of Lancaster, carts and bins will be gradually transitioning to the new color scheme-recycling containers. However, the program to start recycling organic waste in your existing greenwaste container has already begun. During this transition, knowing what goes into each container is essential. Your green cart [old] or dark gray cart with a blue lid [new] is for recycling collection. Your gray cart [old] or dark gray cart with a green lid [new] is for organic waste collection. We will make these changes gradually to minimize disruption to your service. Ensure you check the lid or label for instructions on using the container correctly and avoiding contamination.

The State requires that all carts are color and label compliant by January 2036. WM will work directly with homeowners and property managers to ensure they have the services they need. Your current cart will be replaced with a new cart only if it's lost or broken and in need of replacement. Replacement carts that residents receive will meet these regulations and help residents understand what waste should go in each bin. If you have a problem with your current cart, please contact WM at (661) 947-7197.

The State now requires that all organic materials be sent to a compost facility. This is a more costly process, and it will affect your WM bill. The City of Lancaster has negotiated these services at the lowest possible cost for our residents.

As of October 1, 2022, most City of Lancaster single family residential properties will be billed annually for Residential Standard Service through their Los Angeles County Property Tax Bill. For more information on this transition, please contact Travis Lange at environmental@cityoflancasterca.gov. or (661) 723-6000.

The City of Lancaster has partnered with WM to ensure that this legislation has the minimum impact possible to our residents. The City is also looking into various other options to divert organic waste to pass on more significant cost savings to our residents.

You can learn more about SB 1383 by visiting: https://calrecycle.ca.gov/organics/slcp/. To express any concerns you have with SB 1383 and its impact on you, please contact the State of California's CalRecycle office at (916) 341-6300 or SLCP.organics@calrecycle.ca.gov. 

Organic Waste: 

• Yard waste (Grass clippings, weeds, leaves, prunings, flowers, wood scraps/chips)
• Kitchen Waste (used paper towels and napkins)
• Fruit
• Bread
• Fish
• Meat (no bones)
• Vegetables 
• Dairy
• FOG (Fats, oils, grease)

NOT Organic Waste:

• Pet waste
• Palm fronds
• Plastic
• Glass
• Metal
• Treated lumber

A focus on recycling organic materials is central to California’s efforts to combat climate change. When organic materials such as food scraps, yard trimmings, and paper decompose anaerobically (without oxygen) in a landfill, they produce methane, which is one of the most potent climate pollutants in the atmosphere and a major contributor to climate change.

The law establishes a target of 75% by 2025 to reduce organics waste going to landfills. Landfills are the third-largest source of methane in California, with organics waste emitting 20% of the state’s methane. By diverting organics from the landfill, you are part of the solution in helping to protect the environment and future generations.

SB 1383  requires cities and counties to procure annually a quantity of recovered organic waste products to meet their annual procurement target. Per CalRecycle, these procurement requirements will strengthen California’s green, self-sustaining economy. Demand for these products will drive infrastructure investment and create new green collar jobs in the state.

Recovered organic waste products can:

• Benefit local communities and spaces

• Improve soil and air quality

• Support local environmental initiatives, such as Climate Action Plans

CalRecycle assigns an annual procurement target to each jurisdiction based on its population. Jurisdictions can fulfill their target by procuring any combination of the following recovered organic waste products:

• Compost

• Mulch

• Renewable Energy (Transportation Fuel, Heat, and Electricity) from Anaerobic Digestion and Electricity from Biomass Conversion

Each jurisdiction has the flexibility to choose what mix of recovered organic waste products it wants to procure, and may choose to either use or donate these products to meet its procurement target, depending on its local needs.

Recovered surplus edible food will be donated to food banks, homeless shelters, and other organizations for those who are food insecure. Starting in 2022, food service businesses must donate surplus edible food to food recovery organizations. This will help feed the almost 1 in 4 Californians without enough to eat. California has a 2025 goal to redirect 20% of surplus edible food (currently being thrown away) to people in need.

Yes, everyone is required to participate and properly sort discarded materials into the correct bins or receptacles provided. If you choose not to participate, you may receive contamination charges from WM. Additionally, by January 2024, the state has mandated the City to fine residents and businesses who are not participating.