South Pasadena begins switch to 3‑stream collection under SB 1383; bulky pickup and rate changes announced

South Pasadena staff and Athens Services told the Natural Resources & Environmental Commission on July 22 that the city will move from a two‑stream to a three‑stream curbside collection system to meet California Senate Bill 1383 requirements, and outlined a new curbside bulky‑item pickup program, container rollout schedule and contract changes. RP Casperian, the city’s environmental services and sustainability manager, said the city council approved a contract amendment in May and that a Proposition 218 hearing last week made the change official.

The change is driven by SB 1383’s “high diversion” requirement for jurisdictions with two‑stream systems, Casperian said, and the state’s certified facilities that meet the diversion threshold are scarce and not taking full capacity. He said the city’s alternative is to “convert our city to a 3 stream system where we would source separate our recyclables and our organics.”

Under the amendment negotiated with Athens Services, Athens will provide blue recycling…