South Pasadena to add three‑bin curbside recycling under SB 1383; Prop 218 hearing set for July 16

The Natural Resources and Environmental Commission heard an update May 27 from Arpi Caspera, the city’s environmental services and sustainability manager, on implementing California Senate Bill 1383 and a recently approved amendment to the city’s contract with Athens Services that converts South Pasadena from a two‑stream to a three‑stream collection system and freezes scheduled rate increases until mid‑2027 pending a Proposition 218 hearing on July 16.

SB 1383 requires jurisdictions to provide organic collection and other programs, and it also requires jurisdictions operating a two‑stream system to send residual waste to a certified high‑diversion facility. Caspera told the commission that because only a small number of high‑diversion facilities are certified in California — most in Northern California — the city and its hauler agreed to add a distinct recyclables stream to comply with the law.

City staff said the amended Athens agreement took effect Jan. 1, 2025, and included a special rate adjustment that was already implemented.…