Del Norte launches community planning to meet SB 1383; residents push for local composting, food rescue and digesters

A special session of the Del Norte Solid Waste Task Force convened to begin community planning to meet California Senate Bill 1383's organic-waste reduction requirements, with residents and local agencies pressing for more local composting, food rescue and anaerobic digestion capacity.

Del Norte Solid Waste Management Authority Director Ted Ward told the kickoff meeting that SB 1383 aims to “reduce short-lived climate pollutants, particularly methane” from landfill disposal of food and yard materials, and outlined tasks for rural jurisdictions including edible-food recovery, education and procurement of recycled products. Ward said the county has already taken steps on edible-food recovery and recycled paper procurement and noted the planning process is being supported by an OWR4 grant.

The task force framed the effort as a multi-stage community process. Facilitators from the Del Norte and Tribal Lands Community Food Council said this meeting is the first of six public sessions that will produce a draft plan and, later, a recommended final plan for the Del Norte Solid Waste Management Authority and the county board to consider.

Why it matters: SB 1383 is a statewide mandate to reduce methane from organics in landfills; Del Norte will need local facilities, collection strategies and coordination across agencies to comply. Residents and nonprofits emphasized that locally produced compost and a functioning food-rescue network would provide both climate benefits and community food security.

Key points from the meeting

- Responsibilities and timeline: Ward emphasized that…