Brentwood outlines SB 1383 organics rollout, keeps biweekly collection for now

Brentwood public works officials told residents on a city-hosted Zoom meeting that the city will begin implementing California's SB 1383 organics-diversion requirements in February 2026 and will rely on curbside green-cart collection, education and audits rather than immediate fines.

"SB 1383 requires every community in the state to divert organic waste out of landfills," said John Carlson, the city's solid waste manager, during a presentation that outlined what counts as organics and how the city will comply. Carlson said the city abandoned an earlier plan to install on-site mechanical extraction systems after projected capital costs rose from about $50 million to about $160 million.

The program will require residents to place food scraps and food-soiled paper in a green organics cart instead of the brown garbage cart. Staff said new lids and molded labels (green for organics, blue for recycling, gray or black for garbage) will meet state requirements; the city will change lids rather than replace full carts to limit costs…