The purpose of this information is to inform you of CalRecycle’s web enhancements in support of AB1826.
Following are key links to the new information.
If you have any questions, feel free to contact your Local Assistance and Market Development liaison.
Using compost and mulch. What is compost, what is mulch, and how do you use them? What kind of benefits can you expect from using compost and mulch? From this page you can find examples of compost and mulch in use in urban landscapes and on the farm, fact sheets about compost use, purchasing specifications, information about lawn removal rebates, and more.
Model Source Reduction and Recycling Element (SRRE ) Identification of Market Development Activities. Each city, county and regional solid waste agency is required, in their SRRE document, to identify activities they will undertake to develop infrastructure for recycling as well as markets for products made from recycled materials, including compost and mulch. CalRecycle’s Local Assistance and Market Development branch helps local governments implement this long-standing part of California solid waste law.
As part of the Organics Policy Roadmap, this Organics Toolbox explores how local jurisdictions in California are implementing policies related to compost and mulch use. This toolbox is a clearinghouse and will serve as a collection of model tools from cities throughout the state, CalRecycle, and other sources. We will continue to place new information on this site as it becomes available.
Examples include benefits of compost use, case studies, compost guidelines and specifications, contract mechanisms, directories, environmentally preferable purchases and practices policies, fees, marketing plans, model ordinances, and resources. To navigate this toolbox, use the links on the menu below.
Benefits of Compost Use
The ordinance prohibits the disposal of a wide variety of materials at the County’s landfill or transfer station. The County provides recycling options for all banned materials at these sites. Recyclable materials banned from disposal include:
Sonoma County. Has enacted a landfill ban for specified recyclable materials. Fines of up to $500 and even jail time up to 6 months are possible for violations. Recycling options are available at the landfill and transfer stations for all specified materials. Sonoma County code Section 22-7A states that no person shall dispose of any of the following recyclable materials at any disposal area within Sonoma County, including:
The Department of Water Resources (DWR). The DWR’s Model Water Efficient Landscape Ordinance mandating that local agencies, not later Jan. 1, 2010, must adopt the revised model ordinance or equivalent or it will be automatically adopted by statute. Compost has been included, if used as a mulch, for water conservation.
Several enhancements and additions to webpages have been completed under the Organic Materials Management web https://www.calrecycle.ca.gov/ including a new tab titled Compost and Mulch.
Compost and mulch is purchased by homeowners, farmers, landscapers and government agencies. There are many outlets to purchase compost and mulch in California. The most convenient for small scale may be a nursery or home center. For large scale purchases, landscape supply centers, soil blenders or compost and mulch producers deliver large quantities of material.
To locate a compost and mulch facility, CalRecycle maintains a compost and mulch producer search tool with which to search by county.
Please note that most compost producers also produce mulch. As a point of information, not all compost is of the same quality. To help inform potential buyers, CalRecycle provides information designed to assist buyers in assessing product quality.
State and local government agencies can develop procurement programs that will create new and expanded markets for compost and mulch products. To aid their efforts, CalRecycle has created guidelines for writing compost or mulch procurement specifications. CalRecycle's State Agency Buy Recycled Campaign works with State agencies to increase their procurement of all types of recycled-content products, including compost and mulch.
III. If you need to explain to a colleague the benefits of using compost and mulch in your jurisdiction’s projects here is helpful information at https://www.calrecycle.ca.gov/
IV. If you have a colleague that needs basic education about what compost and mulch is here is a great resource:
https://www.calrecycle.ca.gov/;
Revised: 4/2/2019