Green Sacramento County

 Status: Ongoing.

Action GHG-14-e: Continue to host workshops at least once every year and host educational materials on the County's website to raise awareness on the type of waste that can go in garbage carts, organics carts, and recyclable carts with an aim to increase the diversion of organic waste. Also, provide information to commercial waste generators on how to comply with SB 1383 requirements. Status: Ongoing.

Action GHG-14-f: Partner with county school districts to educate students about:

• sustainable behaviors,
• waste types,
• how to dispose of waste in appropriate containers, and
• how to compost at home.

 Status: Not Started. 

Action GHG-14-g: Continue collaborating with local Sacramento food banks to continue food recovery services and educate residents and food-generating businesses about the requirements, local food banks, and food protection. Maintain a list of food recovery organizations in Sacramento County on the County’s website.  Status: Ongoing.

Action GHG-14-h: Apply for available grants to further education and implementation of organics diversion. Status: Ongoing.

Action GHG-14-i: Conduct a waste characterization study every five years to determine the materials comprising the unincorporated county’s waste stream, the amount of organic waste sent to landfills, and the amount of organic waste diverted from landfills. Status: Waiting on Dependency. 

Action GHG-14-j: Annually collect organics diversion tonnage and landfilled waste tonnage from waste haulers operating within the unincorporated County to track organics diversion rates over time. Status: Ongoing.

Action GHG-14-k: Perform an engineering study to determine the feasibility and cost of increasing landfill gas capture at County-owned landfills. Status: In Progress.​

Action GHG-14-l: Extend financial and regulatory support to food recovery banks and organizations that deliver food to the elderly, disabled, or others who are unable to leave home. Reassess the efficiency of support provided every five years. Status: Ongoing.

The County has implemented a 3-stream organics, recycling, and landfill waste collection system for all residential customers. All commercial customers are also required to implement a 3-stream system consistent with Senate Bill 1383. The Department of Waste Management and Recycling works with the County’s franchised commercial haulers to ensure all customers are subscribed to the appropriate level of service.   

The Department of Waste Management and Recycling has also developed a one-stop webpage where people can obtain service guides, watch educational videos, and run a “How do I get rid of….” search. The free SacGreenTeam mobile app is also linked for downloading on the webpage.   

The County has also implemented 3-stream recovery in all its government buildings and continues to provide internal and external outreach and education to increase compliance.  

Starting in 2023, the County began to hold seasonal compost giveaways of locally recovered green waste that has been processed into compost. This year the program has expanded to include a new location at Gibson Ranch Park. The County has also conducted outreach and media events including free compost deliveries to local community gardens.   

The County has contracted with local vendors to process collected green waste locally and has modified its standard contract and construction specifications to require the use of recovered organic materials in local public works projects that involve the application of compost or mulch.   

Sacramento County Department of Health Services (DHS) is the lead agency for the Edible Food Recovery Working Group (EFRWG), a collaborative effort between the County and six cities to meet the edible food recovery (EFR) requirements of SB 1383. DHS has contracted with the Capital Food Access Alliance to manage and administer the local EFR program, develop a capacity grant program, implement an annual work plan, and other program related tasks. 

 Updated 7/5/24.