Existing law requires the State Air Resources Board to approve and begin implementing a comprehensive short-lived climate pollutant strategy to achieve a certain reduction in statewide emissions of methane, including a goal of a 75% reduction in the level of the statewide disposal of organic waste from the 2014 level by 2025.

Existing law requires the Department of Resources Recycling and Recovery, in consultation with the state board, to adopt regulations that achieve those targets for reducing organic waste in landfills that may include, among other things, different levels of requirements for local jurisdictions and phased timelines based upon their progress in meeting the organic waste reduction goals, and penalties to be imposed by the department for noncompliance.

This bill would, for a local jurisdiction, as defined, waive those requirements and regulations until December 31, 2028, if the local jurisdiction does not qualify for other specified waivers, disposed of fewer than 5,000 tons of solid waste in 2014, and has fewer than 7,500 people, as provided. Beginning January 1, 2027, the bill would authorize the department, in its discretion, to renew the waiver, as provided.