First published in the July 9 print issue of the Burbank Leader.
Burbank residents and businesses were recently required to participate in the new citywide Organics Recycling Program that began at the start of July.
The program was created by Burbank in response to Senate Bill 1383, which requires organic waste such as food, food-soiled paper and yard trimmings to be included in the green cart collection bin.
Organic waste is a large contributor to the emission of methane, a harmful greenhouse gas, and this statewide mandate aims curb the negative impacts of this type of waste on the environment.
The Organics Recycling Program in Burbank will require Burbank residents and businesses to use their green carts, previously used just for yard trimmings, to now also collect food and other organic waste. Food scraps (including animal-derived foods), coffee grounds, loose tea leaves, soiled paper products, yard trimmings and clean, untreated wood scraps are all considered organic waste.
If ever unsure of where to dispose of any item, the Burbank Recycle Center’s “Where it Goes Guide” is available for more information at Burbankca.gov.
The Burbank Recycle Center is also offering residents free food scrap collection pails. These pails allow residents to securely save and store food scraps until the next collection day. Interested residents may pick up a pail from the Recycle Center (500 S. Flower St., Burbank, CA 91502) Monday through Friday, from 9 a.m.-4 p.m.
The new Organics Recycling Program will only impact city-serviced accounts. Residents living in multi-family residences or businesses with a private waste hauler may have different instructions and should contact their property management or private waste hauler for details.
For more information about the statewide law and the city’s implementation of the Organics Recycling Program, visit BurbankRecycle.org.
