​POLICY
​​

The Policy Roadblocks for Community Composting
​In San Diego County

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State of California exempts composting activity that is less than 100 cubic yards and over a footprint that is less than 750 square feet, from permit and notification requirements.  Most community composting activities fall within this exclusion making it easy for community composters to comply with state regulations.

However, many local governments prohibit community composters from charging a fee to offer collection and transportation of foodscraps. Local ordinances can also prohibit composting of material that was not generated onsite. 

​This map presents community composting policies for local governments in San Diego County and rates them from most progressive (green) to least progressive (red). The data was collected by Inika Small Earth Inc. as part of its research on understanding the promise and potential of community composting. We contacted the Environmental Services Department of each jurisdiction so they could confirm or revise our findings.

Click on the boundary of the local jurisdiction to learn about the regulations governing collection, transportation and composting of food scraps at a community scale.

HOW YOU CAN HELP

Send an email to your local government representatives advocating for decentralized community scale composting policies in your city.