Short-lived climate pollutants: recovered organic waste product: agricultural crop preparation service.

Assembly Member Bains proposes exempting agricultural crop preparation services from California's organic waste disposal requirements when these services can demonstrate they have not sent organic waste to landfills since January 2016. The exemption would apply to services handling materials like fruit skins, hulls, leaves, seed pits, shells, and other agricultural byproducts.

The measure creates an alternative compliance pathway within California's existing organic waste reduction framework, which mandates a 75% reduction in organic waste disposal from 2014 levels by 2025 and aims to reduce statewide methane emissions 40% below 2013 levels by 2030. Under current regulations, commercial food generators must contract with food recovery organizations and maintain records of their organic waste handling practices.

The Department of Resources Recycling and Recovery would develop and oversee the verification process for agricultural services seeking this exemption. Services would need to document their waste management practices according to the department's forthcoming guidelines while continuing to handle organic materials through non-landfill disposal methods.