Solid Waste Resources

Solid Waste & Recycling Requirements

The County of San Luis Obispo is a member of the San Luis Obispo County Integrated Waste Management Authority (IWMA), the regional agency that is responsible for solid waste compliance for all its members including the County, seven incorporated cities, and twelve special districts with solid waste powers. IWMA provides education and outreach support for residents and businesses to meet State requirements, including efforts in reducing the amount of solid waste disposal at landfills, ensuring public health and safety, and minimizing environmental impacts.

  • Please visit IWMA online at iwma.com or call (805) 782-8530 for information on all County of San Luis Obispo solid waste diversion, recycling, composting programs.

Solid Waste and Mandatory Recycling Programs

The Wastewater Utilities Division coordinates with state agencies, IWMA, local cities and special districts, waste haulers, landfills, transfer and transformation facilities, and residents and businesses in the communities to administer programs to support compliance with State requirements, including the Integrated Waste Management Act and subsequent solid waste laws and regulations (AB 939, AB 341, AB 1826). The programs include franchise agreement administration and rate reviews, solid waste source reduction and recycling compliance, household hazardous waste and universal waste disposal, education and outreach, facility planning, reporting and recordkeeping.


Organic Waste and Food Recovery Programs

Senate Bill 1383 (SB 1383) establishes methane reduction targets in an effort to reduce emissions of short-lived climate pollutants. The new law requires that jurisdictions meet targets for organic waste disposal reduction and recovery of edible food for human consumption. Public Works staff coordinate with state and local agencies, IWMA, waste haulers, and community members in the unincorporated areas of the County to meet the State requirements for organics waste diversion from landfills and increase edible food recovery from commercial generators into food recovery services and organizations, including SB 1383 wavier applications, complaints, enforcement, employer and landlord education requirements, procured recovered organics, compost rebate program, paper procurement and school education and outreach programs. Additionally, the County collaborates with IWMA and all local jurisdictions on capacity planning requirements for recovered organics and local food recovery programs.


  • SB 1383 Complaint Submission Form
    • Please click the link above to submit a complaint related to Senate Bill (SB) 1383 - Short-Lived Climate Pollutant Reduction Strategy compliance.
    • Fill out the form to report violations of SB 1383 by entities in San Luis Obispo County. Violations include items such as:
      • Missing or incorrect signage on waste bins
      • No edible food recovery
      • No green waste collection service
      • Insufficient access to green bins for tenants/customers
      • Improper disposal of organic waste
    • Please only submit a complaint via the form if you believe that an entity or a person has violated this regulation and/or is not in compliance with this regulation. Complaints may be submitted online using the form in the link or by first class mail to: Integrated Waste Management Authority, 555 Chorro St., Suite D-2, San Luis Obispo, CA 93405


  • Edible Food Recovery
    • Please click the link above to learn more about the SLO County Edible Food Recovery program.
    • SB 1383 requires commercial edible food generators to donate all leftover or unsold food that would otherwise be disposed by donating to a food recovery organization/service. This practice is great for fighting hunger and climate change by saving food that would have been thrown out and distributing it to community members instead.
    • The term 'edible food' applies to all food suitable for human consumption.
    • Commercial Edible Food Generators
      • Generators are only required to donate edible food that would otherwise go to the landfill. Generators are welcome to first offer unused food to employees or otherwise give it away before sending it to a food recovery organization. Generators are not allowed to intentionally spoil food that can be recovered.
      • CalRecycle regulations split donors into two tiers. Tier 1 donors are required to donate as of January 1, 2022, and Tier 2 donors are required to donate as of January 1, 2024.
        • Tier 1 Donors
          • Supermarkets
          • Grocery stores with a total facility size 10,000 square feet or more
          • Food service distributors
          • Wholesale food markets
        • Tier 2 Donors
          • Restaurants with 250 seats or more, or 5,000 square feet or more
          • Hotels with onsite food facility and 200 rooms or more
          • Health facilities with onsite food facility and 100 beds or more
          • State agencies with a cafeteria with 250 seats or more, or 5,000 square feet or more
          • Local education agencies with an onsite food facility
          • Large venues and events with more than 2,000 attendees.
      • Requirements for Generators
        • Secure a contract or written agreement with an edible food recovery organization or service, such as a food bank, to recover the maximum amount of edible food that would otherwise be disposed.
        • Keep a list of each food recovery organization that receives or collects the edible food, and maintain copies of the contracts or agreements.
        • Keep a record of the following for each contract or written agreement:
          • Name, address, and contact information of the service or organization
          • The types of food that will be collected by or self-hauled to the service or organization
          • The established frequency that food will be collected or self-hauled
          • The pounds per month collected by or self-hauled to a service or organization for food recovery
    • Food Recovery Organizations and Services
      • Food Recovery Organizations or Services that choose to establish contracts or written agreements with mandated food donors are required to keep record of:
        • The name, address and contact information for each commercial edible food generator that the service collects food from
        • The quantity in pounds of edible food received from each commercial edible food generator per month 
        • The name, address and contact information for each food recovery service that a food recovery organization receives edible food from
      • CalRecycle grant funding may be available for projects looking to start or expand food recovery services.
      • Visit our local food recovery organizations to get involved with food donation programs

For any questions, comments, or complaints about compliance with State laws and regulations related to solid waste and recycling, please visit online at https://www.iwma.com or call IWMA at (805) 782-8530.


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Curbside Collection Services in the County areas 

For any questions, comments or complaints about curbside waste collection and disposal services provided by private franchise companies in the County solid waste jurisdiction, please email the County Solid Waste Coordinator at solidwaste@co.slo.ca.us or call (805) 781-4357.