Starting this month, Davis residents will see Recology workers inspecting their waste bins as part of the annual waste-sorting monitoring initiative. This is the third year of the program, which helps the city comply with state environmental regulations. Recology staff will check trash, recycling, and organics bins on collection days and provide feedback instead of issuing fines, according to the City of Davis.
State Senate Bill 1383 requires waste sorting inspections, and in 2024, 81% of bins were sorted correctly. Plastic bags were the most common contaminant. Workers conducting the inspections will wear safety vests with the Recology logo and ID tags. Bins with correct sorting will receive a "congratulations" tag, while bins with incorrect sorting will receive a "let’s sort this out" tag, which includes a guide to proper sorting. The tags are for educational purposes, as reported by the City of Davis.
Mayor Bapu Vaitla stated, "We have been very pleased with the results of route monitoring so far." The City of Davis conducts annual inspections of over 800 bins. Fines will only be issued if non-compliance is severe, with a focus on education instead of punishment. The city aims to reduce methane emissions from landfills and comply with SB 1383 regulations. For more information, visit www.DavisRecycling.org or contact the Public Works Utilities and Operations Department at [email protected] or 530-757-5686.
