Carlsbad staff say city is meeting SB 1383 requirements; residents press testing and warnings for green‑waste

City environmental‑sustainability staff told the commission they have built a comprehensive organics program to meet California's SB 1383 requirements and to reduce methane from landfills. Savicita Jones, senior program manager for sustainable materials management, said the city focuses on education, route reviews, inspections and partnerships to increase organics diversion and minimize contamination.

"Our goal is very simple. Keep organics out of the landfill," Jones said, describing outreach tools, kitchen‑caddy giveaways and a business engagement program. Ashley Swansey, senior environmental specialist, added that in 2025 the program conducted roughly 700 business inspections and used waste‑characterization studies and route reviews to identify contamination and tailor education.

Staff highlighted visible returns of recovered materials: presentation slides cited that mulch was returned to city parks and 239 tons of compost was distributed to residents through community giveaways. Staff said the city measures progress primarily by tonnage and that contracted processors operate under state regulatory standards required for compost and mulch production.

During public comment, Gary Nissom and Kathy Keeney told the commission that families had used free mulch or compost that they believe contained a wood‑eating fungus (described in testimony as Myoporia incresata) that damaged outbuildings; they urged limiting acceptance of roots and soil and providing warning labels on green carts. Nissom said the city's current practice of accepting a broad range of green waste risks spreading pathogens into parks and private property.

Jones responded that the contracted processing meets state requirements and that the city's contamination‑minimization approach combines education, route reviews and waste characterization to reduce problem materials. Commissioners asked whether the city measures participation by percentage; staff said they now track tonnage rather than percent, and that elimination of single‑use plastics had helped reduce contamination in organics bins.

The commission did not adopt new policy at the meeting but expressed interest in follow‑up on contamination concerns and whether additional signage or acceptance rules should be recommended to council.