What is Source Separation?

Every recycling, composting, and landfill system is only as effective as the first decision that’s made: which container an item goes into.

That first step is called source separation, and it’s one of the most important parts of any waste reduction program. By placing recyclables, organics, and trash into the appropriate containers, we reduce contamination, improve the quality of recovered materials, and give those materials the best opportunity to be recycled, composted, or otherwise put to beneficial use. Once contamination enters a recycling or organics stream, it becomes more difficult (and sometimes impossible) to recover these materials.

Why is the recovery of these materials important?

Recovering recyclable and organic materials isn’t just about reducing waste. It conserves natural resources, keeps valuable materials in circulation, and allows them to be transformed into new products instead of being buried in a landfill. Recyclables become new packaging, paper products, and other manufactured goods, while organic materials can be processed into compost, mulch, or renewable energy, depending on the local program.

That’s one reason source separation is such an important part of California’s Senate Bill 1383. Organic waste makes up nearly half of what Californians send to landfills, and as food scraps, yard trimmings, paper, and other organic materials decompose, they generate methane, a potent greenhouse gas. By separating organics and keeping contamination out of the green bin, we help recover these valuable materials, reduce methane emissions from landfills, and support a more circular approach to managing our resources

Every correctly sorted container helps recover more resources, produce cleaner recycling and compost streams, reduce unnecessary disposal, and move California, and Athens Services, closer to our Zero Waste goals.