Waste Reduction

The District's Office of Environmental Health & Safety (OEHS) oversees LAUSD's waste hauling and disposal and recycling programs. The District is working with Republic Services, American Reclamation, and Ware Disposal to provide schools with educational tools and resources encouraging waste reduction.

In December 2011, LAUSD awarded a District-wide rubbish collection and recycling services, for more information regarding the recycling program, refer to Memorandum MEM-5696.0, Update to New Rubbish and Recycling Services Program and LAUSD District-Wide Expanded Recycling Program.

Organic Waste Collection:
Under California Senate Bill 1383, effective January 1st, 2022 all public schools and school districts must subscribe to an organic waste collection service. OEHS administrators will be working towards educating school district staff about organic waste prevention and how to properly sort materials into correct containers. School staff will be required to properly sort their organic waste into the correct containers.
  • Organic waste includes food, green material, landscape, and pruning waste.
  • Goals within SB 1383:
    • Effective Date: January 1, 2022
    • Enforcement required: January 1, 2024
    • First Goal: 75% Reduction in Organics by January 1, 2025
    • Second Goal: 20% Increase in Edible Food Recovery by January 1, 2025

Current LAUSD Goals
Organic Waste Collection
Under California Senate Bill 1383, effective January 1st, 2022 all public schools and school districts must subscribe to an organic waste collection service. OEHS administrators will be working towards educating school district staff about organic waste prevention and how to properly sort materials into correct containers. School staff will be required to properly sort their organic waste into the correct containers.
  • Organic waste includes food, green material, landscape, and pruning waste.
  • Goals within SB 1383:
    • Effective Date: January 1, 2022
    • Enforcement required: January 1, 2024
    • First Goal: 75% Reduction in Organics by January 1, 2025
    • Second Goal: 20% Increase in Edible Food Recovery by January 1, 2025

Food Scraps Disposal Program
LAUSD is implementing food scraps and recovery programs district-wide to comply with new state mandates and to help achieve the District’s sustainability goals. In efforts to divert waste from the landfills, a specialized rubbish disposal container will be used by sites to toss all food scraps. These food scraps are collected by rubbish providers and taken to special facilities to process and divert the material from the landfills. 
  • Implementation: December 2023 (Updated)

Food Recovery Program 
A food recovery program collects edible food that would otherwise go to waste and redistributes it to feed people in need. The District will be working to create partnerships throughout our communities to develop a network that diverts as much food as possible from reaching our landfills. 
  • Implementation: Late 2023

Numbers & Resources

LAUSD has a diversion rate of more than 25% through a program of reducing, reusing, recycling and rot (compost)
Schools diverted more than 87 tons of organic waste in 2015

Resources
  • Where does our waste go?
  • How can you reduce waste?

Waste Reduction 

Campus Recycling

The District offers student training, lunchtime sorting/recycling, and teacher workshops.  
If you have questions about recycling bins, or about other waste management issues, contact:
     Rubbish Collection & Recycling Services
     Waste Reduction Hotline at (213) 241-3199
     Email:  oehswastemanagement@lausd.org
     Recycling Bin Request Form

Primary Partners