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SB 1388 Compliant Compost, Mulch, and Renewable Natural Gas Products

SB 1383 is climate legislation that requires cities and counties to annually procure a specified quantity of recovered organic waste products- such as compost, mulch, and renewable natural gas (RNG)- to meet their annual procurement targets.

To ensure compliance, the County of San Mateo adopted Admin Memo B-33, an internal county policy that requires all County departments, contractors, and vendors to only purchase recovered organic waste products that qualify toward the County’s SB 1383 procurement target.

To streamline purchasing, the Sustainability Department has compiled a list of compost suppliers and approved mulch suppliers within the County.

If you identify a supplier or product that meets the compliance requirements but is not on the list, please email SUST_SB1383Compliance@smcgov.org. The Sustainability Department will review and update the list on an ongoing basis.

Compost

As of September 27, 2024, AB 2346 has expanded the range of eligible compost products, allowing more options for compliance. SB 1383 compliant compost now includes:

  • Compost from small compost operations (<100 cy and 750 sq ft)
  • Vermicomposting (compost from worms)
  • Mushroom compost
  • Compost from permitted composting facility produced from materials diverted from landfill
Compost image

In summary, any compost produced in California that meets the specified standards is considered compliant. Soil mixes can also qualify; however, only the compost portion counts toward compliance.

The following are some options for purchasing compliant compost in San Mateo County; note that this list is not exhaustive:

Eligible Compost

San Mateo County

CompanyBusiness TypeNotes

Webb Ranch

2720 Alpine Road, Portola Valley
650-854-6334

Farm

Sells organic compost locally produced in San Mateo County

Wheeler Farms

3800 La Honda Rd, San Gregorio

650-424-1896

Farm

Sells organic compost, planting mix, and worm castings locally produced in San Mateo County

Broadmoor Landscape Supply

1350 El Camino Real, South San Francisco
650-761-1515

Landscape Supply Store

Sells:

  • Compost (Wonder Grow Organic Compost, Gardner & Bloome Purely Compost)
  • Soil mix (Select Mix, Nursery Mix)

Lyngso Garden Materials

345 Shoreway Rd, San Carlos
650-364-1730

Landscape Supply Store

Sells:

  • Compost (all products are eligible except Seacoast Biodynamic Compost, which is produced out of state)
  • Soil mix (Essential Soil with Diestel, Landscape Mix, Organic Amendment Mix, Organic Lyngso Vegetable Blend, Potting Mix, Roof Mix, Vegetable Amendment Mix)

Home Depot

Lowes

Outdoor Supply Hardware

Retail Store

Sells compost and soil mix products. If purchasing from these retailers, it is the purchaser’s responsibility to ensure the products are California-produced and meet compliance requirements.

Santa Clara County

CompanyBusiness TypeNotes

Newby Island Resource Recovery Park

1601 Dixon Landing Rd, Milpitas

209-616-4912

Compost Facility

Sells compost made from food scraps and yard trimmings

Recology Organics

Compost Facility

Sells compost made from food scraps and yard trimmings

GreenWaste Z-Best Composting Facility

980 Hwy 25, Gilroy

Compost Facility

Sells:

  • Compost made from food scraps and yard trimmings
  • Soil mix (Z-Best Premium Planter Mix, Z-Best Potting Mix, Z-Best Bio Soil Mix)

GreenWaste Zanker Landscape Materials

705 Los Esteros Road, San Jose

Compost Facility

Sells:

  • Compost made from food scraps and yard trimmings
  • Soil mix (Rototiller Mix, Summer Blend, Veggie Tales Blend, Planter Mix, Native Topsoil 70/30 Mix, Bio Soil Mix)

Mulch

As of September 27, 2024, AB 2346 has expanded the range of eligible mulch products, allowing more options for compliance. SB 1383 compliant mulch now includes:

  • Mulch from permitted composting facility using materials diverted from landfill
  • Mulch produced from tree trimming operations conducted by the jurisdiction or its contracted service provider, when applied to landscape areas owned or managed by the jurisdiction or given away to residents. A local jurisdiction may apply this mulch to fulfill up to 10% of its recovered organic waste product procurement target.
Mulch application photo

The following are SB 1383 compliant mulch products produced from permitted composting facilities:

Eligible Mulch

San Mateo County

CompanyBusiness TypeProduct NameManufacturer

Broadmoor Landscape Supply

1350 El Camino Real, South San Francisco
650-761-1515

Landscape Supply Store

Recology – Blossom Valley Organics N Verna

Lyngso Garden Materials

345 Shoreway Rd, San Carlos
650-364-1730

Landscape Supply Store

Composted Mulch

GreenWaste Z-Best Composting Facility

Santa Clara County

CompanyBusiness TypeProduct NameManufacturer

Newby Island Resource Recovery Park

1601 Dixon Landing Rd, Milpitas

209-616-4912

Compost Facility

Pro Chip Mulch (Natural)

Republic Services – Newby Island Compost Facility

Recology Organics

Compost Facility

Recology Organics

GreenWaste Z-Best Composting Facility

980 Hwy 25, Gilroy

Compost Facility
  • Z-Best Organic Mulch
  • Z-Best Organic Mini Mulch
  • GW Premium Arbor Mulch
  • GW Natural Mulch
  • GW Natural Mini Mulch

GreenWaste Z-Best Composting Facility

GreenWaste Zanker Landscape Materials

705 Los Esteros Road, San Jose

Compost Facility
  • Bioretention Mulch
  • GW Premium Arbor Mulch
  • GW Natural Soil Amendment
  • GreenWaste Z-Best Composting Facility
  • GreenWaste Zanker Landscape Materials

Renewable Natural Gas (RNG) & Biomass Electricity

SB 1383 compliant renewable natural gas (RNG) and biomass electricity are both highly limited in availability. At this time, there are no SB 1383 compliant options available in San Mateo County.

To qualify as SB 1383 compliant, RNG must be produced from organic waste that has been diverted from landfills and processed at a permitted in-vessel digestion facility. This excludes landfill gas, wastewater-derived gas, natural gas, dairy methane, and renewable diesel.

Similarly, SB 1383 compliant biomass electricity must be generated at a facility that receives feedstock directly from a transfer station, landfill, or composting facility. Biomass from forestry or agricultural sources does not meet these requirements.

If you are aware of any qualifying RNG or biomass electricity sources that should be considered, please email us at SUST_SB1383Compliance@smcgov.org.

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