Composting Now Required By California Law

California has made a food recycling program mandatory where residents have to separate compostables from the rest of the trash.

About 40% of food is wasted in the United States going from plate to trash can, to garbage truck to landfill. The U.S.E.P.A. says wasted food has created about 15% of the nation's methane emissions. That contributes to global warming as methane from the rotting food helps trap heat in the atmosphere. 

Starting in January, there is a California effort to keep waste like banana peels, chicken bones and leftover veggies under a mandatory food recycling program where residents will have to separate compostables from the rest of the trash. 

"It takes a little education and a little bit of training for people to get used to anything new," Ned Spang with UC Davis said. "I think this is important. I think this is a good way we can really just tell the story of food and the fact that we really need to do what's called 'closing the loop.'"