San Mateo to impose more restrictive rules for disposal of garden waste

The City Council had previously voiced support for such a new rule, adding to other similar anti-littering ordinances. Currently, leaf blowers cannot blow material onto the street or on neighboring properties and commercial establishments cannot leave their trash on the street as well. 

“In implementing [Senate Bill] 1383, the council enacted a number of code provisions requiring such things as placing gardening waste and organic waste into the green bins that are then set up for pick up. It applies to residences, and it applies commercial businesses,” Rasiah said.

According to the staff report, the new provision defines garden waste as “leaves, grass clippings, weeds, plants, tree trunks, branches, wood shavings, dirt and other vegetative or organic material produced from the care and maintenance of landscaped areas, gardens and lawns.” Violations would be mostly complaint driven, Rasiah added. After an initial warning, citations would start at $100 and increase to $500 depending on the number of violations given. Each day counts as a separate violation. 

Several residents, including Mareva Godfrey, who is also a member of a community group that advocates for better stormwater infrastructure, were in support of the new ordinance. 

“This practice clogs these vital systems and pollutes our already compromised lagoon with unnecessary debris. This is very crucial because allowing garden waste actually directly undermines the stormwater infrastructure ballot measure that residents passed last December, which the City Council pretty much supported unanimously,” Godfrey said. 

The 2023 ballot measure imposed a monthly fee that would go toward upgrading the city’s stormwater systems and is expected to generate about $4 million annually, a little less than half of the projected amount needed each year for the necessary improvements.

Rick Sakuda, member of the Marina Lagoon Action Committee, said it was “absolutely critical to pass.”

“We all know all too well what happened on New Year’s in 2023, because basic protocols were not followed and because maintenance of the storm drain system was a can that was kicked down the road,” Sakuda said. 

The council unanimously supported the ordinance.