Councilmember Agran has created the Community Development intern program to encourage high school and college students to engage with their Irvine community and government. Periodically, interns from the program will feature projects they are leading. This week features Pranav Moudgalya, who wrote “A Solid Step towards Sustainability: An Analysis of California Senate Bill 1383.” His article discusses the effects of California’s new statewide organic waste collection law, which went into effect on January 1, 2022. 

If you would like to learn more about the Community Development internship, please email LarryAgran@cityofirvine.org.

Hey! I’m Pranav, a current senior at University High School. I am excited to be on Councilmember Larry Agran’s Community Development intern team. In my free time, I enjoy watching TV shows (SUITS & Money Heist), taking walks around my neighborhood, and cooking (though mainly eating) vegan food. This fall, I will attend Harvard University where I intend to study environmental science and public policy.

I was inspired by Irvine’s Cool City Challenge to report on the state of California’s new “organic waste” collection policy — typically known as garbage like food scraps, as well as pet food and litter, along with yard clippings. I learned that SB 1383 represents a big change for California and requires the cooperation of all California residents. You can read all about my findings with my article “A Solid Step Towards Sustainability: An Analysis of California Senate Bill 1383.”

Here are a couple key quotes:

“SB 1383 will have some significant costs. Residents, for example, can expect their waste collection bill to increase up to 13%, or about $5 per month. Still, increasing organic waste collection is anticipated to generate 17,000 permanent green jobs and 3,000 temporary construction jobs across the state.”

“If California can reach its stated 2025 goals of reducing organic food waste, the effects of greenhouse gas reduction would mirror the removal of 1.7 million cars from roads, which will put California well on track to achieve carbon neutrality by 2030.”