Mandatory Organic Waste Recycling

commercial Organic Waste Recycling is Required

In October 2014 Governor Brown signed AB 1826 Chesbro (Chapter 727, Statutes of 2014), requiring businesses to recycle their organic waste on and after April 1, 2016, depending on the amount of waste they generate per week. This law also requires that on and after January 1, 2016, local jurisdictions across the state implement an organic waste recycling program to divert organic waste generated by businesses, including multifamily residential dwellings that consist of five or more units (please note, however, that multifamily dwellings are not yet required to have a food waste diversion program, but are required to recycle greenwaste).

Organic waste (also referred to as organics throughout this resource) means food waste, green waste, landscape and pruning waste, nonhazardous wood waste, and food-soiled paper waste that is mixed in with food waste. This law phases in the mandatory recycling of commercial organics over time, while also offering an exemption process for rural counties. In particular, the minimum threshold of organic waste generation by businesses decreases over time, which means an increasingly greater proportion of the commercial sector will be required to comply. Click Here to See the CalRecycle Mandatory Commercial Organics Recycling Page

requirements

Organics recycling requirements depend on the amount of organic waste generated by the business each week (see below). The minimum threshold of organic waste generation by businesses decreases over time, so a larger proportion of the commercial sector will be required to comply in the new organics recycling requirements in the coming years.

April 1, 2016 - Businesses that generate 8 cubic yards of organic waste per week.

January 1, 2017 - Businesses that generate 4 cubic yards of organic waste per week.

January 1, 2019 - Businesses that generate 4 cubic yards of commercial solid waste (trash) per week.

Summer/Fall 2021 - *Businesses that generate 2 cubic yards of commercial solid waste (trash) per week.

_{*Takes effect if CalRecycle determines that statewide disposal of organic waste in 2020 has not been reduced by 50% of 2014 levels}

The mandatory commercial organics recycling law (AB 1826) was signed in 2014 to help achieve California’s aggressive recycling and greenhouse gas emission goals. California landfills about 30 million tons of waste each year, of which more than 30% is organic, which could be composted or used to produce renewable energy. Greenhouse gas emissions resulting from the decomposition of organic waste in landfills have been identified as a significant source of emissions contributing to global climate change.

If you would like a free consultation on the requirements & needs of your particular business or multi-family location, please call Solid Waste Coordinator Rick Cervantes at (805) 986-6657.

Compost and Recycling Containers Law (AB 827)

AB 827, effective July 1, 2020, is a new State of California recycling law requiring businesses to provide compost and recycling containers next to garbage containers.

Requirements

Businesses that provide food to customers that self-bus, must provide separate recycling and compost collection containers front-of-house. For businesses that bus tables for customers, they must provide separate recycling and food collection containers back-of-house. Both front-of-house and back-of-house containers should be visible, easily accessible and clearly marked.