Mandatory Commercial Composting & Recycling Laws
There are two important laws that impact businesses in California: AB 1826 the Mandatory Commercial Organics Recycling Law and AB 341 Mandatory Commercial Recycling Law. These bills are aimed at helping the state reach its diversion goals and to keep resources out of the landfill. MSS can work with your business to find the most economical way to become compliant under the law.
AB 1826: MANDATORY COMMERCIAL ORGANICS RECYCLING
Removing organic material (compostables) from the landfill is not only a top priority for Marin Sanitary Service, it is an essential step toward achieving California’s recycling and greenhouse gas emission goals. Not only does proper disposal of organic materials produce a soil amendment for California farmers, it also has an impact on reducing greenhouse gases. When organic material like food waste is landfilled, it breaks down anaerobically, creating methane and other greenhouse gases that leak from landfills and contribute to climate change.
Assembly Bill 1826 requires California businesses, including public entities, and multifamily complexes of five (5) units or more to recycle their organic waste depending on the amount of waste they generate per week. Download the CalRecycle brochure about AB 1826 here and in Spanish here.
The requirements are slightly different for businesses and multifamily complexes. If you are looking for information about multifamily dwelling requirements, visit our multifamily legislation page.
The law uses a tiered implementation schedule, which phases in requirements over time based on the amount and type of organics or waste the produced on a weekly basis.
- January 1, 2017: Businesses that generate four (4) cubic yards of organic waste per week shall arrange for organic waste recycling services.
- January 1, 2019: Businesses that generate four (4) cubic yards or more of commercial solid waste per week shall arrange for organic waste recycling services.
Please note that in 2019 the requirements will shift and more multifamily units will be impacted. Make sure you’re ready! - Summer 2021: If CalRecycle determines that the statewide disposal of organic waste in 2020 has not been reduced by 50 percent of the level of disposal during 2014, the organic recycling requirements on businesses will expand to cover businesses that generate two cubic yards or more of commercial solid waste per week.
WHO MUST COMPLY?
“Business” means any commercial or public entity that generates four or more cubic yards of commercial solid waste per week, including but not limited to, a firm, partnership, proprietorship, joint-stock company, corporation, or association that is organized as a for-profit or non-profit entity, strip mall (e.g. property complex containing two or more commercial entities), industrial facility, school, school district, California State University, community colleges, University of California, special district or a federal, state, local, regional agency or facility.
HOW DO YOU COMPLY?
The requirement to recycle organic waste can be met by taking one or any combination of the following actions, provided that the action is in compliance with local ordinances and requirements.
- Separate organic waste from other waste and subscribe to an organic waste recycling service that specifically includes collection and recycling of organic waste (see “how we can help” below).
- Recycle organic waste on-site, or self-haul organic waste for organic recycling.
- Subscribe to an organic waste recycling service that includes mixed-waste processing that specifically recycles organic waste.
- Sell or donate the generated organic waste.
HOW WE CAN HELP
Our goal is to ensure our commercial customers have the information, tools, resources and support to reach the highest level of diversion potential that is practical, best suits your individual needs, and results in contaminant free material. In other words — we want you to be successful organic recyclers!
Here’s how we will help you do that:
Get the Commercial Getting Started Guide
Download the Guide. This handy guide covers the basic information you need to set up service and be compliant. It prints as a double-sided 11X17 brochure.
Subscribe to Compostables Service
It’s easy to subscribe to our compostables and/ or Food 2 Energy collection services. When you set up your service with us, our outreach coordinator will work with you to find the most economical way to become compliant and successful under the law.
Site Visit & Audit
Commercial customers who meet the threshold of AB 1826 will be contacted by our recycling programs coordinators to arrange for a site visit to perform a complete walk-through and identify opportunities for greater waste reduction and diversion.
Ongoing Support
Our coordinators are available to provide ongoing technical, educational, and training workshops and assistance.
Contact a Compostables & Food 2 Energy Program Coordinator
Phone: (415) 456-2601
Hours: Monday through Friday 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.[su_button url=”/compliance-with-mandatory-laws/” icon=”https://marinsanitaryservice.com/mobius/wp-content/uploads/2018/12/noun_Phone_2030921-white.png”]Contact a Compostables Coordinator[/su_button]
Print our Commercial Recycling & Organics Laws Flyer for this Information at a Glance
Download our Commercial Recycling & Organics Laws Flyer. It’s two pages and prints on 8.5X11 paper.
AB 341: MANDATORY COMMERCIAL RECYCLING
In 2012, California adopted AB 341 the Mandatory Commercial Recycling Measure to enhance systems that capture recyclable materials from the commercial sector. The purpose of the 2012 law is to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by diverting commercial solid waste from landfills and expand opportunities for recycling in California.
The requirements are slightly different for businesses and multifamily complexes. If you are looking for information about multifamily dwelling requirements, visit our multifamily legislation page.
WHO MUST COMPLY?
“Business” means any commercial or public entity that generates four or more cubic yards of commercial solid waste per week, including but not limited to, a firm, partnership, proprietorship, joint-stock company, corporation, or association that is organized as a for-profit or non-profit entity, strip mall (e.g. property complex containing two or more commercial entities), industrial facility, school, school district, California State University, community colleges, University of California, special district or a federal, state, local, regional agency or facility.
HOW DO YOU COMPLY?
The requirement to recycle can be met by taking one or any combination of the following actions, provided that the action is in compliance with local ordinances and requirements.
Businesses can take one or any combination of the following in order to reuse, recycle, compost or otherwise divert solid waste from disposal:
- Self-haul.
- Subscribe to a hauler (see “how we can help” below).
- Arrange for the pickup of recyclable materials.
- Subscribe to a recycling service that may include mixed waste processing that yields diversion results comparable to source separation.
HOW WE CAN HELP
Our goal is to ensure our commercial customers have the information, tools, resources and support to reach the highest level of diversion potential that is practical, best suits your individual needs, and results in contaminant free material. In other words — we want you to be successful recyclers!
Here’s how we will help you do that:
Get the Commercial Getting Started Guide
Download the Guide. This handy guide covers the basic information you need to set up service and be compliant. It prints as a double-sided 11X17 brochure.
Subscribe to Recycling Service
It’s easy to subscribe to our recycling collection service. When you set up your service with us, our outreach coordinator will work with you to find the most economical way to become compliant and successful under the law.
Site Visit & Audit
Commercial customers who meet the threshold of AB 341 will be contacted by our recycling programs coordinators to arrange for a site visit to perform a complete walk-through and identify opportunities for greater waste reduction and diversion.
Ongoing Support
Our coordinators are available to provide ongoing technical, educational, and training workshops and assistance.
Contact a Recycling Coordinator
Phone: (415) 456-2601
Hours: Monday through Friday 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.
[su_button url=”/commercial/contact-a-commercial-recycling-coordinator/” icon=”https://marinsanitaryservice.com/mobius/wp-content/uploads/2018/12/noun_Phone_2030921-white.png”]Contact a Recycling Coordinator[/su_button]Print our Commercial Recycling & Organics Laws Flyer for this Information at a Glance
Download our Commercial Recycling & Organics Laws Flyer. It’s two pages and prints on 8.5X11 paper.
