Important Compliance Reminder
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State and local laws require all businesses to recycle. Businesses must also have organics collection service if they:
- generate 4 or more cubic yards of total solid waste per week and hold a food service permit, or
- generate 20 or more gallons of food scraps per week.
If you're not sure how much solid waste you generate (garbage and recycling service volumes combined), call your garbage or recycling company, then follow the steps below if you need to set up recycling and/or organics collection service.
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You must also sort waste into the proper containers:
- Organics: Food scraps, compostable paper, and plant debris ONLY. No garbage or recycling.
- Recycling: Bottles, cans, paper, and cardboard ONLY. No garbage or organics.
- Garbage: Garbage ONLY. No organics or recycling.
Enforcement
Inspectors are routinely dispatched to businesses to inspect the garbage, recycling and, if required, the organics collection containers. Citations and fines are being issued for failure to comply with the requirements outlined above.
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Setting up Recycling and/or Organics Service
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Follow these four steps if your property still needs to set up recycling and/or organics collection service. If at any point you need help, request assistance online or call (510) 891-6575 to leave a message for a call back. Your collection service provider may also be able to help estimate service needs and provide training.
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Step 1: Check your trash
Look in your garbage bin(s) the day before your pickup day to see how much of your trash should be composted and recycled. In food service, up to 80% of discards may be compostable.
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Step 2: Estimate service needs
For example, if you currently have 4 yards of weekly garbage service and think at least 25% could be composted, multiply 4 yards x 0.25, equaling 1 yard of estimated organics service.
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Step 3: Order service changes
Call your collection service provider(s) to start or increase recycling and/or organics collection service, and possibly reduce garbage service.
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Step 4: Adjust your indoor bins & train staff
To help with proper separation of materials, you’ll need to match your outdoor bins or carts with corresponding indoor bins and train your staff.
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*including on-site assistance and trainings, how-to videos, stickers, posters, and more.
Legislative Background:
As of January 1, 2019, State law AB 1826 states that all businesses and institutions that generate 4 or more cubic yards of solid waste per week (garbage and recycling service volumes combined) are required to also have organics service for compostable materials such as food scraps, food-soiled paper, and plant debris. State of California law AB 341 requires businesses and institutions to recycle.
In addition to the state laws, the Alameda County Mandatory Composting and Recycling Law requires businesses to have organics and recycling collection and to sort waste into the proper containers.
Learn more about Alameda County’s composting and recycling law. Learn more about the State laws regarding mandatory commercial recycling and organics.
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