Mandatory Commercial Organics Recycling For more information, visit: calrecycle.ca.gov/Recycle/Commercial/Organics Now in effect: Covered Businesses & Multi-family Complexes of Five or More Units Must Have Organics Recycling On September 28, 2014, a new law became effective in the State of California. Assembly Bill 1826 (AB 1826) requires businesses to recycle their organic materials, depending on the amount of waste they generate per week. As part of California’s recycling and greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions target, businesses are required to divert food scraps and food-soiled paper that is mixed in with food waste from their waste streams, effective April 1, 2016. Multi-family buildings with five (5) or more units are required to collect and recycle yard trimmings, effective April 1, 2016. These organic materials account for nearly one-third of the approximately 30 million tons of waste destined for California’s landfills each year. Diverting organics from landfills for processing for beneficial reuse reduces landfill GHG emissions and produces sustainable products that contribute to soil health, plant nutrition, water conservation and carbon sequestration. Mandatory commercial organics recycling helps to meet the goals of California’s Global Warming Solutions Act, Assembly Bill 32. WHO Businesses that generate organic waste, including food scraps and yard trimmings, may be required to have separate organics recycling service depending on the amount generated. Multi-family properties with five (5) units or more that generate green waste are required to recycle this organic material. If your complex contracts out landscape services, please be sure that the company utilized is diverting the materials from entering landfills. WHAT Food Scraps include: solid, semisolid, and liquid food, fruit, vegetables, cut flowers and herbs, cheese, meat, bones, poultry, seafood, bread, rice, pasta, fats, grease and oils, coffee filters, tea bags and food-soiled paper (such as napkins, towels, and tissues, paper plates, paper cups, fast food wrappers, egg cartons, used pizza boxes, wax-coated cardboard and other similar paper or compostable packaging all which are mixed with food waste). No glass or cleaning supplies. Green Waste includes: landscape and pruning waste and nonhazardous wood waste. * Waste Management CORe ® service will help businesses achieve compliance with food recycling requirements. A separate green waste recycling container will be needed for multi-family properties. WHERE All California cities and counties are required to implement an organics recycling program and conduct outreach to applicable businesses as of January 1, 2016. In addition, cities and counties are required to monitor businesses to ensure compliance with recycling requirements. WHEN April 1, 2016, businesses and multi-family buildings generating 8 cubic yards per week of organics must arrange for organics recycling service. January 1, 2017, businesses generating 4 cubic yards per week of organics shall arrange for organics recycling service. January 1, 2019, businesses and multi-family properties generating 4 cubic yards of commercial solid waste (trash) must arrange for organics recycling service. HOW Our trained employees can help you determine the size container and frequency of service required to meet your needs. Contact Alexandria Gonzalez at (657) 270-7201 or [email protected].