Mandatory Commercial Recycling

 

AB341 requires Mandatory Commercial Recycling in California beginning July 1, 2012. Businesses or public entities that are subscribing to waste collection services or are a multifamily residential property of five (5) or more units, are required to have a recycling program.

For more information on Mandatory Commercial Recycling (AB 341) please see the California Resources, Recycling, and Recovery (CalRecycle) website at http://www.calrecycle.ca.gov/Recycle/Commercial/default.htm

To see the City of Los Angeles AB 341 flyer, in both English and Spanish, Click Here  (Adobe PDF viewer required).

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

What are the benefits of this law?

      1. The more recyclable materials a business can divert from their trash, the greater the potential savings and/or reduction in costs (i.e., monthly trash bill)
      2. Recycling can help reduce emissions of methane, air toxics, and criteria pollutants from landfills
      3. Recycling frees up space in landfills that have a limited capacity
      4. The more businesses and residents recycle, the greater the ability for the City of Los Angeles to reach its goal of Zero Waste by 2025

Who is required to recycle?

      1. Businesses, business complexes, or public entities that have the capacity to create 4 cubic yards or more of solid waste per week
      2. Owners/managers of a Multi-family dwelling of 5 units or more

Why was Assembly Bill 341 signed into law?

      1. To reduce the green house gas (GHG) emissions by diverting commercial solid waste through recycling efforts, and to expand the opportunity for additional recycling services and recycling manufacturing facilities in California
      2. To reduce methane emissions at landfills from the decomposition of organic materials
      3. To meet the statewide goal of 75% solid waste diversion by 2020
      4. According to 2008 Statewide Waste Characterization data, the commercial sector generates nearly three-fourths of the solid waste in California. Most of the commercial sector waste disposed in landfills is recyclable

When does this law take effect?
All affected properties are required to start recycling by July 1, 2012.

HOW DO I CREATE A RECYCLING PROGRAM?

Identify a Team Recycling Leader
Find someone at your business or property who will take the lead in being the point person for your recycling program.

Set up/implement a recycling plan
Do inventories of your trash so you can determine how to reduce what you dispose and divert more recyclables. Buy recycling bins, make signs, contract with a permitted hauler, and look at Mind Your Business.

Make it a Team Effort
Get other people at your business or property involved and your program will produce better results.

Make it fun
Have a potluck and have attendees identify items at the potluck that are recyclable and non-recyclable. Reward participants with recycled content gifts.
If you are at a business, assign team captains from different departments or divisions who can help the team leader.

Consistently communicate to employees or residents the importance of the program.

Monitor your waste volume periodically to see how you are progressing.