#MORe
Businesses are now required to recycle their organic waste. AB 1826 (Chesbro, Chapter 727, Statutes of 2014) phases in new organics recycling requirements over the next several years to the help the state meet its goal of recycling 75% of its waste by 2020. Beginning January 1, 2016, local jurisdictions will be required to implement an organic waste recycling program to divert organic waste from businesses.
What is Organic Waste?
Organic waste includes food waste, green waste, landscape and pruning waste, nonhazardous wood waste, and food-soiled paper waste that is mixed in with food waste.
Who Must Comply?
The new law states that businesses and multifamily dwellings must start recycling organic waste by the following dates:
- January 1, 2016: Local jurisdictions shall have an organic waste recycling program in place. Jurisdictions shall conduct outreach, education to inform businesses how to recycle organic waste in the jurisdiction, and monitoring to implementation.
- April 1, 2016: Generators of 8 cubic yards or more of organic waste per week
- January 1, 2017: Generators of 4 or more cubic yards or more of organic waste per week.
- January 1, 2019: Generators of 4 or more cubic yards or more of solid waste per week.
- December 31, 2020: Generators of 2 or more cubic yards of solid waste per week.
*Note: Multifamily dwellings are not required to have a food waste diversion program.
How to Comply?
- Source-separate organic waste from other waste and subscribe to an organic waste recycling service that specifically includes collection and recycling of organic waste.
- Recycle organic waste onsite, or self-haul for organics 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.
MORe Information
For more information on mandatory commercial organics recycling, visit www.calrecycle.ca.gov/recycle/commercial/organics/.