Organics Recycling

Mandatory Commercial Organics

Mandatory Recycling & Organics Services In California

In September 2016, Governor Edmund Brown Jr. set methane emissions reduction targets for California (SB 1383 Lara, Chapter 395, Statutes of 2016) in a statewide effort to reduce emissions of short-lived climate pollutants (SLCP).

Beginning in 2022, SB 1383 requires every jurisdiction to provide organic waste collection services to all residents and businesses.

• “Jurisdiction” means a city, county, a city and county, or a special district that provides solid waste collection services.

• “Organic waste” includes food, green material, landscape and pruning waste, organic textiles and carpets, lumber, wood, paper products, printing and writing paper, manure, biosolids, digestate, and sludges.

Requirements for Businesses and Multi-Family Complexes (w/ 5 or more units)

City of Ceres businesses must subscribe to and participate in the City’s organics curbside collection service provided by Bertolotti Disposal in order to comply with State mandates and City disposal requirements. SB 1383 further requires businesses to provide separate collection containers for organic waste and recyclables in all areas where disposal containers are provided for customers, except in restrooms. However, if a business does not generate any of the materials that would be collected in a specific container, then it does not have to provide that particular container. Internal containers must conform to the proper color requirements or labeling requirements.

To reduce contamination, businesses must also provide education to employees, contractors, tenants, and customers regarding how to properly sort organic material into the correct containers.

Additionally, businesses must periodically:

• Inspect organic waste containers for contamination

• Inform employees if containers are contaminated

• Instruct employees about how to properly sort material into the correct containers.

• Annually educate employees, contractors, customers, and tenants on how to properly sort organic waste into the correct bins

• Provide information to new tenants within 14 days of occupation of the premises.

Resources

  1. 2022 Garbage, Organics, and Recycling Service Schedule
  2. AB 1826 Flyer (PDF)
  3. AB 341 Flyer (PDF)
  4. New Residential Garbage Service Flyer
  5. Nuevo Servicio de Basura
  6. Recycling and Organics Recycling Guide for Business Trifold English

For More Information

Websites offering more information on recycling and organics information
food waste organics image

RESTAURANTS AND FOOD SERVICE ESTABLISHMENTS

Effective July 1, 2020, MCR and MOR covered businesses must provide organics and recycling containers for customers to collect waste generated from products purchased and consumed on the premises (AB 827, McCarty). These containers must be placed adjacent to trash containers and be visible, easily accessible, and clearly marked.

AB 827 requirements were added to existing AB 341 and AB 1826 requirements. The new law, passed in 2019, builds off existing requirements under these two laws.

AB 827 targets businesses that sell products meant for immediate consumption on the premises.

Full-service restaurants do not have to provide properly labeled containers for patrons, but must provide proper labels next to trash containers for employees to separate recyclables and organics for customers.