Mandatory Commercial Recycling Update!

Recycling Mandates for Businesses

Under State of California law AB 341, businesses are required to arrange for recycling services if any of the following criteria are met:

•  Business that generates four (4) or more cubic yards of trash per week

• Multi-family residential property with five (5) or more units. Multi-family properties of 4 units or less are currently exempt.

Establishing Recycling Services

You may comply with the AB 341 mandatory commercial requirements by contacting CR&R Incorporated at 800-755-8112 to establish recycling services.

For more information regarding AB 341, you may visit the CalRecycle website.

Your business may also donate and/or self-haul materials to a recycling facility. Information about California’s new business recycling requirement is available from the California Department of Resources Recycling and Recovery [CalRecycle] at www.calrecycle.ca.gov/climate/recycling. We would suggest you keep records of these activities for future potential reference.

Organics Recycling

Similar to AB 341, this mandatory state requirement consists of a tiered system for compliance with organic recycling for businesses and multi-family residential complexes. Businesses and multi-family complexes are required to separate their food scraps and green waste for recycling.

Timeline milestones for both Commercial and Multifamily (5+units) customers:

• 2016 – All businesses with 8 or more cubic yards of organics generated per week
• 2017 – All businesses with 4  or more cubic yards of organics generated per week
• 2019 – All businesses with 4 or more cubic yards of solid waste per week

After January 1, 2019, all businesses that generate four cubic yards or more of commercial solid waste per week, regardless of type, must arrange for organic waste recycling services.  To assist with the implementation of this new requirement, CR&R has prepared an Organic Waste Fact Sheet with an overview of AB 1826 and a self-assessment guide to help identify what services may be needed under the new law. 

Customers who would like more information about AB 1826 can visit the State’s website: 

www.calrecycle.com

Ways your business or multi-family complex can comply with law:

Business Organic Waste:

Food Donation: Donate food to a food bank or other food rescue organization. Source reduction through food donation is an acceptable program and helps fight hunger in the community.
Landscaping services: If you contract with a landscape company, have them take your green waste to a composting/recycling facility.
Subscribe to organics services: Food and green waste services are expanding to meet the new state requirements. Check to see if this service is now available in your area.
 
Multi-family Complex Organic Waste:

Landscaping services: If you contract with a landscape company, have them take your green waste to a composting/recycling facility.
On-site processing: Through chipping or composting and reuse on-site.
Subscribe to green waste services: Green waste services are expanding to meet the new state requirements. Check to see if this service is now available in your area.

More Information:
For more information on AB 1826 or organics recycling, please visit the CalRecycle website or the website for CR&R, our local hauler.

Opportunities To Save Resources And Help The Environment

• Recycling conserves natural resources and reduces greenhouse gas emissions.  It extends the life of our landfills and helps to create a healthy environment for our community and for future generations.

Be Sure To Educate Your Employees

• Employees are critical to the success of a business recycling program.  Please make sure your employees know which materials can be recycled and where to place recyclable materials for temporary storage and ultimate collection. Copies of the enclosed brochure may be useful to help educate and inform employees about proper recycling procedures.  Further information can also be found on CR&R's website www.crrwasteservices.com.