AB 1826 Organics Waste Requirements for Businesses and Multi-Family Communities

Assembly Bill AB 1826, the Mandatory Organics Recycling Regulation, was signed by Governor Brown in 2016, and phased in requirements for commercial businesses and multi-family communities to divert organic materials from the landfill. Organic material is defined as food waste, food-soiled paper, landscaping waste and compostable utensils.

Organics represent approximately 35% of all material currently landfilled. Recycling organic materials conserves resources and reduces greenhouse gas emissions. It extends the life of our landfills and helps create a healthy environment for our community and future generations.

 Who Must Recycle Organic Waste

 As of January 1, 2020, businesses including multi-family communities that generate 2 cubic yards or more of trash per week must have an organics recycling program. Multi-family communities are only required to recycle landscaping waste which can be managed by your property’s landscaper if the landscape materials are taken offsite and diverted from landfilling. For more information on who must comply, visit the AB 1826 Letter.

• AB 1826 Letter to Businesses and MF Complexes 2019

   

• AB 1826 Letter to Businesses and MF Complexes 2019 - SPANISH

   

  How to Arrange for Organics Services

  Businesses and multi-family communities that meet the threshold requirements of AB 1826 must arrange for organic waste recycling services.

  Organics Diversion Resources & Methods:

  •  Please visit Commercial Waste Service | Bell Gardens, CA to contact your current solid waste and recycling hauler to find out how they can help you recycle your organic waste or report any current onsite organics recycling programs.

• Businesses and multi-family communities may also donate or make other arrangements to divert organics from landfilling. Some of these methods include:

   

  • Self-hauling the materials to organics recycling facilities; or

     

  • Donating edible food. Your business may receive tax deductions and create stronger ties with your community by donating food to charitable organizations.

     

• Be sure to inform your current solid waste and recycling hauler of any organics or landscape waste recycling programs your property currently uses to recycle or divert organics (donations, composting, self-haul, etc.).

Businesses and multi-family communities meeting the thresholds of the regulation that do not have an organics recycling program are visited annually. These visits will be performed by your solid waste and recycling hauler to inform your business of the regulations, offer organics recycling solutions, and document all current organics recycling programs in place.

Be Sure to Educate Your Employees and Tenants

Employees and tenants are key to a successful organics recycling program. Please make sure your employees and tenants know which organic materials can be recycled as organics and where to place the materials for temporary storage and ultimate collection or donation.

Where to Go for More Information

Information about California’s business and multi-family organics recycling requirements is available from the California Department of Resources Recycling and Recovery (CalRecycle) at Mandatory Commercial Organics Recycling - CalRecycle Home Page.