Business Recycling – AB 341 and AB 1826

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Compost and Recycling Bin Requirements

As of July 1, 2020, State Assembly Bill No. 827 additionally requires businesses to provide organics (compost) and recycling bins wherever there is public access to the business. This new bill will impact the following groups:

Commercial entities that subscribe to trash services of 4-cubic yards or more of commercial solid waste per week, which are entities subject to AB 341.
Commercial entities that subscribe to combined trash and recycling services of 2-cubic yards or more of waste per week, which are entities subject to AB 1826.

The bill will also require commercial entities to place educational signage next to the clearly marked organics and/or recycling bins to help customers distinguish what items belong in which bin. However, this bill exempts full-service, or commonly known as “dine-in” restaurants from this mandate.

Organic Materials Requirements

As of September 2020, multi-family complexes of 5 units or more and businesses that subscribe to combined trash and recycling services of two (2) cubic yards or more are required to recycle their organic materials. A business means any commercial or public entity, including but not limited to:

A firm
Partnership
Proprietorship
Joint-stock company
Corporation, or association that is organized as a for-profit or non-profit entity
Strip mall (e.g. property complex containing two or more commercial entities)
Industrial facility
School
School district
California State University
Community colleges
University of California
Special district
A federal, state, local, regional agency or facility

The requirement was signed into law per AB 1826, which is intended to promote recycling and diversion of organic waste from landfills by requiring businesses to accomplish recycling activities and/or participate in recycling programs.

Recycling Requirements

As of July 1, 2012, businesses that generate four (4) cubic yards or more of waste per week are required to recycle. A business means any commercial or public entity, including but not limited to:

A firm
Partnership
Proprietorship
Joint-stock company
Corporation, or association that is organized as a for-profit or non-profit entity
Strip mall (e.g. property complex containing two or more commercial entities)
Industrial facility
School
School district
California State University
Community colleges
University of California
Special district
A federal, state, local, regional agency or facility

The requirement was signed into law per Assembly Bill No. 341, which is intended to promote recycling and diversion of solid waste from landfills by requiring businesses to accomplish recycling activities and/or participate in recycling programs.

What materials should be recycled?

What can be recycled will vary by business, however, this program targets mainly source-separated recyclable materials that can be collected together or commingled such as:

Paper, catalogs, junk mail, magazines, newspaper, phone books, and other paper products
Aluminum, Metal, Tin, or Steel cans or containers
Cardboard
Glass Bottles & Jars
Plastics #1 through 7
Wood and Greenwaste (as part of a separate collection program)

What can be recycled will vary by business; however, this program targets mainly source-separated organic compostable materials that can be collected together or commingled such as:

Food scraps
Food soiled paper
Non-Treated Wood Waste
Yard trimmings

How to Get Started

Kern County has adopted a Commercial Recycling Ordinance to address the requirements for business/commercial properties located in unincorporated Kern County areas. The ordinance describes several options that a business can participate to comply, as follows:

Subscribe to a Source Separated Recycling Service with the Franchise Hauler authorized to provide service for the area in which the Business is located
Subscribe to a Mixed Solid Waste Recycling Service with the Franchise Hauler authorized to provide service for the area in which the business is located
Self Recycle and self certify compliance with the Ordinance.

Businesses and commercial properties located in unincorporated Kern County areas have several options to comply with state mandates, as follows:

Food Waste Recycling: Subscribe to a Source Separated Food Waste Collection Service with the Franchise Hauler authorized to provide service for the area in which the Business is located

Green Waste Recycling: Businesses and Multi-Family complexes with landscaping services can self-certify compliance.