Business Owners

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As a business, you undoubtedly generate organic waste as a result of your business practices. Organic waste must be recycled and excluded from being disposed of in normal trash containers. It is required of you as an organic waste generator to:

Subscribe to and participate in organic waste collection services; or
Self-haul organic wastes to permitted facilities and maintain records

Examples of Organic Wastes

Here are some examples of organic wastes that may be generated at your business:

Paper and cardboard products (copy paper, envelopes, folders, calendars, notebooks, other miscellaneous paper products, and shipping boxes)
Food and food scraps (fruits, vegetables, meat, bones, seafood, eggshells, tea bags, coffee grounds, paper filters, dairy products, leftovers, bread, grains, and miscellaneous scraps and peelings)
Plant material (grass clippings, flowers, leaves, branches, yard prunings, twigs, stumps, leaves, hedge trimmings, weeds, manure, garden residues, and wood)
Food-soiled items (paper, paper towels, napkins, cardboard, and pizza boxes)

Requirements

Commercial organic waste generators must provide organic and non-organic recycling containers in all areas where a trash container is located. Containers must be labeled and have a lid or body that adheres to the solid waste collection service colors – Green for organics, Blue for traditional recyclables, and Gray/Tan for non-organics.

Businesses must:

Periodically instruct employees about how to properly sort material into the correct containers
Inspect organic waste containers for contamination
Educate and inform employees if containers are contaminated
Supply and allow access to an adequate number, size, and location of containers with the correct labels or container colors, and
Annually educate employees, contractors, customers, and tenants on how to properly sort organic waste.

Additional Information

Learn more about the requirements as a commercial organic waste generator and visit CalRecycle’s website for additional information on statewide mandatory organic waste collection and requirements for businesses. Please contact your franchise hauler for container options and delivery.

Business Three Container Guidelines

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