Mandatory Recycling for Businesses and Multi-family Dwellings

SB 1383, AB 341, and AB 1826 Requirements

SB 1383: Short-Lived Climate Pollutant Reduction Strategy

Senate Bill (SB) 1383 targets the reduction of methane emissions from landfills. The law establishes a target of 75% by 2025 in the reduction of statewide disposal of organics waste. Landfills are the third largest source of methane in California. Organics waste emits 20% of the state’s methane; a climate super pollutant up to 84 times more potent than carbon dioxide.

SB 1383 has numerous requirements for businesses, which includes multi-family complexes. Foremost, businesses are required to subscribe to and participate in their jurisdiction’s organics collection service. CalRecycle provides a more detailed list of collections requirements at this web page. The following offers a generalized summary:

  • Businesses must provide collection containers for organic waste and recyclables in all areas where disposal containers are provided for customers, except in restrooms.
  • To reduce contamination, businesses must provide education to employees, contractors, tenants, and customers regarding how to properly sort organic material into the correct containers. Businesses must periodically: inspect organic waste containers for contamination; inform employees of contaminated containers; instruct employees on proper sorting of material into the correct containers; and ensure all containers have proper signage or labels that specify what materials are acceptable.
  • Businesses must provide organic waste collection services for employees, tenants, contractors, and customers. They are also required to provide annual education on how to properly sort organic waste into the correct bins.

For more detailed information on recycling and organics collection for your specific business, call LASAN Customer Care at 1-800-773-2489.

AB 341 Mandatory Commercial Recycling

Required to recycle if your property is:

  • A business that regularly disposes of solid waste, or
  • A multi-family dwelling of 5 units or more

Comply by:

  • Separating your recyclable materials from your trash and taking them to the recycling center
  • Subscribing to Blue Bin recycling services with your recycLA Service Provider

AB 1826 Mandatory Organics Recycling

Businesses and multi-family dwellings must have an organics (green waste) recycling program in place by:*

  • January 1, 2017 – generators of 4 or more cubic
    yards of organic waste per week
  • January 1, 2019 – generators of 4 or more cubic
    yards of solid waste per week
  • Summer/Fall 2021 – generators of 2 or more
    cubic yards of solid waste per week, if statewide
    disposal of organic waste is not decreased by
    50%

*Organics: defined by the State as food waste, green waste, landscape and pruning waste, nonhazardous wood waste and food soiled paper waste that is mixed with food waste.

NOTE: Multi-family residential dwellings are NOT required to recycle food waste at this time

Comply by:

  • Donating the generated organics waste (food rescue)
  • Subscribing to Green bin organic waste services from your recycLA Service Provider
  • Recycling organic waste onsite or self-haul for organics recycling