New Statewide Mandatory Organic Waste Collection

Collection Requirements

Single-Family Home Residents and Multifamily Complexes of Less than Five Units 

• Residents are required to subscribe to and participate in their jurisdiction’s organics curbside collection service.
• Residents are required to properly sort their organic waste into the correct containers.
• Some jurisdictions will allow residents to self-haul their organic waste. If this is the case, the jurisdiction will provide information about the requirements for self-hauling.

Multifamily Residents and Multifamily Complexes

• Multifamily complexes of five units or more are required to either:
  1. To subscribe to and participate in their jurisdiction’s organics curbside collection service OR
  2. To self-haul organic waste to a specified composting facility, community composting program, or other collection activity or program.

• The following activities would be conducted by the multifamily complex property owner or the manager:

  • Multifamily complexes are required to provide organic waste collection services for:
    • Employees
    • Tenants
  • They must supply and allow access to an adequate number, size, and location of containers with the correct labels or container colors.
  • They must also
    1. Annually educate employees and tenants on how to properly sort organic waste into the correct bins, AND
    2. Provide information to new tenants within 14 days of occupation of the premises.

Multifamily Complex Residents

Residents of multifamily complexes must properly sort their organic waste into the correct containers.  

Businesses

• Businesses are required to either:
  1. Subscribe to and participate in their jurisdiction’s organics curbside collection service OR
  2. Self-haul organic waste to a specified composting facility, community composting program, or other collection activity or program.
• Businesses must provide collection containers for organic waste and recyclables in all areas where disposal containers are provided for customers, except in restrooms.
  • However, if a business does not generate any of the materials that would be collected in a specific container, then it does not have to provide that particular container.
• Internal containers must conform to the proper color requirements or labeling requirements.
  • If a business chooses to use containers that are the correct color, internal containers do not need to be replaced until they are no longer functional or until January 1, 2036, whichever comes first.
• 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 if containers are contaminated
    Instruct employees about how to properly sort material into the correct containers.
• Businesses must provide organic waste collection services for:
  • Employees
  • Tenants
  • Contractors
  • Customers
• They must supply and allow access to an adequate number, size, and location of containers with the correct labels or container colors.
• They must also
  1. Annually educate employees, contractors, customers, and tenants on how to properly sort organic waste into the correct bins, AND
  2. Provide information to new tenants within 14 days of occupation of the premises.
• Employees, contactors, tenants, and customers must properly sort organic materials into the correct containers at business establishments.

Public Schools and School Districts, State Agencies, Special Districts, and Federal Facilities

• Public schools and school districts, state agencies, special districts, and federal facilities do not fall under a jurisdiction’s authority and must either:
  1. Subscribe to a collection service that the jurisdiction provides
  2. Contract for collection service independently OR
  3. Self-haul organic waste to a specified composting facility, community composting program, or other collection activity or program.

• Jurisdictions will provide information to these entities regarding their requirements for recycling organic waste.
• Property managers or other administrators must educate employees about organic waste prevention and how to properly sort materials into correct containers.
  • Property managers and administrators must periodically:
    • Inspect organic waste containers for contamination
    • Inform employees if containers are contaminated AND
    • Instruct employees how to properly sort material into the correct containers.
• Property managers or administrators must provide containers for organic waste and recyclables in all areas where disposal containers are provided, except in restrooms.
  • However, if an entity does not generate any of the type of material collected in a specific container, then the property management or administrator does not have to provide that type of internal container.
• Containers must conform to the proper color or labeling requirements.
  • If a property manager or administrator chooses to use containers that are the correct color, internal containers do not need to be replaced until they are no longer functional or until January 1, 2036, whichever comes first. They can adhere correct labels to existing internal containers to comply with SB 1383.
• Employees of these entities must properly sort their organic waste into the correct containers.

Resources for Jurisdictions

Implementation Tools 

CalRecycle developed model signage, sample franchise agreements, and other tools to help jurisdictions implement their collection requirements.

Learn More

For more information contact: Organic Waste Methane Emissions Reductions, SLCP.organics@calrecycle.ca.gov