Statewide Mandatory Organic Waste Collection

Businesses are required to either:

• Participate in their jurisdiction’s organics curbside collection service OR
• Self-haul organic waste to a specific:
  • • Composting facility
    • Community composting program or
    • Other collection activity or program

  Note: Businesses also have the right to donate or sell their recyclable materials (Public Resources Code section 41952).

• Businesses must place collection containers for organic waste and recyclables in all areas with disposal containers for customers, except restrooms.
  • A collection container is not required for materials that a facility does not generate.
• Internal containers must have the required color or labeling.
  • If a business uses containers with correct colors, containers inside a facility do not need to be replaced until they no longer function or until January 1, 2036, whichever is first.
• Businesses must:
  • Provide organic waste collection services for employees, tenants, contractors, and customers.
  • Provide access to an adequate number, size, and location of containers with correct labels or colors.
  • Annually educate employees, contractors, customers, and tenants on how to sort organic waste into the correct bins.
  • Provide information to new tenants within 14 days of occupation of the premises.
  • Educate employees, contractors, tenants, and customers on how to sort organic material into the correct containers to reduce contamination.
  • Inspect organic waste containers for contamination.
  • Inform employees if containers are contaminated.
• Employees, contractors, tenants, and customers must properly sort organic materials into the correct containers at business sites.

• Public schools and school districts, state agencies, special districts, and federal facilities do not fall under a jurisdiction’s authority and must either:
  • Subscribe to a collection service that the jurisdiction provides
  • Contract for collection service independently OR
  • Self-haul organic waste to a specific composting facility, community composting program, or other collection activity or program.
• Jurisdictions must inform these entities of their organic waste recycling requirements.
• Property managers or other administrators must:
  • Instruct employees on how to prevent organic waste and sort material into the correct containers.
  • Inspect organic waste containers for contamination AND
  • Inform employees if containers are contaminated
  • Put organic waste and recyclable bins in all areas with disposal containers, except restrooms.
    • A collection container is not required for materials that a facility does not generate.
  • Make sure containers have required colors or labels.
    • If a property manager or administrator currently uses containers with correct colors, containers inside a facility do not need to be replaced until they no longer function or until January 1, 2036, whichever is first.
  • Employees must sort organic waste into the correct containers.