Mandatory Commercial Organics Recycling

For more information, visit: calrecycle.ca.gov/Recycle/Commercial/Organics

Now in effect: Covered Businesses & Multi-family Complexes of Five or More Units Must Have Organics RecyclingOn September 28, 2014, a new law became effective in the State of California. Assembly Bill 1826 (AB 1826) requires businesses to recycle their organic materials, depending on the amount of waste they generate per week.

As part of California’s recycling and greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions target, businesses are required to divert food scraps and food-soiled paper that is mixed in with food waste from their waste streams, effective April 1, 2016. Multi-family buildings with five (5) or more units are required to collect and recycle yard trimmings, effective April 1, 2016. These organic materials account for nearly one-third of the approximately 30 million tons of waste destined for California’s landfills each year.

Diverting organics from landfills for processing for beneficial reuse reduces landfill GHG emissions and produces sustainable products that contribute to soil health, plant nutrition, water conservation and carbon sequestration. Mandatory commercial organics recycling helps to meet the goals of California’s Global Warming Solutions Act, Assembly Bill 32.

WHOBusinesses that generate organic waste, including food scraps and yard trimmings, may be required to have separate organics recycling service depending on the amount generated.

Multi-family properties with five (5) units or more that generate green waste are required to recycle this organic material. If your complex contracts out landscape services, please be sure that the company utilized is diverting the materials from entering landfills.

WHATFood Scraps include: solid, semisolid, and liquid food, fruit, vegetables, cut flowers and herbs, cheese, meat, bones, poultry, seafood, bread, rice, pasta, fats, grease and oils, coffee filters, tea bags and food-soiled paper (such as napkins, towels, and tissues, paper plates, paper cups, fast food wrappers, egg cartons, used pizza boxes, wax-coated cardboard and other similar paper or compostable packaging all which are mixed with food waste). No glass or cleaning supplies.

Green Waste includes: landscape and pruning waste and nonhazardous wood waste.

* Waste Management CORe® service will help businesses achieve compliance with food recycling requirements. A separate green waste recycling container will be needed for multi-family properties.

WHEREAll California cities and counties are required to implement an organics recycling program and conduct outreach to applicable businesses as of January 1, 2016. In addition, cities and counties are required to monitor businesses to ensure compliance with recycling requirements.

WHEN April 1, 2016, businesses and multi-family buildings generating 8 cubic yards per week of organics must arrange for organics recycling service.

January 1, 2017, businesses generating 4 cubic yards per week of organics shall arrange for organics recycling service.

January 1, 2019, businesses and multi-family properties generating 4 cubic yards of commercial solid waste (trash) must arrange for organics recycling service.

HOWOur trained employees can help you determine the size container and frequency of service required to meet your needs.

Contact Alexandria Gonzalez at (657) 270-7201 or agonzal3@wm.com.

WM CORe®, Converting Southern California Food Waste to Clean, Renewable Energy

As the nation’s leading environmental services provider, Waste Management is committed to finding innovative solutions to ensure waste no longer goes to waste. In Southern California, Waste Management is paving the way through its CORe® process, which is a proprietary process that uses food waste to create an EBSTM organic slurry that can be used to generate renewable, green energy through co-digestion at municipal wastewater treatment plants. Currently, Waste Management’s CORe® produced EBSTM is being used by the Sanitation Districts of Los Angeles County (LACSD) at their joint water pollution control plant in Carson, CA, where it is added to the plant’s anaerobic digestion system to increase the production of biogas (methane). The project converts food waste into renewable biogas each day, which is used to generate electricity. Every ton of food waste we recycle through the CORe® process is equivalent to eliminating CO2 emissions from 30 cars on our Southern California roads.

As one of the most innovative food waste recycling solutions, the CORe® provides an avenue to meet California’s 2020 goal of 75% landfill diversion (AB 341) and the State’s organics waste recycling mandates (AB 1826). The CORe® enables Waste Management to provide its customers with a cost-effective alternative for diverting food waste from disposal and to participate in a new and exciting sustainable technology. By taking part in our food waste recycling program, you are doing the right thing for both your business and the environment.

PROCESSING SYSTEM • Removes contaminants from product • De-cases plastic and metal containers • Creates a consistent slurry for energy generation • Reuses 100% of wash down water• Utilizes carbon filter and misting system to control odors

ACCEPTABLE MATERIALS The CORe® system can accept all commercial food waste including meat, dairy, eggs, fish, fruits, vegetables and bakery items from supermarkets, restaurants and institutions. We accept incidental amounts of plastic, metal, paper and cardboard, such as packaging materials.

NON-ACCEPTABLE MATERIALS • Glass, rubber, ropes, wires, polystyrene foam • Cleaning supplies, chemicals, bulky items, trash • Wood & large amounts of yard waste

WASTE MANAGEMENT