What businesses need to know: Businesses and public entities that generate two cubic yards (CY) of solid waste are required to recycle organic waste (food and/or green waste). In September of 2020, CalRecycle reduced the threshold from four cy to two cy of solid waste per week. This bill aims to achieve 75 percent waste diversion by 2020.

Solid waste is the total of trash, recycling, and organics generated by businesses. Business organic waste includes food scraps, compostable paper, green waste and landscape materials, and nonhazardous wood waste.

CalRecycle - Assembly Bill 1826

What multi-family properties need to know: currently, apartment and condominium complexes of five units or more are required to recycle non-food organic waste. Businesses may self-haul, mulch/compost on-site (with appropriate state permitting) or contact EDCO for collection services.

Multi-family organic waste includes green waste and landscape materials, and nonhazardous wood waste.

Senate Bill (SB) 1383 targets reduction of short-lived climate pollutants, including methane, which are released when organic waste decomposes in the landfill. The law requires residents, businesses, and multifamily residential properties with five or more units to participate in organic waste collection programs. This legislation aims to reduce organic waste disposal in landfills by 75% and recover 20% of edible food for human consumption by 2025. Businesses must separate food scraps, yard debris, and other organic materials from regular trash and recycling. In addition, large edible food generators, such as grocery stores and restaurants, are required to donate surplus food to approved recovery organizations.