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Mandatory Organics Recycling
California Recycling Laws Have Changed!
Effective January 1, 2022, all businesses, multi-family complexes of 5 units or more, and single-family home residents are required to subscribe to an organics collection service and must separate landscaping waste, food scraps, and 100% fiber based, food-soiled paper into their green organics container.
For more information on available organics recycling programs visit the Athens or Ware Disposal websites.
Short-Lived Climate Pollutants (SLCP): Organic Waste Methane Emissions Reductions
In September 2016, Governor Brown signed into law SB 1383 (Lara, Chapter 395, Statutes of 2016), establishing methane emissions reduction targets in a statewide effort to reduce emissions of short-lived climate pollutants (SLCP) in various sectors of California’s economy. Senate Bill 1383 requires mandatory organics recycling services for all single-family home residents, businesses, schools, and multi-family complexes. This builds upon existing Mandatory Commercial Organics Recycling law (MORe), AB 1826, which required organic waste recycling for businesses. The new law codifies the California Air Resources Board’s Short-Lived Climate Pollutant Reduction Strategy, established pursuant to SB 605 (Lara, Chapter 523, Statutes of 2014), to achieve reductions in the statewide emissions of short-lived climate pollutants. Actions to reduce short-lived climate pollutants are essential to address the many impacts of climate change on human health, especially in California’s most at-risk communities, and on the environment.
As it pertains to CalRecycle, SB 1383 establishes targets to achieve a 50 percent reduction in the level of the statewide disposal of organic waste from the 2014 level by 2020 and a 75 percent reduction by 2025. The law grants CalRecycle the regulatory authority required to achieve the organic waste disposal reduction targets and establishes an additional target that not less than 20 percent of currently disposed edible food is recovered for human consumption by 2025.
For more information on the state's recycling laws, visit the CalRecyle website.
What Does This Mean for You?
All single-family home residents are now required to place all landscaping waste, food scraps, and 100% fiber based, food-soiled paper into their green waste container.
There is no need to enroll or subscribe to any additional service, just simply begin collecting food scraps and food soiled paper and disposing into your green waste container. You can also divert your organic waste by converting your food scraps and yard waste into compost. Residents in apartments and housing complexes should check with property management for more information on their building’s organics waste disposal.
Download the residential food scrap collection flyer in English, Chinese or Spanish (PDF).
Pursuant to AB 341 (2011) Mandatory Commercial Recycling (MCR) and AB 1826 (2014) Mandatory Commercial Organics Recycling (MORe), businesses, including public entities, and multifamily complexes of 5 units or more are required to recycle their organic waste on and after April 1, 2016, depending on the amount of waste they generate per week.
Effective January 1, 2022, SB 1383 requires that all businesses, regardless of the amount of waste generated per week, must subscribe to an organic waste recycling. The law requires that businesses arrange for recycling services for the following types of organic waste: food waste, green waste, landscape and pruning waste, nonhazardous wood waste, and food-soiled paper. Most organic waste is recyclable through methods such as composting, mulching, and anaerobic digestion.
Business and Multifamily Requirements
Businesses and multifamily complexes of 5 units or more must subscribe to a collection service that includes organics waste recycling and provide easily accessible organics waste containers for employees, tenants, and customers. They must annually educate employees, contractors, customers, and tenants on how to properly sort waste into the correct containers and provide information to new tenants before or within 14 days of occupation of the premises.
Additional Business Requirements (Not Applicable to Multifamily)
Effective July 1, 2020, MCR and MORe covered businesses must provide organics and recycling containers for customers to collect waste generated from products purchased and consumed on the premises. These containers must be placed adjacent to trash and be visible, easily accessible, and clearly marked with educational signage indicating what is accepted in the local solid waste programs.
Edible Food Generator Requirements
Additionally, Commercial Edible Food Generators, categorized as Tier 1 or Tier 2 businesses, must recover the maximum amount of edible food that would otherwise be disposed of, arrange for food donation and collection through contracts or written agreements with food recovery organizations or services, and maintain food donation records.
More information regarding food donation options and food recovery organizations will be coming soon.
Food Recovery Program
The City of Monterey is part of the San Gabriel Valley Council of Governments (SGVCOG) Regional Food Recovery Program. Known as one of the largest regional food recovery programs in California, this program includes assessing commercial edible food waste generators, identifying and fostering partnerships with local food recovery organizations, implementing outreach and education endeavors, and developing and implementing inspection protocols.
SGVCOG has identified the following Food Recovery Organizations (FRO) in the city:
FRO Name | Address | Contact |
---|---|---|
St. Stephen's Community Outreach Program | 320 W. Garvey Ave., Monterey Park, CA 91754 | 626-573-0427 |