Organics Recycling

Recyclable organic waste accounts for about 40 percent of the material Californians dispose in landfills annually. Recycling organic waste can save businesses money by reducing disposal costs while supporting green jobs in our community.

With the passage of AB 1826, new organic recycling requirements will be phased in over several years and will help the state meet its goal to recycle 75 percent of its waste by 2020.

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.

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. 2 Multifamily complexes must arrange for recycling services for the same material with the exception of food waste and food-soiled paper. Most organic waste is recyclable through methods such as composting, mulching, and anaerobic digestion. Organic recycling services often accept a wide variety of different types of organic waste.

Businesses and multifamily complexes must start recycling organic waste by the following key dates: April 1, 2016 – generators of 8 or more cubic yards of organic waste per week; January 1, 2017 – generators of 4 or more cubic yards of organic waste per week; January 1, 2019 – generators of 4 or more cubic yards of solid waste per week; *January 1, 2020 – generators of 2 or more cubic yards of solid waste per week, if statewide disposal of organic waste is not decreased by half.

For more information, visit CalRecycle.