June 21, 2012
Reminder: Commercial recycling requirement takes effect July 1
California's new commercial recycling law impending goes into effect July 1. Though many details are left for local jurisdictions to work out and local outreach and education efforts are expected, businesses and public entities that generate four cubic yards or more of waste per week and multifamily dwelling of five units or more are required to recycle.
The requirement was contained in legislation signed into law last year. AB 341 was authored by Wes Chesbro (D-Eureka). The purpose of this new law, as stated by the California Department of Resources Recycling and Recovery (CalRecycle), is to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by diverting commercial solid waste to recycling efforts and expand opportunities for additional recycling services.
CalRecycle has provided the following information about the law and offers resources to help businesses meet the recycling requirements.
Who must comply
- Businesses and public entities that generate four or more cubic yards of solid waste per week. Included in the definition of “commercial” are all commercial, industrial and institutional facilities.
- Multifamily residential dwellings that have five or more units.
How to comply
Businesses may employ any one or a combination of the following actions to reuse, recycle, compost or otherwise divert solid waste from disposal:
- self-haul
- subscribe to a hauler
- arrange for pick-up of recyclables
- subscribe to a recycling service that may include mixed waste processing that yields diversion results comparable to source separation.
CalRecycle advises businesses to contact their local recycling coordinator to find out how to recycle in their community and if there are any specific requirements in their community. Communities may have mandatory commercial recycling ordinances with different thresholds or more specific business recycling requirements than the state law. The local recycling coordinator may also have related business opportunities and/or resources to share.
Learn more at CalRecycle's website.
Matt Sutton can be reached at msutton@calrest.org.