Mandatory Commercial Recycling

Mandatory Commercial and Multi-Family Recycling

Effective July 1, 2012, California State law AB341 requires that commercial enterprises which generate four cubic yards or more of solid waste weekly participate in recycling programs. This requirement also includes multi-family housing complexes of five units or more, regardless of the amount of solid waste generated each week. EDCO Waste and Recycling Services, the City's permitted waste and recycling contractor, offers commercial recycling services throughout Poway. EDCO representatives will establish recycling services that meet your needs for a reasonable monthly cost. Establishing recycling programs may help actually lower your total cost for waste collection services since recycling service fees are substantially lower than waste collection fees.

Find more information on commercial and multi-family recycling services.

Mandatory Organics Recycling AB1826

In October of 2014 California adopted Assembly Bill 1826, requiring all businesses to recycle their organic waste materials on and after April 1, 2016. This mandate helps California in achieving their overall waste diversion (75% by 2020) and greenhouse gas emission reduction goals. Requirements for Businesses: Businesses and public entities that generate organic waste (food and/or green waste) are required to recycle organic waste, or be issued a City approved waiver, if applicable.

Business Organic Waste Includes:

Food Scraps and Compostable Paper: food waste and food-soiled paper waste that is mixed in with food waste
Green Waste/Landscape Materials and Nonhazardous Wood Waste

Requirements for Multi-Family Properties: Apartment and Condominium Complexes of 5 units or more are required to recycle organic waste.

Multi-Family Organic Waste Includes:

Green Waste/Landscape Materials and Nonhazardous Wood Waste
Multifamily complexes are not required to have a food waste diversion program; however, those with 5+ units generating enough landscape related organics will be required to recycle those organics.

Implementation dates:

April 1, 2016 - Businesses generating 8 CY of Organic Waste
January 1, 2017 - Businesses generating 4 CY of Organic waste
January 1, 2019 - Businesses generating 4 CY of SOLID WASTE
CalRecycle may implement 2 CY of commercial SOLID WASTE, January 1, 2020
If statewide disposal of organic waste is not reduced by half

ALL generators of landscape waste and clean wood waste meeting the 8 CY/week threshold will be required to have a recycling program in place by April 1, 2016. Businesses may self-haul, mulch/compost on site (with appropriate state permitting), or contact EDCO for collection services.

San Diego Region and Organics

Currently in the San Diego region there is adequate capacity for recycling landscape and clean wood waste materials; however, the capacity needed to meet the demand for diverting all food waste is still under development. Thus, the City and EDCO will be working closely with their food waste generating customers through the following tiered priority approach:

1. Prevention of Food Waste

First and foremost this helps our businesses improve their bottom line. Following are resources that can help businesses in developing their food waste prevention plan:

Food: Too Good To Waste! – County of San Diego
Preventing Wasted Food Through Source Reduction - U.S. EPA
Measuring Food Waste Can Bolster Your Bottom Line - National Restaurant Association
Food Waste Reduction Best Practices - Food Waste Reduction Alliance
Food Waste Reduction Toolkit – Food Waste Reduction Alliance

2. Donation of Edible Food

Nearly one in seven San Diego residents (approximately 500,000 people annually) does not know where their next meal is coming from. Regionally, almost 500,000 tons of food waste is sent to the landfill – the City wants to support our businesses in setting up systems to donate food to help end hunger in throughout San Diego County.

3. Collection of non-edible food

After all possible means of food waste prevention and donation of edible food have been pursued, remaining food waste materials can be collected for recycling/composting. As the City's franchised hauler, EDCO will be responsible for providing collection services for non-edible food. Waste assessments to help maximize overall waste diversion efforts (organics and recycling) are also available through EDCO upon request.

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