Attention Business Owners: What You Need to Know About Mandatory Recycling Requirements
There are three (3) California state mandates the City of Fountain Valley would like to bring to the attention of Fountain Valley business owners: Assembly Bill 341 (AB341), Assembly Bill 1826 (AB1826), and Assembly Bill 827 (AB827).
Mandatory Commercial Recycling (AB341)
To conserve landfill space and natural resources, California adopted Assembly Bill 341 (AB341), which set a statewide 75% recycling goal and requires commercial businesses to recycle. Effective July 1, 2012, businesses that produce at least four (4) cubic yards of waste per week must participate in recycling through one of the following:
- Sort and self-haul their own recyclables.
- Subscribe to a recycling bin and separate material into that bin.
- Subscribe to a mixed waste processing, where recyclables are recovered from the waste stream by the hauler. This service is automatically provided.
Recyclable items included are paper, cardboard, bottles, cans, and glass.
Mandatory Commercial Organics Recycling (AB1826)
Since April 1, 2016, California state law has required certain businesses to arrange for organics waste recycling. Effective September 2020, the law requires businesses that generate two (2) cubic yards or more of solid waste to arrange for organic waste recycling for these items: food waste & food-soiled paper, landscape clippings and pruning, and non-hazardous wood waste.
Apartment complexes with five (5) or more units that meet the two (2) cubic yard threshold must recycle their landscaping waste, but are currently exempt from food waste recycling. Please contact Republic Services at 714-847-3581 to start your organics service.
Commercial Access to Recycling (AB827)
Effective July 1, 2020, certain restaurants and retailers who are subject to Mandatory Commercial Recycling and Organics laws are now required to provide their customers with separate containers at front-of-house for food waste and food-soiled paper, beverage containers and other recycling generated from products purchased and consumed on their premises. The collection containers must be visible, easily accessible to customers and clearly marked.
For more information, please call 714.847.3581 or visit RepublicServices.com/municipality/Huntington-Beach-ca. For more information about these California state mandates, please visit www.CalRecycle.ca.gov/recycle.