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SITE NAVIGATION

Business Waste Requirements

Organics Recycling

Business Waste Requirements

Organics Recycling

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What are the requirements for the new law SB1383?

All businesses and commercial properties must divert their organic waste (food scraps, food-soiled paper, and green waste) from out of their garbage bin. This means businesses and property managers must provide a separate organics container to employees/staff/tenants in addition to garbage and recycling containers. This three-bin system will allow everyone to properly dispose of organic materials separately from garbage and mixed recyclables. State law SB1383 applies to all business types, even if they don't serve or sell food.

Here are resources, recorded informational webinars, education, and outreach materials.

What are organic materials?

Food Waste: Cooked and raw food waste, such as uneaten vegetables, fruits, meats,* dairy, bones, baked goods, etc.
Uncoated (not shiny) Food-Soiled Paper: Used napkins, paper cups, coffee filters, greasy pizza boxes, used paper plates, etc.
Green Waste / Landscaping Trimmings: Grass clippings, small branches, leaves, cut flowers, garden trimmings, wood chips, and clean wood (no paint, no stain, etc.)

*Note: There are additional California Department of Food & Agriculture (CDFA) requirements regarding Packinghouse Waste.

food scraps, food-soiled paper, yard waste

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Who needs to comply?

Organics recycling services are mandatory for all businesses and multi-family properties with five units or more in the State of California. Before proceeding with the compliance instructions below, please verify your multi-family property is within the City of Sacramento with our address lookup tool.

How do I comply?

Organics recycling services are mandatory. If you have not complied, your waste hauler will provide advance notice before delivering an organic recycling bin and starting the state mandated collection services. Your property may also be subject to fines and fees for non-compliance issue by the City of Sacramento. There are three ways which you can be considered in compliance with the law.

ALL COMMERCIAL PROPERTIES MUST HAVE ONE OR MORE OF THE FOLLOWING OPTIONS IN PLACE:

1. Sign-up for organics service

Call your waste hauler today to sign up for organics pickup services for your commercial property. You may also choose a different Franchised Hauler from the one you use for trash and/or recycling to collect organic material.

Organic Material Recycling Minimum Service: Organic material must be collected or removed from the property at least once every seven (7) days.

2. Alternative organic service (uncommon)

If your commercial property uses one or more alternative organic material recycling services, complete and submit the Alternative Service Verification section of the Organic Material Recycling Compliance Form. You will need to provide proof of alternative services such as copies of contracts and weight tickets from disposal sites. Your business will be subject to a city inspection to verify the information you provide. Options for Alternative Services include:

Third-Party Recycler: The business contracts with an organics recycler, who is not a franchised hauler, who collects and recycles all generated organic material. Required: All valid contracts between the property and each alternative service recycler must be submitted with your organic material recycling compliance form and retained on-site for verification during inspection.
Self-Haul: The business self-haul all organic materials generated to a local licensed organics recycling facility. Required: Copies of weigh ticket or receipts from a licensed organics recycling facility must be submitted with your organic material recycling compliance form and retained on-site for verification during inspection. Note: If you are only self-hauling green waste, all other organic materials must also be collected and properly recycled through a franchised hauler, or another option listed on this page.
Shared Container: The business has a written shared service agreement to place all organic material in an immediately adjacent commercial property's organic material recycling container to be recycled. Commercial properties may not share containers with residential properties. Required: Evidence that all parties agree to sharing the container and a copy of the recycling collection services contract must be submitted with your organic material recycling compliance form and retained on-site for verification during inspection.
Backhaul: The business hauls its organic materials back to a central or corporate location to be collected for recycling. Required: Contracts or other proof of evidence must be submitted with your organic material recycling compliance form and retained on-site for verification during inspection.
On-site Composting (rare): The business utilizes an on-site compost process to recycle all organic material that is generated on-site. Required: Photos of the on-site composting operation verifying all organic material (including food-soiled paper) is composted on-site.

3. Waivers

Physical space waiver (rare): If the commercial property does not have adequate space for the minimum sized 64-gallon organics collection cart (approximately 25” wide x 32” deep x 42” high), please apply for a Physical Space Waiver using the Organic Material Recycling Compliance Form. Supporting documents, such as photographs of the property, are required as evidence that your property does not have space for the smallest cart available. The City will also conduct an inspection for verification purposes.
20-gallons / 10-gallons or less waiver: If an eligible business generates less than 20-gallons of organic material per week for businesses with 2 cubic yards or more of total waste collection service per week, or generates less than 10-gallons of organic material per week for businesses with less than 2 cubic yards of total waste collection per week; apply for a 20-gallon/10-gallon or Less Waiver in the Organic Material Recycling Compliance Form. Waivers are granted infrequently and applicants must certify that they generate less than 20-gallons/10-gallons of organics per week and are subject to an on-site inspection.

IMPORTANT: Prior to submitting a 20-gallon/10-gallon or less waiver, separate your organic material from your garbage into a bucket for at least a week and measure how much material is collected. Your findings will need to be submitted in the waiver request and you will need to produce records of the measurements are part of the on-site inspection.

The City of Sacramento has created a template for eligible businesses to use as a guide to cmoplete a waste study. This template can be completed in full and attached to your waiver request, if you are an eligible business.

City of Sacramento Organic Material Waste Characterization Guide Template

The following businesses are ineligible to receive a 20-gallon/10-gallon or less waiver:

1) All businesses that require a permit from Sacramento County Environmental Management Department (EMD) under their Retail Food Protection Program.

2) Businesses that make food, examples include, but are not limited to:

Restaurants
Food service business (caterer, food pantry/closet, or any business that services or sells food)
Grocery Store
Market / mini mart serving coffee or selling food (even if pre-packaged)
Food Manufacturer
Wholesale food vendor
Supermarket

3) Businesses that serve food, examples include, but are not limited to:

Gas stations serving coffee or selling food (even if pre-packaged)
Office campus with cafe Hotel/motel providing food service
Child or Senior Care facility
Hospital
School
Cinema or theater
Event venue

4) Other businesses which include, but are not limited to:

Plant business (cannabis, nursery, landscaper, florist)

Contact Us

City of Sacramento Commercial Waste Compliance Email: wastecompliance@cityofsacramento.org.

Phone: (916) 808-4846. Note: Callers must leave a voicemail with their business name, caller name, and phone number. Callers will receive a response within three (3) business days.

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