Organics Recycling

California Senate Bill (SB) 1383 requires all residents, businesses, and multi-family properties to recycle all organic waste, including food waste, paper, cardboard, yard waste.

The law aims to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by diverting the amount of organic waste sent to landfills through collection of material and recovery of edible food. When organic material is landfilled, it breaks down and produces methane, a potent greenhouse gas (GHG). 

Learn about the Organics Recycling Program for Businesses and Multi-Family Properties.

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Know what’s required: New state legislation requires all businesses, multi-family properties and residents to participate in a recycling and organics recycling collection program*. Assembly Bill (AB) 341, AB 1826 also apply to businesses and multi-family properties. These requirements are codified via amendments to City Code Chapter 6.500.

*Businesses may also choose to self-haul or back-haul their organic waste to a processing facility if they meet specific tracking requirements. If your business self-hauls or backhauls organic waste, submit a Certification of Recycling Service to provide documentation of self-hauling or back-hauling.

Contact the City’s waste hauler:  Determine what service levels are best for your property by calling Donald Sealund with EJ Harrison & Sons at (805) 647-1414 ext. 4318. 

Free Tools and Resources

For Businesses 

For Multi-Family Properties 

  • Recycling Guideline Posters: Help tenants understand what bins should be used for trash, organics, and recyclable materials by posting recycling signs in common areas or near disposal sites.  
  • Customizable Lease Addendum: Use a customizable recycling addendum for lease agreements to encourage new residents to recycle and establish recycling habits.
  • Customizable Email Reminder for Tenants: Use a customizable email reminder to encourage residents to recycle and establish recycling habits.
  • Program Poster for Tenants: Help tenants understand the basics of the food waste recycling program and how to participate. 
  • Schedule a City sponsored pop-up event: Provide resources and educate tenants through a small community event in partnership with City staff. Send us an email at [email protected] to schedule an event.
  • Request kitchen collection pails: Free kitchen collection pails are available. Send us an email at [email protected] to request bulk delivery for your property. 
Recycling Guidelines for Businesses and Multi-family Properties
  1. Environmental Sustainability