Why Do Commercial Businesses Have to Separate Their Waste?

The State of California mandates that commercial businesses who qualify under AB 341, AB 1826, and AB 827 provide waste, recycling, and/or organics collection. Learn more about waste and recycling legislation.

The intent of this legislation is to reduce the amount of waste sent to the landfill through recycling and organics recycling programs. When organic material is landfilled, it decomposes and produces methane, a potent greenhouse gas. Organic material has more environmental and community benefits when it is collected and processed separately from trash.

Free Waste Assessments 

The City of Ventura and E. J. Harrison & Sons can provide free waste assessments to help businesses comply with state laws. Options for recycling yard and food waste can also be discussed during free waste assessments. To set up a waste assessment at your business, call 805-652-4525. 

Here are a few things you can do to assure that your business is in compliance with state laws:

• Make sure all employees are aware of how to dispose of materials: landfill, recycle, and organics, either food waste or yard waste where applicable. The City of Ventura and E.J. Harrison & Sons have free fliers and posters available.
• Make sure you have adequate containers within your business to separate each material that you collect: trash, recycling, and organics. Make it convenient. Always cluster containers next to each other. We can provide indoor recycling bins for your business.
• Work with custodial staff to be sure that recyclables separated inside your business are actually going into your outside recycling bin. Additionally, ensure collected organic materials are placed into the appropriate bin.
• For multi-family units, property managers should inform tenants of what materials can be recycled. We can provide indoor recycling containers for your residents.
• Keep all recyclables out of the trash bin; trash does not get sorted after it is collected. Anything that goes in the trash bin will end up in the landfill