Mandatory Commercial Recycling Requirements

State law requires businesses that generate four cubic yards or more of waste per week or multi-family residential dwellings (complexes) of five units or more to arrange for recycling services
  1. Laws and Regulations
  2. Getting Started
  3. Resources
  4. FAQS

Effective July 1, 2012 State law requires businesses that generate four cubic yards or more of waste per week OR multifamily residential dwellings (complexes) of five units or more to arrange for recycling services. With the passage of this Mandatory Commercial Recycling Law (Chapter 476, Statutes of 2011 [Chesbro, AB 341]),California is one of the first state in the nation to enact a statewide program to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by diverting commercial solid waste from landfills. AB 341 also establishes a state-wide goal to divert 75% of solid waste away from landfills by the year 2020.

Business/Multifamily Commercial Recycling Requirements

A business (includes public entities) that generates four cubic yards or more of commercial solid waste per week or is a multifamily residential dwelling of five units or more shall arrange for recycling services. Businesses can take one or any combination of the following in order to reuse, recycle, compost or otherwise divert solid waste from disposal:

  1. Self-haul *requires and Exemption Form (PDF) be completed and submitted to DCD for approval.
  2. Subscribe to the designated hauler(s).
  3. Arrange for the pickup of recyclable materials from a vendor that doesn’t charge for their services requires and       Exemption Form (PDF) be completed and submitted to DCD for approval.

Note: Locations with multiple businesses can share recycling services. Tenants should work with Property Managers where applicable. An exemption form must be completed and submitted to DCD for approval.