- CustomLinks_2
- Mandatory Commercial Recycling Requirements
Mandatory Commercial Recycling Requirements
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:
- Self-haul *requires and Exemption Form (PDF) be completed and submitted to DCD for approval.
- Subscribe to the designated hauler(s).
- 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.
Whether you’re a business or multifamily complex, getting started with recycling is as easy as 1, 2, 3!
- Select your community name below to get list of recyclables collected by the designated hauler or go to the RE:Source website to look up other recycling facilities/ buy back facilities / free pick-up services.
- Contact your selected hauler, facility or service provider to arrange the desired recycling services.
- Train your staff to separate your recyclables! See Resources for more information.
- Alamo (Republic Services/Allied Waste)
- Alhambra Valley (Republic Services/Allied Waste)
- Antioch (Republic Services/Allied Waste)
- Bay Point (West) (Republic Services/Allied Waste)
- Bay Point (East) (Pittsburg Disposal)
- Bay View (Republic Services/Richmond Sanitary)
- Bethel Island (Brentwood Disposal)
- Blackhawk (Republic Services/Allied Waste)
- Brentwood (Brentwood Disposal)
- Byron (Brentwood Disposal)
- Canyon (Republic Services/Allied Waste)
- Clyde (Republic Services/Allied Waste)
- Concord (Concord Disposal)
- Concord, Unincorporated (Republic Services/Allied Waste)
- Crockett (Republic Services/Richmond Sanitary)
- Diablo (Republic Services/Allied Waste)
- Discovery Bay (Discovery Bay Disposal)
- East Richmond Heights (Republic Services/Richmond Sanitary)
- El Sobrante (Republic Services/Richmond Sanitary)
- Kensington (Bay View Refuse)
- Knightsen (Brentwood Disposal)
- Montalvin Manor (Republic Services/Richmond Sanitary)
- Morgan Territory (Republic Services/Allied Waste)
- Mt. View (Republic Services/Allied Waste)
- North Richmond (Republic Services/Richmond Sanitary)
- Oakley (Oakley Disposal)
- Pacheco (Republic Services/Allied Waste)
- Pittsburg (Pittsburg Disposal)
- Port Costa (Republic Services/Richmond Sanitary)
- Rodeo (Republic Services/Richmond Sanitary)
- Rollingwood (Republic Services/Richmond Sanitary)
- Tara Hills (Republic Services/Richmond Sanitary)
- Tassajara (Republic Services/Allied Waste)
- Vine Hill (Republic Services/Allied Waste)
You may already be in compliance
General Recycling Information
Find information about reuse, recycling, and proper disposal options
- 1-800-750-4096 – Contra Costa County Recycling hotline
- Resource.stopwaste.org
Household Hazardous Waste (HHW) Facilities:
The following are only for businesses that generate a small quantity of hazardous waste. Drop off must be by appointment. If you have larger quantities you have to go through a hazardous waste transporter, which can be found online through California's Department of Toxic Substance Control.
Business Resources
- CalRecycle's Business and Industry Tools
- Cool California Small Business Tool Kit
- Recycling Starter Kit for Bottles and Cans
Posters
Free posters for order or download
Technical Assistance
Designated haulers and some other service providers will arrange to provide “free” technical assistance to help businesses capture more recyclable materials currently being discarded as trash.
If technical assistance is not available through your selected recycler, you can also contact County staff at (925) 655-2914. Not all collectors list as much information on their websites as others, so be sure to call your collection company if you don’t find what you are looking for on their website.
Other Agencies that Regulate Collection Services
Contra Costa County oversees collection service agreements for the majority of the unincorporated area. For comments or concerns contact (925) 655-7203. Other agencies that govern contracts for the remaining unincorporated communities are listed below.
- Central Contra Costa Solid Waste Authority: Alamo, Blackhawk and Diablo
- Kensington Community Services District: Kensington
- Mt. View Sanitary District: Unincorporated Martinez area
- Rodeo Sanitary District: Rodeo
- West Contra Costa Integrated Waste Management Authority (RecycleMore): Offers recycling assistance/programs for designated West County area, which includes but is not limited to the communities of Bay View, El Sobrante, East Richmond Heights, Montalvin Manor, North Richmond, Rollingwood, and Tara Hills. *This Agency does not regulate recycling collection for these areas, the County does.
Why was AB 341 signed into law?
- To reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions by diverting commercial solid waste through recycling efforts, and to expand the opportunity for additional recycling services in California
- To meet the statewide goal of 75% solid waste diversion by 2020
Who is required to recycle?
- Businesses (including public entities) that generate four cubic yards or more of solid waste per week
- Multifamily residential dwellings of five units or more
What is the definition of a business
- “Business” means any commercial or public entity that generates four or more cubic yards of commercial solid waste per week, including but not limited to, a firm, partnership, proprietorship, joint-stock company, corporation, or association that is organized as a for-profit or non-profit entity, strip mall (e.g. property complex containing two or more commercial entities), industrial facility, school, school district, California State University, community colleges, University of California, special district or a federal, state, local, regional agency or facility.
- For purposes of this Chapter, “business” also includes a multi-family residential dwelling of five units or more regardless of the amount of commercial solid waste generated.
When did this law take effect?
- The Office of Administrative Law (OAL) approved the mandatory commercial regulation on May 7, 2012 and it became effective immediately.
- On June 27, 2012 the Governor signed Senate Bill 1018 which included an amendment that requires a business that generates 4 cubic yards or more of commercial solid waste per week to arrange for recycling services. Rulemaking documents can be found online here
What does self-hauling recyclables mean?
- Self-hauling means your business or multifamily complex takes responsibility for transporting your recyclables to a designated location that will accept and/or process the recyclable materials.
- Some examples include, but are not limited to taking your recyclables to a buy-back facility or drop-off facility. Businesses that have corporate recycling programs through their distribution centers may also be considered self-hauling.
What are the benefits?
- Recycling provides many direct and indirect benefits. Recycling is a great way to save money.
- Businesses that recycle can save on their bills and even make money by selling their recyclables.
- This market also creates numerous jobs for community members in a growing industry.
- Recycling also can conserve energy, reduce air and water pollution, reduce greenhouse gases and conserve natural resources.
- By recycling you effectively reduces the amount of waste that ends up in landfills, which helps sustain the environment for future generations.