Recycling State Laws

The Mandatory Commercial Recycling Law AB 341 requires commercial businesses to recycle. The legislation was effective July 1, 2012, and is designed to help meet California's recycling goal of 75% by the year 2020.

The Commercial Mandatory Organics Recycling Law AB 1826 requires that businesses arrange for recycling services for the following types of organic waste: food waste, green waste, landscape and pruning waste, nonhazardous wood waste, and food-soiled paper.

Multi-family complexes must arrange for recycling services for the same material with the exception of food waste and food-soiled paper.

Who Must Recycle?

AB 341 requires the following businesses and multi-family complexes to arrange for recycling services: Businesses and public entities that generates 4 cubic yards or more of waste per week; Multi-family buildings with five or more units.

AB 1826 requires businesses and multifamily complexes to recycle organic waste.

SB 1383 establishes statewide targets to reduce the amount of organic waste disposed of in landfills (50% reduction by 2020 and 75% reduction by 2025). It also sets a goal to rescue at least 20% of currently disposed edible food by 2025 and redirect that food to people in need. The law requires that all businesses and muti-family properties and residents divert their organic waste (food scraps, food-soiled paper, and green waste) from their garbage bin.
Click here for more information about the Recycling laws.