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California recycling laws

The State of California has multiple recycling laws that require cities to recycle paper, cardboard, plastic, glass, aluminum, food waste and green waste. To comply with recycling laws and to continue Santa Ana’s commitment to environmental stewardship, the City is adopting a new Mandatory Recycling Ordinance in 2022. More information to follow.

Senate Bill 1383 (SB 1383)- California’s short-lived climate pollutant reduction strategy

How does SB 1383 impact you?
Effective, January 1, 2022, SB 1383 requires all residents and businesses to recycle organic material. Organic material is defined as food waste, green waste, landscape and pruning waste, wood and lumber, paper products (printing paper, cardboard, all fiber etc.), manure, biosolids, digestate, and sludge.

Law Background
SB 1383 sets statewide methane reduction targets. The targets require a reduction of organic waste sent to landfills by 75% and 20% of edible food recovered by 2025. This bill expands upon the goals of Assembly Bill 341: Mandatory Commercial Recycling and Assembly Bill 1826: Mandatory Commercial Organics. However, SB 1383 is unique in that it requires all residents and businesses to recycle organic materials.  SB 1383 also requires certain businesses to donate excess edible food to food recovery organizations to assist people in need.

Who Must Comply?

  • All residential homes
  • All multifamily properties (apartments, townhomes, homeowner associations etc.)
  • All commercial businesses (public and private)
  • All commercial food generators
  • Schools
  • Government entities

Assembly Bill 341 (AB 341) – Mandatory Commercial and Multifamily Recycling

What is AB 341?
Effective, January 1, 2012, AB 341 requires all businesses and multifamily properties (apartments, condominiums, and townhomes) to recycle paper, cardboard, plastic, glass, and aluminum.

Who must comply?

  • Commercial businesses generating four cubic yards or more of trash waste per week
  • Multifamily properties with 5 or more units

Resources
For CalRecycle AB 341 information, follow this link.

Assembly Bill 1826 – Mandatory Organics Recycling (AB 1826)

What is AB 1826?
Effective, April 1, 2016, AB 1826 requires all businesses to recycle organic waste, and multifamily properties (apartments, condominiums, and townhomes) to recycle green waste.

Who must comply?

  • Commercial businesses generating two cubic yards or more of combined waste and recycling per week
  • Multifamily properties with 5 or more units

Resources
For CalRecycle AB 1826 information, follow this link.

Assembly Bill 827 (AB 827) – Commercial Organic Waste and Recycling Containers

What is AB 827?
Effective, April 1, 2020, AB 827 requires businesses to provide compost and recycling containers next to their trash containers to collect recyclable material generated from products purchased on the premises. All containers must be visible, easily accessible, and clearly marked (please click on the link below for signage resources).

Who must comply?

  • Commercial businesses who generate four cubic yards or more of solid waste per week, and who require customers to discard their waste independently

Resources
For more information, follow this link.  For CalRecycle AB 827 signage resources follow this link.

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