Food Waste Services for Businesses & Multi-Family Properties

California’s Senate Bill 1383 will require all businesses statewide to follow certain rules regarding waste sorting, collection and education. These rules also apply to all organizations, nonprofits and multi-family properties with more than five units. With so many changes required by the state, Harrison Industries is here to help. To be in compliance with SB 1383, businesses must follow these requirements:

SB 1383 Requirements for Businesses

• Recycling and Organics Recycling Collection: Businesses must either subscribe to and participate in recycling and organics curbside collection service OR self-haul recyclables and organic waste to a recycling or composting facility. Harrison Industries provides services to communities throughout Ventura County, as well as in Carpinteria in Santa Barbara County, that will help businesses stay compliant with SB 1383.
• Adequate Access to Organics Recycling: Businesses must ensure they have adequate access to recycling and organics recycling service for their employees, contractors, customers and tenants, including supplying and allowing access to an adequate number, size and location of containers with either sufficient labeling or appropriate color.
• Waste Bin Placement: All businesses except for multi-family properties must provide organic and recycling bins next to each trash bin (except restrooms) for their employees, contractors, tenants and customers to use. Restrooms that have paper towels need to have an organics container to collect paper towels. Businesses must supply and allow access to an adequate number, size and location of organics and recycling bins to ensure that all organics and recyclables are kept out of the trash. Exception: If a business has a trash bin in an area that does not generate any recycling or organic waste, then it does not have to provide recycling and/or organics containers in that particular area. For example, a trash can in an examination room at a doctor’s office may not need a paper recycling bin if there is no paper waste generated in that room.
• Waste Bin Labeling and Colors: Waste bins provided by a business must conform to a certain color or labeling requirements:
  • • Trash bins must be gray or black, recycling bins must be blue, and organics bins must be green, (with either the lid or the body of the waste bin being the correct color). Businesses do not need to replace existing containers until they are no longer functional, or until Jan. 1, 2036, whichever comes first.
    • Waste bins must be clearly labeled to show which materials can and cannot go inside.
• Education and Sorting Requirements: Businesses shall annually provide information to employees, contractors, tenants and customers about waste diversion requirements and about the proper sorting of waste. Businesses must prohibit their employees from placing organic waste and recyclables in the wrong bins.
• Contamination Monitoring: Businesses must inspect trash, recycling and organic waste bins for contamination on a quarterly basis. If waste collection bins are found to be contaminated, employees need to be informed of the requirement to sort waste properly.
• Waste Sorting Information for Tenants: Before or within 14 days of occupation of the premises, businesses shall provide information on proper waste sorting to new tenants. Businesses shall annually provide information to tenants about recycling and organic waste diversion requirements and about proper sorting of organic waste.

Can I opt out of recycling and organic waste collection services?

While the SB 1383 regulations do not allow businesses to opt out of recycling and organics recycling requirements, they do have an exemption clause where businesses that meet the de minimis or physical space criteria can be exempted from some of the SB 1383 requirements.

• De Minimis Waiver: The City may waive a business’ obligation to comply with some or all of the recycling and organic waste requirements of this article if the business provides documentation for the City with evidence demonstrating that:
  • The business generates two cubic yards or more of waste per week (trash, recycling and organics) and the amount of paper, cardboard and other organic waste generated is less than 20 gallons per week each OR
  • The business generates less than two cubic yards of waste per week (trash, recycling and organics) and the amount of paper, cardboard and other organic waste generated is less than 10 gallons per week each. (The City must verify that the business’ waste generation meets these waiver thresholds if the City obtains information at any time that a business that has received a waiver is exceeding the waste thresholds; specified above, the City is required under regulations to rescind the waiver.)
• Physical Space Waiver: A City may waive a commercial business’ or property owner’s obligation to comply with some or all of the organic waste collection service requirements if the commercial business or property owner provides documentation or the City has evidence from its staff, a hauler, licensed architect or licensed engineer demonstrating that the premises lack adequate space for recycling and/or organic waste containers.

For more information on how your city is handling the waiver process, please visit the resource links below by clicking here.

Recycling Guidelines for Businesses & Multi – Family Properties 

Landfill

• To-go Foodware (e.g. Utensils, Containers)
• Film Plastic (e.g. Plastic Wrap)
• Paper Towels & Napkins
• Food-soiled Cardboard & Paper Bags

No Recyclables or Food Waste

Resource Links

• City of Ventura
• City of Camarillo
  Commercial Organics & Food Waste Recycling Program
• City of Ojai
  City of Ojai Outreach Letter
  City of Ojai Waiver Request Form
  City of Ojai 3rd Party Reporting Form
• City of Fillmore
  City of Fillmore Outreach Letter
  City of Fillmore Waiver Request Form
  City of Fillmore 3rd Party Quarterly Reporting Form
• City of Carpinteria
  City of Carpinteria Outreach Letter
  City of Carpinteria Waiver Request Form
  City of Carpinteria 3rd Party Reporting Form