Trash Collection
Mandatory Commercial Organics Recycling
Businesses that generate 4 cubic yards of waster or more are encouraged to complete the Organic Waste Recycling Survey. Businesses that generate 4 cubic yards of trash a week or more are exempt from an organic waste collection program if any of the following conditions apply (a) Lack of sufficient space in multifamily complexes or businesses to provide additional organic material recycling bins or (b) The businesses or group of businesses do not generate at least one-half of a cubic yard of organic waste per week. If you believe your business is exempt, please fill out the Organic Waste Recycling Exemption Form.
SB 1383: Organics Recycling
The state of California is fighting climate change by requiring the recycling of organic waste. Organics like food scraps, yard trimmings, paper, and cardboard make up half of what Californians dump in landfills. Organic waste in landfills releases 20% of the state’s methane, a climate super pollutant 84 times more potent than carbon dioxide. Recycling organic waste and recovering edible food will help fight climate change and improve public health and the environment.
Senate Bill 1383, signed in 2016, established statewide targets to achieve a 75% reduction of organic waste in landfills, and to recover at least 20% of edible food by 2025. Learn more about SB1383 from CalRecycle here.
To achieve this goal, all California residents and businesses will need to begin recycling organic waste and/or diverting food waste to an appropriate food recovery program. Starting January 1, 2022, CR&R will begin collecting organic waste in your green cart. All residents will be required to place organic waste into the green cart.
What Goes in the Organics/Green Waste Cart?
- Food scraps
- Food soiled paper (i.e. used pizza boxes, used paper napkins / paper towels, paper bags, paper containers)
- Grass, leaves, yard waste, plants, branches
- Coffee, coffee filters, tea bags
- Untreated wood and natural fibers (popsicle sticks, wooden chopsticks, toothpicks)
What Does NOT Go in the Organics/Green Waste Cart?
- Paper containers with a plastic or wax coating
- Takeout boxes with metal that cannot be removed
- Clothing or textiles
- Pet waste and cat litter
- Wine corks
- Rocks and soil
- Diapers
- Cigarette butts and ashes
- Styrofoam
- Anything that does not break down naturally
Edible Food Recovery
Starting in 2022, some food service businesses must donate edible food to food recovery organizations with others starting in 2024. California has a 2025 goal to redirect to people in need 20% of edible food currently thrown away.
To respond to the ongoing climate crisis, California is implementing statewide organic waste recycling and surplus food recovery. Californians throw away 5-6 million tons of food waste every year. SB 1383 requires that businesses donate surplus food instead of throwing it out. Here are tools for commercial food generators to help them comply with the new regulations.
- Organics Handbook
- Annual Food Recovery Reporting Form
- Food Donation Guidelines
- Food DROP Brochure
- List of Food Recovery Organizations
Trash Collection
- New Year's Day
- Memorial Day
- Independence Day
- Labor Day
- Thanksgiving Day
- Christmas Day
This container is for recyclable materials. Items that can be placed in this container include:
- Glass (food bottles, beverage bottles, glass jars, liquor bottles, soda bottles, juice bottles)
- Metal (empty aerosol cans, aluminum cans, tin cans, food/juice cans, empy paint cans, metal foil)
- Paper (corrugated cardboard, magazines, phonebooks, chipboard, newspaper, any white paper)
- Plastics (plastic detergent bottles, plastic bottles, plastic milk containers, plastic grocery bags)
Green Container
This container is for green waste. Items that can be placed in this container include:
- Grass Clippings
- Green Plants
- Dry Leaves
- Garden Trimmings
- Weeds
- Wood Scraps/Chips
- Stable Bedding
Additional bags or bundles of green waste material may be collected as a bulky item. See bulky item pick-up section below. Customers that regularly fill their recycling/green waste containers may receive one of each container at no additional charge.
Black Container
This container is for waste. Items that can be placed in this container include:
- Plastic Toys
- Mixed Products
- Film Plastic
- Waxed Milk Cartons
- Waxed Paper
- Coated Materials
- Ceramic/Pyrex
- Mirrors
- Light Bulbs
- Safety Glass
- Plate Glass
- Automotive/Plumbing Parts
- Pet Waste
- Palm Branches
- Diseased Plants
- Meat/Fish/Bones
- Dairy Products
- Metal Coat Hangers
- Food Containers
- Pails
- Flower/Plant Containers
- Plant Holders
- Yogurt Containers
- Plastic Plates
- Food Trays
- Clothes Hampers
- Tupperware Containers
We all know that recycling helps protect our environment. Take advantage of free recycling bins offered by CR&R. By separating recyclable material from your regular refuse bin, you may reduce the frequency of refuse collection or reduce the size of your refuse bin. Reduction in frequency of refuse collection or refuse size of bin may result in a reduction to your commercial refuse service bill. You can save money while doing your part to conserve natural resources! To request recycling services or to schedule a free on-site recycling assessment, please contact CR&R at (877) 944-4716.
For more information on Mandatory Commercial Recycling (AB 341) please visit the California Department of Resources Recycling and Recovery (CalRecycle) Mandatory Commercial Recycling website.
- Used Motor Oil
- Solvents
- Batteries
- Cleaning Products
- Wood Preservative
- Old Paint
- Pesticides
- Pool Chemicals
- Printer Cartridges
- Unused Road Flares
- Expired Medication