Commercial Recycling Requirements
State Law has required businesses to recycle materials since 2012. Businesses that subscribe to service through their garbage hauler or who self-haul to one of the material recovery facilities in Placer County are automatically recycling because Placer County has a mixed waste processing program where recycling and trash go into the same container and are later sorted at the materials recovery facility. Subsequent laws include requirements for recycling organic wastes and record-keeping for organic waste self-haulers. Organic waste includes food waste, green waste (e.g., landscaping and pruning waste), paper, cardboard, and non-hazardous wood waste. Select the topics below to determine if your business needs to take additional action to comply with organic recycling requirements.
All businesses are required to recycle though requirements vary based on business type, size, and location. See region specific information below.
Western Placer County
Organic Waste Recycling
Organic waste includes food waste, green waste (e.g. landscaping and pruning waste), paper, cardboard, and non-hazardous wood waste. Senate Bill (SB) 1383 went into effect in 2022 extending organic waste recycling requirements to more businesses. Businesses and multi-family housing that subscribe to service through their garbage hauler or who self-haul to one of the transfer stations or materials recovery facilities in Placer County are automatically recycling most organic waste. However, please select the “Food Waste” tab below if your business generates food waste. Select the “Self-haul” tab if your business self-hauls some, or all, of your organic waste.
Food Waste – If your business generates food waste, separate food waste collection service is required, unless your business qualifies for an exemption (see Exemptions below). Separate food waste collection is included with your existing garbage service, at no additional cost. Food waste carts, provided by Recology, will be picked up on a separate route from your garbage, and hauled to a facility where it is mixed with yard waste and composted. The Western County Sorting Guide to assist staff with sorting food waste.
Exemptions – Potential exemptions vary by law. State law allows jurisdictions to grant exemptions from food waste collection requirements if a business or group of businesses (e.g., if they share service) generates minimal amounts of organic waste per week, and for other very limited circumstances, such as extraordinary and unforeseen events. Your hauler can help you determine if you qualify for an exemption.
Other Organic Waste – Placer County recovers and recycles green waste and non-hazardous wood waste that is delivered to the materials recovery facility. If businesses have a garbage collection account or if green/wood waste is being hauled to the materials recovery facility by the business or a landscape service, then it is already in compliance for recycling green/wood waste.
AB 827 requires businesses that generate two (2) or more cubic yards of solid waste per week, and have food that is consumed on-site, to place food waste collection bins with signage adjacent to all trash receptacles on the premises. Businesses are required to comply with the following:
Bins/Containers – Businesses must provide customers with food waste collection bins or containers to collect food waste generated on the premises. The bins or containers must be visible and easily accessible to customers, and adjacent to each trash can (restroom waste bins are excluded). CalRecycle does not have funding available for businesses to provide containers. It is the responsibility of the business to acquire internal bins/containers.
Signage – The bins or containers must be clearly marked with labeling, indicating which materials are appropriate for each container. Model signage can be downloaded below.
Exemptions – A full-service restaurant would be exempt from providing containers for customers, if it has implemented a program that provides employees with food waste recycling containers wherever trash containers are located, and it requires its employees to collect food waste generated from customers and deposit this recyclable material into the appropriate solid waste recycling and/or organics bins or containers. Businesses that are exempt from AB 1826 are also exempt from AB 827 requirements.
The SB 1383 regulations also require certain business sectors (tiers) to donate edible food to food recovery organizations instead of throwing it away. The county's edible food recovery program connects businesses throughout the county to organizations that ensure this good food is distributed to feed people in need. CalRecycle defines generators by tiers as follows:
SB 1383 includes requirements for businesses that self-haul any organic waste, whether as separate loads or as part of a mixed waste load, including back-haulers and landscapers. Businesses must take it to a facility that recovers organic waste, such as to Placer County transfer stations or the MRF, or to an activity/operation that recovers organic waste, such as compost facilities, farms for animal feed, etc. Businesses are required to keep the following records:
- Delivery receipts from the entity accepting organic waste.
- Weight tickets from the entity accepting the waste, if scales are available.
- Amount of material in cubic yards or tons that is transported to each entity.
CalRecycle developed this Record Keeping Tool and you can learn more on the CalRecycle website.
Staff from Recology and/or Placer County may be making site visits to your business throughout the year to provide guidance and to assist with compliance. You may request a site visit if you have concerns about compliance and would like guidance on setting up containers and signage at your business.
Free site visits from your hauler are available, upon request, to help you determine ways to improve your recycling.
To request a site visit, call:
- Recology Auburn Placer:
- Phone: 530-885-3735
- Visit their website
Western County Sorting Guide to assist staff with sorting food waste.
Eastern Placer County
Organic waste includes food waste, green waste (e.g. landscaping and pruning waste), paper, cardboard, and non-hazardous wood waste. Statutes such as Assembly Bill (AB) 1826 and Senate Bill (SB) 1383 include organic waste recycling requirements for all businesses that generate organic waste. Businesses and multi-family housing that subscribe to service through their garbage hauler or who self-haul to one of the transfer stations or materials recovery facilities in Placer County are automatically recycling most organic waste, however, please select the “Food Waste” tab below if your business generates food waste. Select the “Self-haul” tab if your business self-hauls some, or all, of your organic waste.
Food Waste – If your business generates food waste, separate food waste collection service is required (and included with your existing garbage service at no additional cost) unless your business qualifies for an exemption (see Exemptions). Businesses separate food scraps and dispose of them in a separate food waste bin provided by TTSD. The food waste bins are picked up by TTSD, on a separate route from your garbage, and hauled to a facility where it is mixed with yard waste and composted. This Sorting Guide can assist staff with sorting food waste.
Exemptions – The County may exempt a business from these requirements if the business, or group of businesses (e.g., if they share service), does not generate at least one-half of a cubic yard of organic waste per week. In addition, to minimize bear scavenging issues, some businesses that generate four (4) cubic yards or less of solid waste per week may be granted an exemption if they do not generate sufficient food waste to warrant separate collection. These businesses may continue to use their regular bin.
Other Organic Waste – Placer County recovers and recycles other organic waste, such as green waste (e.g. landscaping and pruning waste), paper, cardboard, and non-hazardous wood waste, that is delivered to the materials recovery facility. If businesses have a garbage collection account or if garbage is being self-hauled to the materials recovery facility, then it is already in compliance for organic recycling.
AB 827 requires businesses that generate two (2) or more cubic yards of solid waste per week, and have food that is consumed on-site, to place food waste collection bins with signage adjacent to all trash receptacles on the premises. Businesses are required to comply with the following:
Bins/Containers – Businesses must provide customers with food waste collection bins or containers to collect food waste generated on the premises. The bins or containers must be visible and easily accessible to customers, and adjacent to each trash can (restroom waste bins are excluded). CalRecycle does not have funding available for businesses to provide containers. It is the responsibility of the business to acquire internal bins/containers.
Signage – The bins or containers must be clearly marked with labeling, indicating which materials are appropriate for each container. Model signage can be downloaded here Version OptionsCommercial RecyclingHeadline.
Exemptions – A full-service restaurant would be exempt from providing containers for customers, if it has implemented a program that provides employees with food waste recycling containers wherever trash containers are located, and it requires its employees to collect food waste generated from customers and deposit this recyclable material into the appropriate solid waste recycling and/or organics bins or containers. Businesses that are exempt from AB 1826 are also exempt from AB 827 requirements.
The SB 1383 regulations also require certain business sectors (tiers) to donate edible food to food recovery organizations before it is thrown away. The county is developing an edible food recovery program which will connect businesses throughout the county to organizations that ensure this good food is distributed to feed people in need. CalRecycle defines generators by tiers as follows:
SB 1383 includes requirements for businesses that self-haul any organic waste, whether as separate loads or as part of a mixed waste load, including back-haulers and landscapers. Businesses must take it to a facility that recovers organic waste, such as to Placer County transfer stations or the MRF, or to an activity/operation that recovers organic waste, such as compost facilities, farms for animal feed, etc. Businesses are required to keep the following records:
- Delivery receipts from the entity accepting organic waste.
- Weight tickets from the entity accepting the waste, if scales are available.
- Amount of material in cubic yards or tons that is transported to each entity.
CalRecycle developed this Record Keeping Tool and you can learn more on the CalRecycle website.
Staff from TTSD and/or Placer County may be making site visits to your business throughout the year to provide guidance and to assist with compliance. You may request a site visit if you have concerns about compliance and would like guidance on setting up containers and signage at your business.
Free site visits from your hauler are available, upon request, to help you determine ways to improve your recycling.
To request a site visit, call:
- Tahoe Truckee Sierra Disposal:
- Phone: 530-583-7800
- Visit their website
Eastern County Sorting Guide to assist staff with sorting food waste.
Eastern County Model Signage for customer food waste bins.
Regulatory History
AB 341 was adopted in 2012 and established the requirement for businesses to begin recycling their waste as part of the state's 75% recycling goal. In 2014, AB 1826 was adopted and increased the requirements for businesses to also recycle their organic waste, including food waste. These requirements were phased in over several years based on the amount of waste generated by businesses. In 2019, AB 827 introduced the requirement for businesses with food consumed on site to provide recycling and organic waste bins in customer areas - unless recycling is achieved through a mixed waste recycling program. The most recent legislation, SB 1383, targets organic wastes in an effort to reduce methane produced in landfills. It sets statewide targets to reduce organic waste disposal by 75% and to rescue 20% of currently disposed edible food by 2025.