New State Recycling Requirements for Businesses and Multi-Family Communities

On July 1, 2012, Governor Brown signed legislation AB 341 which increases the State of California’s waste diversion goal from 50 percent to 75 percent. This state legislation also includes mandatory commercial and multi-family recycling to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

Who Must Recycle

State law requires the following businesses and multi-family communities to arrange for recycling services:

• Any business that generates 4 cubic yards or more of waste per week; and

• Multi-family communities with five or more units.

How to Arrange for Recycling Services

• Businesses and multi-family communities that meet the threshold requirements must arrange for recycling services. Please contact your current waste hauler.

• Business and multi-family communities may also donate, sell and/or make other arrangements for pick up and recycling of the materials. This includes self-hauling the materials to recycling facilities.

Opportunities to Save Resources and Help the Environment

Recycling conserves resources and reduces greenhouse gas emissions. It extends the life of our landfills and helps create a healthy environment for our community and future generations.

Be Sure to Educate Your Employees and Tenants

Employees and tenants are key to a successful recycling program. Please make sure your employees and tenants know which materials can be recycled and where to place the recyclable materials for temporary storage and ultimate collection.

What Not to Place in Recycling Bins

Some hazardous waste can be recycled if handled properly. Other types of hazardous waste must be sent to a special facility. Of course, no hazardous waste should be placed in trash or recycling containers.

• Hazardous waste such as batteries, paint, antifreeze, chemicals and cleaning products should not be mixed in with your recyclable materials set out for collection. Instead, these hazardous wastes should be recycled or disposed of properly. For more information about proper handling, please visit http://ladpw.org/epd/hhw/

• Electronic devices such as old computers, monitors, TVs, and cell phones are recyclable but also contain hazardous materials. They should not be placed in trash or recycling bins. For more information about how to manage these items, visit http://dpw.lacounty.gov/epd/hhw/ewaste.cfm

• Got old tires? Make sure they end up in the right place by visiting http://dpw.lacounty.gov/epd/tirerecycling/collection.cfm

Where to Go for More Information

• Information about California’s business and multi-family recycling requirements is available from the California Department of Resources Recycling and Recovery (CalRecycle) at http://www.calrecycle.ca.gov/recycle/commercial/

Information for Apartment Owners-Managers

It is important that both apartment managers and tenants understand the requirements to recycle, which materials can be recycled and where to place them for collection.

• Proposed state law requires multi-family communities with 5 or more units and that generate 4 cubic yards of waste per week to recycle.

• Proposed state law requires apartment owners to offer recycling services, and residents are required by law to recycle.

• You will be provided a flyer which can be used to educate tenants about proper procedures for recycling. Copies of the flyer may be duplicated.

• Consider placing the flyers in areas such as laundry rooms or at garbage collection locations.

• Consider giving the flyer to new tenants when the lease is signed and annually to all other tenants.

• Consider including recycling requirements in tenant leases.