Please note that on January 1, 2022, the requirements for AB 1826 will be eclipsed by those of SB 1383.
Mandatory Commercial Organics (Compost) Recycling – AB 1826
The mandatory Commercial Organic Waste Recycling Law – Assembly Bill (AB) 1826 became effective on January 1, 2016 and requires businesses and multi-family complexes (with 5 or more units) that generate specified amounts of organic waste (compost) to arrange for organics collection services. This includes schools, hospitals, stores, restaurants, for-profit or nonprofit organizations, as well as multi-family dwellings with 5+ units. Download the AB 1826 brochure here.
AB 1826 currently requires businesses and multi-family complexes that generate two or more cubic yards of solid waste, recycling, and organic waste combined per week to start recycling organic waste (compost).
*Please note that gardening or landscaping service offered to impacted businesses are also subject to this law and businesses must ensure that this organic waste is recycled.
Why Compost?
Approximately 30 million tons of waste is sent to landfills in California each year, of which more than 30% is organic and compostable material. Additionally, the greenhouse gas emissions resulting from the decomposition of organic waste in landfills have been identified as a significant source of emissions contributing to global climate change. These requirements will help California and our community reach its goal of 50% waste diversion by 2020 and 75% organics diversion by 2025.
Regulatory Requirements
This law requires businesses to separate and recycle the following types of organic waste:
- Food scraps
- Green waste and yard trimmings
- Non-hazardous, non- treated wood waste
- Food-soiled paper and cardboard
Multi-Family Complexes
Multi-family complexes (with 5 or more units) that fall within the schedule outlined above must also separate organic waste and arrange for collection services. Multi-family complexes are required to separate organic waste with the exception of food waste and food-soiled paper.
How to Comply
To comply with AB 1826, businesses and multi-family complexes must separate organic waste and:
- Subscribe to the organics (Compost) collection service provided by Recology San Mateo County or a similar service provided by another vendor; or,
- Recycle organic waste onsite, or self-haul organic waste for recycling; or,
- Sell or donate the generated organic waste.
Please contact Recology San Mateo County to learn more about the Compost and Recycle collection services offered in your area.
For more information about AB 1826, please visit CalRecycle’s website on the law: calrecycle.ca.gov/Recycle/Commercial/Organics/