Most follow SB 1383 (2016) organics reduction mandates with 2024-2026 compliance deadlines.
What is SB 1383? California's Short-Lived Climate Pollutant Reduction law requires 75% reduction of organic waste disposal by 2025. Bay Area jurisdictions align local ordinances with this statewide mandate, including edible food recovery requirements for businesses.
What Compliance Looks Like
For Homeowners & Renters
✓ Mandatory: Use recycling bin for all paper, cardboard, plastic bottles, aluminum, glass
✓ Mandatory: Use compost bin (green/cart) for food scraps, yard waste, soiled paper
❌ Prohibited: Recyclables/organics in garbage bin
Multifamily: Property owners must provide adequately sized bins and educate tenants. Non-compliance can result in fines to property owners.
For Businesses & Commercial Properties
✓ Mandatory: Subscribe to recycling and organics collection service
✓ Required: Adequate, labeled bins for customers/employees
✓ New (SB 1383): Commercial edible food generators (grocery, restaurants, hotels) must arrange food recovery
Enforcement: Jurisdictions conduct waste audits; violations may result in notices, fines, or loss of hauler service.
Enforcement & Penalties
🔍 Alameda County
StopWaste.org conducts compliance inspections. Multifamily properties receive technical assistance before fines. First violation typically results in education; repeat violations: $100-$500 fines.
📋 San Francisco
Mandatory Recycling and Composting Ordinance. Building inspectors check compliance; zero waste inspectors respond to complaints. Fines up to $500 for residential, $1,000 for commercial.
📌 San Mateo County
Jurisdictions conduct route reviews; contamination tags left on carts. Repeated contamination may result in service suspension.
⚖️ Santa Clara County
Mandatory Commercial Recycling Ordinance. Haulers report non-compliant businesses; county follows up with education and enforcement.
Common compliance gap: Many Bay Area businesses incorrectly assume "recycling" means single-stream only. Organics collection (food scraps, compostable paper) is mandatory for most commercial generators. Restaurants: pizza boxes, food-soiled paper must go in compost, not recycling.
What's Targeted? Key Material Categories
📄
Paper & Cardboard
Highest recovery rate. Mandatory recycling.
🧴
Containers
Plastic (#1, #2, #5), aluminum, glass
🍎
Food Scraps
Mandatory organics collection
🌿
Yard Trimmings
Ban from landfill (AB 939, 1989)
Contamination is enforcement trigger: High rates of non-recyclable materials (plastic bags, foam, hazardous waste) in recycling/organics bins are a primary compliance issue. Jurisdictions increasingly use camera audits and tag-and-leave programs.
Navigating Compliance with Professional Help
For businesses and multifamily properties facing complex compliance requirements—or needing disposal for non-routine items not covered by weekly collection—professional junk removal services provide documented, compliant diversion.
Compliance tip: Alameda County businesses can request free waste assessments from StopWaste.org. They'll audit your bins, provide signage, and train staff—often at no cost. This proactive step demonstrates good faith and prevents enforcement actions.