It's the law: All businesses are required by law to subscribe to weekly organic material collection services.
Organic Materials: Food scraps, food-soiled paper, green waste/landscape trimmings and “clean wood" (no paint, no stain, etc.). Download the Mandatory Commercial Organics Collection Requirements Flyer for a quick and easy reference document on commercial organic recycling collection requirements.
How to Comply: Subscription to organics collection service is mandatory. If your business does not have organics collection service, your waste hauler will give you advance notice before delivering a recycling bin/cart for starting the collection service. Businesses must select one or more of the following options to comply with the law:
OPTION 1
Sign-Up for Organic Service with Waste Hauler – Enter into an organics recycling material collection service agreement with a Franchised Waste Hauler to collect and haul your organics material; or,
OPTION 2
Alternative Organic Service – Complete and submit the Alternative Service Verification section in the Organic Material Recycling Compliance Form if your business utilizes one or more alternative organic collection services:
Landscaper: The business contracts with a landscaper, who collects green waste/landscape trimmings off-site to a facility that recycles the green waste properly. (Note: “Landscaper" can only verify the green waste/landscape trimmings portion of organics, i.e., food scraps and food-soiled paper, and does not constitute full compliance for mandatory organics collection as a stand-alone alternate service).
Third-Party Recycler: The business contracts with a non-franchised third-party hauler. Contracts between the business and each third-party hauler must be retained on-site for verification during inspection.
Self-Haul: The business hauls its organic material to a composting facility or transfer facility that properly hauls the organic material to a composting facility. Receipts must be retained on-site for verification during inspection.
Backhaul: The business hauls its organic material back to a central or corporate location for composting. A current and valid contract or other proof of evidence must be retained on-site for verification during inspection.
Onsite Composting: All organic material that is generated at a location is composted on-site. Photos of the onsite composting will be required when submitting the Organic Material Recycling Compliance Form and will be verified during inspection. On-site composting inspection will verify that the material is free of vectors and odors.
Shared Container: The business shares an organics container with an adjacent business. Evidence that all parties agree to sharing the container and a copy of the organic collection service contract must be retained on-site for verification during inspection; or
OPTION 3
Waivers:
20 Gallons or Less Waiver: If your business has a total solid waste service of two (2) or more cubic yards per week and the business generates less than 20 gallons of organic material per week, the business may apply for a 20-Gallon or Less Waiver in the Organic Material Recycling Compliance Form . Businesses who sell or produce food are ineligible to receive a 20-Gallon or Less Waiver. These include, but are not limited to, restaurants, theaters, hotels, school s, event centers, gas stations, and coffee shops. A complete list of all ineligible business types are listed in the Sacramento County Policy #2022-01. Important: To submit waiver, separate your organic material from your garbage into a bucket for at least a week and measure how much material is collected. Your findings will need to be submitted in the waiver request. A Waste Study Guide has been created to assist you with documentation.
10 Gallons or Less Waiver: If your business has a total solid waste service of less than two (2) cubic yards per week and the business generates less than 10 gallons of organic material per week, the business may apply for a 10-Gallon or Less Waiver in the Organic Material Recycling Compliance Form . Businesses who sell or produce food are ineligible to receive a 20-Gallon or Less Waiver. These include, but are not limited to, restaurants, theaters, hotels, schools, event centers, gas stations, and coffee shops. A complete list of all ineligible business types are listed in the Sacramento County Policy #2022-01 . Important: To submit waiver, separate your organic material from your garbage into a bucket for at least a week and measure how much material is collected. Your findings will need to be submitted in the waiver request. A Waste Study Guide has been created to assist you with documentation.
Physical Space Waiver (not commonly used): If the business does not have adequate space for the smallest 64-gallon organics collection container, complete and submit the Physical Space Waiver section on the Organic Material Recycling Compliance Form. Note: Supporting documents are required as evidence that the business does not have space for a 64-gallon cart (25" wide x 32" deep x 42" high).
Visit the FAQs for more information or email us at commercialwaste@saccounty.gov.