Required to Recycle
Assembly Bill 1826 (AB 1826) was signed into law in October 2014 and requires certain types of commercial and multi-family complexes to subscribe to organic recycling services. Organic waste (also referred to as organics throughout this resource) means food waste, green waste, landscape and pruning waste, nonhazardous wood waste, and food-soiled paper waste that is mixed in with food waste.
- April 1, 2016 – Businesses that generate 8 or more cubic yards of organic waste per week
- January 1, 2017 – Businesses that generate 4 or more cubic yards of organic waste per week
- January 1, 2019 – Businesses that generate 4 or more cubic yards of commercial solid waste per week
- September 15, 2020 - Businesses that generate 2 or more cubic yards of commercial solid waste per week
Multi-family complexes with 5 or more units are required to recycle organics (except food waste) under the same guidelines. For more information on the requirements in AB 1826, please visit CalRecycle's website. http://www.calrecycle.ca.gov/Recycle/Commercial/Organics/
CR&R, the contract hauler in Laguna Hills, offers several types of discounted recycling programs that would help your business comply with AB 1826 and save money on your monthly disposal bills. For more information on CR&R's recycling programs, please visit CR&R's website.
Commercial Food Waste Service Program
A restaurant, on average, disposes of more than 50 tons of organic waste every year. Californians overall throw away more than 5 million tons of food scraps each year. Every City in California is required to divert at least 50% of all its waste away from landfills, due to space constraints. By participating in the Commercial Food Waste Service Program, local businesses will reduce their trash disposal cost while helping the City maintain compliance with its recycling goals.
Read the Commercial Food Waste Service Brochure (PDF) for additional information about the program.
Donating Eatable Food
Some organizations in Orange County work to recover edible food from businesses and help provide food to nearly 400,000 Orange County residents. The following organizations will pick up your food donations and assist your business in complying with AB 1826. Food donation is endorsed by the Orange County Health Care Agency. Furthermore, the Bill Emerson Good Samaritan Food Donation Act protects good-faith food donor businesses from potential liability.