AB 827: Mandatory Recycling and Organics Recycling Bins

Effective July 1, 2020, Assembly Bill 827 (AB 827) mandates food service establishments to provide customers with disposal containers for three types of materials – food scraps, recyclables, and trash – generated from products purchased and consumed onsite.

Which businesses are subject to the law?

• Businesses covered in Mandatory Commercial Recycling and Mandatory Commercial Organics Recycling laws.
• Any food generating establishment where customers bus their own tables, such as fast-food restaurants.

What is Required by this Law?

• Businesses must provide customers with recycling and organics collection bins adjacent to each in-house trash bin (restroom bins are excluded). 
• Bins must be in clear view and easily accessible.
• Bins must be properly labelled to indicate which materials can be placed inside. 
  1. Common organic materials include plate scrapings (leftover food) and food-soiled paper. 
  2. Common recyclable materials include clean and dry paper and cardboard, empty and dry aluminum cans and plastic beverage bottles.
  3. Common trash materials include plastic single-use utensils, plastic straws, condiment packets, and soft drink cups.

What if a business sells food that is consumed off-site?

• If all materials are consumed off-site and the business does not already provide a trash container for customers, then organic recycling collection bins are not needed.

Any exemptions?

• Full-service restaurants are exempt; they are not required to provide customers with organics and recycling collection bins. However, businesses must provide properly labelled bins next to trash bins for employees to separate all post-consumer materials.

Getting Started

Businesses may create their own signage or utilize examples from CalRecycle’s website here. Businesses may request CR&R to provide signage that indicates accepted materials in recycling and organics recycling bins. To implement a program or seek information about your business’s recycling requirements, please contact the City’s Solid Waste Consultant at (949) 503-5030 or LHRecycles@economicsinc.net