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Q: Who is required to recycle under AB 341, the mandatory Commercial Recycling law and when does it take effect?
A: The Mandatory Commercial Recycling Law (
Assembly Bill 341) requires all businesses that generate 4 cubic yards of commercial solid waste per week and multi-family properties (5 units or more) to arrange for recycling service starting July 1, 2012 through one of the following:
- Subscribe to a service that collects recyclables separately, or;
- Send materials to a mixed waste processing facility that diverts recyclables, or;
- Self-haul your own recyclables;
Q: Who is required to recycle under AB 1826, the Mandatory Commercial Organics Recycling law and when does it take effect?
A: The Mandatory Organics Recycling Law (
AB 1826) uses a tiered implementation schedule, which phases organics recycling requirements on businesses over time based on the amount and type of organics or waste the business produces on a weekly basis. The implementation schedule is as follows:
| Year |
Cubic Yards Generated Weekly |
| 2016 |
8 (organic waste) |
| 2017 |
4 (organic waste) |
| 2019 |
4 (commercial solid waste, regardless of amount of organic waste) |
| 2021 |
2 (commercial solid waste, regardless of amount of organic waste)*
*conditioned on 50 percent Statewide reduction in organics disposal compared to disposal in 2014
|
Q: What types of materials are required to be recycled?
A: AB 341 does not specify how much or what type of materials must be recycled by businesses, nor does it limit the types of materials that could be included in a recycling or composting program. Some examples of materials that are recyclable include: paper, plastic, metals, and cardboard. Types of recycling services that can be used in order to comply with law include:
- Subscribe to a service that collects recyclables separately, or;
- Send materials to a mixed waste processing facility that diverts recyclables, or;
- Self-haul your own recyclables;
AB 1826 requires businesses to recycle all organic waste.
Q: For the purposes of AB 1826 what is considered organic waste?
A: "Organic waste" means food waste, green waste, landscape and pruning waste, nonhazardous wood waste, and food-soiled paper waste that is mixed in with food waste.
Q: What recycling services is my hauler required to provide?
A: Under the Los Angeles County's Non-Exclusive Commercial Solid Waste Collection Franchise Agreement, haulers must provide all County Unincorporated Area commercial and multi-family customers with one of the following at no additional charge:
- One cubic yard recycling bin/capacity;
- Two 96 gallon recycling carts due to storage constraints;
- Processing at a mixed waste processing facility to recover recyclables
Additional recycling containers, capacity and frequency will be offered for no more than half the rate for the same type of trash collection service.
Q: How do I sign up for recycling service if I share a waste bin with neighboring businesses?
A: Please contact the primary account holder for your waste collection services. The primary account holder may contact your waste hauler to sign up for free or cost-saving recycling services.
Another option to sign up for recycling services is to consult with your property manager about arranging for recycling services through a third-party recycler for your individual business.
Q: Which haulers collect and recycle food waste?
A: Click
here to see a list of authorized waste haulers and what services they provide in Los Angeles County
Q: What services can the Smart Business Program offer to my business?
A: The Smart Business Recycling Program offers free on-site visits to help businesses and food service establishments located within the County unincorporated areas comply with the State's mandatory recycling requirements. We can help your business establish an effective recycling program or improve your existing recycling system. We can provide some useful information about the State’s business recycling mandates and how you can arrange for free recycling services from your waste hauler.
Q: What are the benefits of increased recycling?
A: Not only is recycling good for the environment, but it can save you money on your waste collection bill! By utilizing your recycling options, you can:
- reduce the size of your current solid waste bin to a smaller, cheaper container; and/or
- reduce the frequency of your waste collection.
Recycling bins are also more affordable, if not free, so more recycling means more cost savings for your business!
Q: Where can I find tips about waste reduction?
A: For tips on waste reduction and recycling, you can visit the following websites:
Q: How do I sign up for detailed site assessment and resource management plan?
A: Businesses located in the County Unincorporated Areas can request a free on site recycling assessment from one of our Smart Business Recycling Consultants, please go to
Contact Us on our website; navigate down to Request a Consultation. Complete the steps and submit your request. A Smart Business Recycling Consultant will contact you to schedule a site visit.
Q: How do I recycle white goods (refrigerator, freezer, washing machine, dishwasher, etc)?
A:
- For single-family residents, you may contact your waste hauler to schedule a bulky item pickup or ask your waste hauler when the annual curbside clean-up event is where they will provide collection and recycling services for your white goods. For more information on what services are available to you, please click here.
- For multi-family apartments, you may contact your waste hauler to schedule a bulky item pickup where they will provide collection and recycling services for your white goods. For more information on what services are available to you, please click here.
- For businesses, you may contact your waste hauler to schedule a bulky item pickup where they will provide collection and recycling services for your white goods. For more information on what services are available to you, please click here.
Q: What is considered e-waste?
A: Waste that is powered by batteries or electricity, such as computers, telephones, answering machines, radios, stereo equipment, tape players/recorders, phonographs, videocassette players/recorders, compact disc players/recorders, and calculators
Q: How do I get my recycling business on your website?
A: Businesses interested in being added to the Smart Business Recycling website should complete and submit the
Request to be Added online form. Please allow two weeks for processing.