What materials do businesses need to recycle under the regulation?

The proposed regulation 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. The regulation does require that jurisdictions inform businesses about the state requirement to recycle and how they can recycle in the jurisdiction.

CalRecycle understands that each jurisdiction has its own unique set of circumstances, including different types of commercial generators, and is in a better position to determine what programs will work best to divert material from the commercial sector. The proposed regulation provides flexibility and does not dictate how a jurisdiction must implement a program or specify that a jurisdiction must implement a commercial collection program.

Existing Programs

While the regulation does not require that jurisdictions implement a commercial collection program, every jurisdiction in the state already has some type of existing commercial recycling program.

Some communities have commercial recycling programs that collect the same materials that are included in their residential single-stream program. Some communities offer organics recycling and/or construction and demolition debris recycling programs. Other communities offer source-separated commercial recycling programs in combination with mixed waste processing of materials. Rural communities that do not have an on-site commercial collection recycling infrastructure offer drop-off programs. Finally, many businesses utilize self-haul, back-haul and independent recyclers to recycle.

Some programs target specific business materials for recycling while others do not provide this level of detail. The types and sizes of businesses and industry can vary, as can the amount and types of material generated per week.

Show All Answers

1. What is the definition of a “business” and which businesses are required to comply?
2. What is “commercial solid waste?”
3. Are industrial facilities/sites and waste generated at industrial facilities/sites subject to the regulation?
4. Are State facilities subject to the regulation?
5. Can you clarify what is meant by a four cubic yard threshold?
6. What activities constitute business diversion?
7. What materials do businesses need to recycle under the regulation?
8. Are school districts and municipal entities required to recycle?
9. Will airports be included in the regulation, and how will air carriers be affected by the rule?
10. Will cruise ships be affected by the regulation?
11. Are strip mall complexes that a business resides in required to recycle at a minimum level, even if many of the businesses within that complex share recycling services?
12. Is there an exact minimum amount of recycling that is required of a business or complex with shared services?
13. If there is a business that has an extensive recycling program located in a strip mall, would that business be held liable if the other tenants in the strip mall are not recycling?
14. Our sites periodically have special events, for example construction projects, that would generate more than four cubic yards for that week. Are these sites subject to the regulation?
15. My business usually generates 3 cubic yards of refuse per week, but occasionally uses a 6 cubic yard container to collect its own street sweepings. Is my business be expected to recycle this material?
16. What is meant by subscribing to a service that includes mixed waste processing that diverts recyclable materials from disposal and that yields diversion results comparable to source separation?
17. Does self-hauling include taking recyclables from a business to an employee’s or owner’s residence to recycle?
18. Can a business donate or sell its recyclables and still be in compliance?
19. What information will businesses need to provide and who will it be provided to in order to demonstrate compliance?