What are the jurisdiction’s requirements in terms of providing education, outreach, and monitoring to businesses?

The regulation requires jurisdictions to implement education, outreach, and monitoring programs to inform businesses of the state requirement to recycle and how they can recycle in the jurisdiction. Jurisdictions should choose methods to provide education and outreach that maximize existing resources including using existing websites, brochures, on-site meetings, etc. For example, if the hauler already sends out a sales representative to work with businesses that are not recycling, then the hauler’s sales representative could inform the business of the state requirement, and then assist the business in determining the best approach to recycle. Other options include using the jurisdiction’s own staff, community groups, or independent recyclers to inform the businesses of the state requirement and how the businesses can recycle in the jurisdiction. If the jurisdiction already sends out letters to businesses regarding recycling opportunities, the letter could include information about the state requirement.

The requirement for jurisdictions to monitor means identifying and notifying businesses that are not recycling and informing them about the state law and the various ways that they could recycle. The methods for monitoring can differ greatly depending upon a jurisdiction’s resources, hauler arrangement, etc. Some jurisdictions may choose to phase in monitoring by targeting the largest businesses the first year and bringing in other businesses in subsequent years. The jurisdiction may choose to utilize the hauler to monitor and notify businesses that are not recycling. The jurisdiction’s Local Assistance and Market Development representative can help assess if the monitoring approach seems reasonable.

CalRecycle also recommends that jurisdictions view the Institute for Local Government webinar titled Understanding California’s Proposed Commercial Recycling Regulations: What Local Agencies Need to Know About the Education, Outreach and Monitoring Requirements. This webinar, the fifth in a series, helps local officials understand the proposed new regulation, emphasizing what they need to do to be in compliance with the education, outreach and monitoring requirements. The webinar also includes information about new tools available to help local agencies meet these challenges.

Show All Answers

1. Will my city/county need to adopt a mandatory commercial recycling ordinance?
2. What are the jurisdiction’s requirements in terms of providing education, outreach, and monitoring to businesses?
3. Would a jurisdiction be able to phase in education, outreach, and monitoring efforts or do jurisdictions need to ensure that efforts to address all businesses in the jurisdiction are already in place?
4. If a jurisdiction opts to phase-in education, outreach and/or monitoring, what would be an acceptable timeline for the phase-in period?
5. Is there a rural exemption in the current regulatory language? What are the general provisions that may be or are available to rural jurisdictions under the proposed regulation?
6. Do we need to have a franchise agreement for recycling collection services to comply with the regulation?
7. Will existing franchises need to be amended to comply with this regulation?
8. Under the proposed regulation, would these businesses be required to subscribe to the recycling service?
9. My hauler has indicated that it will need a significant rate increase to comply with the regulation. What additional requirements will be placed on the hauler that would result in cost increases?
10. Will there be any financial assistance available to help offset the costs associated with implementing the regulations?
11. Is there anything in the regulatory language that includes a stipulation that the jurisdiction would be required to provide a curbside program?
12. We have found residential and commercial recycling programs can be incongruent. How or will the rule-making process address these issues?
13. Do we need to develop a specific type of program (e.g., commercial food waste collection, on-site recycling collection, construction and demolition debris recycling) to comply with the regulations?
14. Do the regulations change the provisions of transformation as provided for in Public Resources Code section 41783?
15. How does a jurisdiction determine the amount of solid waste a business generates? Is it what the business subscribes to (a four cubic yard solid waste bin), even if it only fills the bin half full?
16. How should a jurisdiction determine the businesses that are subject to the legislation and regulations?
17. Are there any exemptions for temporary waste generating activities, such as filming locations, special events, seasonal store sites, etc.?
18. Can you clarify what is meant by authorizing a local agency to charge and collect a fee from a commercial waste generator to recover the local agency’s costs incurred in complying with requirements?
19. Is a webpage with information about the mandatory commercial recycling requirement enough?
20. How frequently should outreach information be provided to businesses?
21. I have been unsuccessful in the past in making contact with the commercial sector. Are there any recommendations for making contact with businesses?
22. How should a jurisdiction handle businesses that are resistant in providing information on self-hauling and other recycling activities not provided by the jurisdiction’s franchised/permitted hauler?