California’s New Mandatory Commercial Recycling Law

What You Need To Know

Information about the new law:

With the passage of (Chapter 476, Statutes of 2011 [Chesbro, AB 341]), California is one of the first states in the nation to enact a statewide program to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by diverting commercial solid waste from landfills. 

According to 2008 Statewide Waste Characterization data, the commercial sector generates nearly three fourths of the solid waste in California, with much of the commercial sector materials disposed in landfills readily recyclable.  AB 341 also establishes a state-wide goal to divert 75% of solid waste away from landfill by the year 2020.

Arrange for recycling service:

Effective July 1, 2012: A business that generates four cubic yards or more of commercial solid waste per week or a multi-family residential dwelling (complex) of five units or more shall arrange for recycling services.  Businesses and multi-family complexes in Castro Valley Sanitary District shall separate recyclable materials from garbage and choose from one or more of the following options: 

1. Subscribe to a basic level of recycling service that includes collection from Waste Management of Alameda County, Inc. (WMAC),
2. Self-haul to the Davis Street Transfer Station, and/or
3. Arrange for the pick-up of the recyclable materials from a person or vendor that does not charge for service.

A property owner of a commercial business or multi-family complex may require tenants to separate their recyclable materials to aid in compliance with this section.

Call the WMAC Recycling Coordinator at (510) 613-8751 to set up a free site assessment and sign-up for recycling services.

For more information about AB 341, please visit CalRecycle’s website.

Commercial Recognition Program - "4R Business, 4R Planet"

With the “4R Business, 4R Planet” Award Program, high-performance recyclers can get the recognition they deserve for being a company where green practices are business as usual.

Every business that recycles receives a window decal indicating participation in the program. You can display your decal with pride, in a place where customers and others will see that you’re on the path to high-performance. Businesses that recycle also start down the path to become “4R Stars.” Businesses earn 1 Star for recycling, and can go on to collect 3 more Stars, one for each category of waste reduction. These businesses will be honored periodically through news releases, ads, events, on our website, and so on at no cost to them.

Below is the complete list of waste reduction activities that will help you earn your 4R Stars. Some of them will not apply to your business. That’s why we’ve provided you with a large number of options to help you get certified. However, you will have to find at least one item under each R category in order to qualify for that particular R Star rating. If you would like, you may also propose an original idea for reducing waste at your place of business. CVSan staff will evaluate whether the activity qualifies for an R Star.

Requirements for 4R Business, 4R Planet Certification

Congratulations to Castro Valley's "4R Star" Businesses

How do I Become a 4R Star Business?

How the Program Works

Common Concerns and Solutions

Frequently Asked Questions About Solid Waste Services

Green Business Program

Hazardous Waste (Small Business Generator Program)

Requirements for 4R Business, 4R Planet Certification

Below is a description of what is required to earn your 4Rs. We have made it as easy as we can by providing as many options as possible. However, you do have to start and maintain at least one activity in each of the 4R categories. They are:

1. Recycle
2. Reuse
3. Reduce
4. Rot (or Represent, Replicate, or Reciprocate)

First R: Recycle

• Participate in Waste Management’s commercial recycling program. This R can be achieved as soon as the business signs the pledge on the assessment form.
• Identify another unusual material currently not accepted in the single-stream recycling program. Arrange for regular and ongoing collection of that material. Please note that WM is the franchised hauler and therefore has the first right of refusal to provide this service. Call WM at 510-613-8751. If WM does not accept the material, go to Stopwaste.Org’s online Recycling+Purchasing Wizard at www.stopwaste.org.

Second R: Reuse

1. Donate computers to Goodwill.
2. Collect winter coats from customers for donation to a charity.
3. Purchase equipment, office furniture or other large items used instead of new. Some good sources are Craig’s List (www.craigslist.org) and the California Materials Exchange (http://www.ciwmb.ca.gov/calmax/).
4. If you have a food service establishment and currently only offer your customers disposable cups, plates, napkins, etc., offer reusables.
5. Implement a new policy, encouraging customers to bring in their own reusable containers.
6. Switch to reusable shipping containers. For more information, go to http://www.choosereusables.org/ .

Third R: Reduce (Prevent)

1. Institute a policy of printing double-sided as the default.
2. Purchase a dishwasher and reusable dishes to replace disposables in the company kitchen.
3. Give customers a small rebate for bringing in their own reusable shopping bags.
4. Purchase three (3) recycled or used products for your business that you were not previously. Find products made with recycled materials at http://www.ciwmb.ca.gov/RCP/ .
5. Allow Stopwaste.Org’s Stopwaste Partnership staff to conduct a thorough on-site assessment of your facility.
6. Institute an Environmentally Preferable Purchasing (EPP) policy. See our Commercial Services & Green Resource Guide or go to Stopwaste.Org’s website to view an EPP Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ):  www.stopwaste.org/home/index.asp?page=734.
7. Persuade a supplier to ship deliveries to your business in returnable containers.
8. Eliminate unnecessary forms. Double-side forms or redesign them to fit on a half sheet.
9. Reduce junk mail at work. For more information, go to http://your.kingcounty.gov/solidwaste/nwpc/bizjunkmail.htm .
10. Do a thorough database sweep with an eye to reducing waste, by removing duplicate names and out-of-date entries from mailing lists.
11. Select a caterer that practices waste reduction (beyond recycling cans and bottles). Must be for an event of fifty (50) or more.
12. If there is a lawn on your property, work with your landscaping contractor to begin “grasscycling”—the practice of leaving clippings on the lawn while mowing. For more information, see http://www.ciwmb.ca.gov/Organics/GrassCycling/ .

For more waste prevention tips, go to http://www.ciwmb.ca.gov/Bizwaste/QuickTip.htm .

Fourth R: Rot or Represent, Replicate, or Reciprocate

Once your business has achieved 3R Star status, you may choose from the following list in order to earn a 4th R. The 4th R is typically “Rot” or compost; however, we recognize that not all businesses have organics materials (i.e. food scraps, food-soiled paper or landscape trimmings). Below is a list of 4R options we recommend:

1. Rot—Organics recycling, reuse, or prevention. This would typically be participation in Waste Management’s organics/food scrap collection program. For more information about this program, see the Commercial Services & Green Resource Guide (2009-2014 version), p. 6-7 (scroll to the bottom of this page). You could also start another waste-reducing activity that helps keep organics out of the landfill. For more information, go to http://www.ciwmb.ca.gov/Organics/ .
2. Represent—Serve as a spokesperson for CVSan and the 4R Business, 4R Planet program.

   Examples:

   • Give a presentation (or co-present w/CVSan and/or WM staff) to a Castro Valley business group.
   • Give a presentation to a Castro Valley civic or service group.
   • Give a presentation at a Castro Valley school.
   • Give a presentation to an industry group or trade association. (Note that this can be outside Castro Valley. However, Alameda County is preferable.)
   • Give a presentation at a Stopwaste Partnership event, Reusables Workshop or another Stopwaste.Org event.
   • Publish an article in the local paper, newsletter, journal, e-News, etc. of any of the above.
   • Put detailed content up on your own company website about your waste reduction activities.
3. Replicate—Help another business implement one of the same practices implemented by the 3R Star business. For example, a women’s clothing store that has set up a winter coat collection might work with another clothing store in town (perhaps one that doesn’t compete—for example, a children’s clothier) to help them set up something similar.
   The Recipient could be:
   • Another CV business.
   • Any business along the 3R Star’s supply chain, including a supplier or customer.
4. Reciprocate—Give back to the community by dedicating time, money, equipment and/or goods to such activities as:
   • Helping a CV school become Green Ribbon certified; or
   • CVSan’s annual Earth Day Clean-up.

Businesses that complete a 4R Business, 4R Planet Award Program application, earn their 4R Stars will receive an award certificate to display with pride, and free advertisement in the local newspaper, and more!  Call 510-613-8751 to request an application and to find out more!

Commercial Services and Green Resource Guide 2009-2014 and Insert 2009