What is considered a multi-family property in Castro Valley Sanitary District (CVSan)?  Apartments, townhomes, condos, and mobile home parks consisting of 5 units or more are considered multi-family properties. CVSan has an award-winning multi-family outreach program to support tenants, managers, and property owners towards zero waste. 

100% of multi-family properties in Castro Valley subscribe to recycling service and 99% subscribe to organics service.  CVSan’s multi-family outreach efforts have resulted in 151 multi-family food scrap recycling programs.  

CCVSan’s multi-family recycling and organics programs are supported by its contracted collector Alameda County Industries (ACI) who collects all organics, recycling, and garbage. ACI works with CVSan to assist multi-family property owners. ACI and CVSan are available for assessments by appointment to help multi-family property owners fine tune their waste reduction efforts and save money.  Please call CVSan at 510-537-0757 ext. 112 to schedule a free assessment to assist your multi-family property.

Resources for Tenants

CVSan’s multi-family program includes specific tools to help residents sort recyclables and compostable items at home.  CVSan provides two options of indoor recycling containers (stacking open-air container or tote bag) and two options of indoor organics containers to collect food scraps and food-soiled paper for multi-family tenants through grant funding free of charge.  Free printed materials are also available, including a new guide, flyer illustrating what items go in each cart, a ‘how to collect food scraps’ flyer, and a customizable tenant letter that describes the recycling, organics, and garbage services on site and tips for collecting and sorting waste. Fill out CVSan’s Donation and Supply Request Form to request any of these resources: http://www.cvsan.org/drform

Click here for the new Multi-Family Guide

Bulky & Reuse Pick-Up:

Multi-family properties in Castro Valley are eligible for one Bulky & Reuse Pick-Up per calendar year.  Each property is eligible for 2 cubic yards of bulky goods service per unit.  Contact the Alameda County Industries Customer Service Department to schedule a pick-up at 510-483-1400.  Multi-family properties will also receive a coupon each year for 2 cubic yards of bulky drop-off at Davis Street Transfer Station in San Leandro.  For more information, visit: http://www.cvsan.org/BulkyPickUp

Textile Collection:
Clothing and textiles can be set out for collection during the first full week of June and October for collection.  These can also be set out for reuse in your Bulky and Reuse Pick-up.  For more, please see www.cvsan.org/BulkyPickup.

Household Hazardous Waste Information and Drop-off Locations:

http://www.cvsan.org/HHW

Multi-Family Monthly Rates:

CVSan’s multi-family recycling and organics program rewards recycling and composting. Garbage cart service includes recycling and organics, and 1-3 cubic yard bins can be custom bundled: http://www.cvsan.org/content/residential-services-multi-family-monthly-rates

Alameda County’s Mandatory Recycling Ordinance:

In 2012, the Alameda County Waste Management Authority (ACWMA) introduced the Mandatory Recycling Ordinance 2012-01 to expand on the State recycling law. The Ordinance is designed to help Alameda County reach the long-term goal of reducing waste by ensuring that recyclables and compostables make up less than 10 percent of material sent to landfill by 2020.

Mandatory recycling and organics in the Castro Valley Sanitary District service area has been effective since July 1, 2014 for all businesses and institutions, as well as multi-family properties with 5 or more units. 

Recyclable materials covered by the Ordinance include: newspaper, white paper, mixed recyclable paper, recyclable glass food and beverage containers, metal (aluminum and steel) food and beverage containers, PET (#1) and HDPE (#2) plastic bottles.

Businesses, institutions, and multi-family properties, must also keep organics (food scraps, compostable paper, and plant debris) separate from the garbage. More information about the ordinance is located at www.RecyclingRulesAC.org.

Property owners and managers of multi-family properties with 5 or more units must:

1. Provide containers and service of sufficient number, size, and frequency for recyclable materials at the same or at an equally convenient location as garbage.
2. Provide containers and service of sufficient number, size, and frequency for organics (food scraps and compostable paper) at the same or at an equally convenient location as garbage.
3. Provide information at least annually to employees, tenants, and contractors describing how to properly use the recycling, garbage, and organics containers, as well as no later than 14 days after move-in and no less than 14 days prior to move-out.

Additionally, ACWMA Ordinance 2008-01 requires multi-family properties in Alameda County generating 4 or more cubic yards of garbage per week to separate all plant debris from garbage and recyclable materials. Those with on-site service must place plant debris in a designated organics collection bin. Multi-family property owners or managers can arrange for the removal of plant debris by their landscaper. The landscaper must haul to an approved facility and must deposit plant debris in the facility’s designated “clean green” area.

California’s Mandatory Commercial Recycling Law

What You Need to Know

With the passage of (Chapter 476, Statutes of 2011 [Chesbro, AB 341]), California was 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:

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 Alameda County Industries (ACI),
2. Self-haul to the ACI Material Recovery Facility in San Leandro, 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 CVSan at 510-537-0757 to set up a free site assessment and sign-up for recycling services.

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