AB 1826 – Mandatory Commercial Organics Recycling (MORe)

Mandatory Commercial Organics Recycling (MORe)

Recyclable organic waste accounts for about 40 percent of the material Californians dispose in landfills annually. In order for California to achieve its aggressive recycling and waste diversion goals it must recycle its organic waste. The Mandatory Organics Recycling Law (AB 1826) requires that businesses arrange for recycling services for the following types of organic waste: food waste, green waste, landscape and pruning waste, nonhazardous wood waste, and food-soiled paper. Multifamily complexes must arrange for recycling services for the same material with the exception of food waste and food-soiled paper. Most organic waste is recyclable through methods such as composting, mulching, and anaerobic digestion. Organic recycling services often accept a wide variety of different types of organic waste.

The requirement to recycle organic waste can be met by taking one or any combination of the following actions, provided that the action is in compliance with local ordinances and requirements.

• Source-separate organic waste from other waste and subscribe to an organic waste recycling service that specifically includes collection and recycling of organic waste.
• Recycle organic waste on-site, or self-haul organic waste for organic recycling.
• Subscribe to an organic waste recycling service that includes mixed-waste processing that specifically recycles organic waste.
• Sell or donate the generated organic waste.

Implementation Dates and Thresholds

AB 1826 phases in requirements on businesses over time, based on weekly amounts and types of waste produced.

Businesses and multifamily complexes must start recycling organic waste by the following dates:

• April 1, 2016 – generators of 8 or more cubic yards of organic waste per week
• January 1, 2017 – generators of 4 or more cubic yards of organic waste per week
• January 1, 2019 – generators of 4 or more cubic yards of solid waste per week
• January 1, 2020 – generators of 2 or more cubic yards of solid waste per week

Have Edible Food to Donate?

In addition to food scraps recycling, donating surplus food can be part of AB 1826 compliance effort.

Food businesses such as restaurants can visit Abound Food Care, Food Finders,  to see how they can help to provide unwanted wholesome food to those in our communities facing food insecurity.

California law under SB1383 requires food generators to participate in an edible food recovery program. 

For additional information regarding the Mandatory Commercial Organics Recycling Law, visit the CalRecycle website.

Contact

For additional information regarding complying with the law or food donation, please contact Midway City Sanitary District at (714) 893-3553.

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