City of Santa Maria
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Commercial Recycling
Senate Bill 1383 (SB 1383) took effect in 2022 and builds on the requirements of Assembly Bill 341 (AB 341, 2012). SB 1383 requires organics recycling and blue container recycling by businesses and multi-family dwellings of five or more units that generate two or more cubic yards of refuse each week.
These regulations require businesses and multi-family properties to provide solid waste collection services for their customers and tenants. Why? California has a 75% diversion target to divert recyclables and organic waste from landfills and reduce methane gas emissions produced by decomposing organic waste in landfills by 50%.
Who must comply?
- Any commercial business or multi-family dwelling of five or more units that generates two or more cubic yards of solid waste.
- Types of businesses include but are not limited to private or public businesses, profit or non-profit organizations, industrial facilities, universities, community colleges, schools, school districts, airports, and retail malls.
- Multi-family dwellings include but are not limited to apartment complexes, condominiums, townhomes, and mobile home parks.
How to comply?
Businesses and multi-family properties must provide information and education to employees, residents, and contractors about green organics and blue recycling at the property.
To learn more about what is and what is not recyclable in the green organics or blue recycle containers, visit the Item Look Up Tool.
The City is here to help! Call (805) 925-0951 ext. 7270 with any questions and to learn more about available resources.
Post-Consumer Container Requirements
Businesses that sell products that may be consumed on the premises are required by state laws AB 827 and SB 1383 to provide post-consumer collection containers for customers to dispose of their waste correctly. The specific requirements are below:
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Provide a recycling container and organics container near each trash container (not required in restrooms)
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Color code containers: gray/black for trash, blue for recycling, green for organics
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Display clear signage of what can and cannot go into each container
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All containers must be easily accessible and visible to customers
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Customer separated waste must be disposed of in the correct waste container for collection
Training videos for commercial businesses:
| Container Placement Video | Video de Colocación de contenedor |
| Separation and Disposal Video | Video de Disposición y Separación |