Laws
Environmental Compliance Laws
Learn the key waste, recycling, and sustainability regulations that apply to California businesses.
California businesses must comply with state and local laws requiring the proper recycling of trash, organic waste, and recyclable materials to reduce landfill waste and protect the environment. Businesses are also responsible for preventing illegal dumping, maintaining clean properties, and, in some areas, using recyclable or compostable food service products. Failure to comply with these regulations may result in fines and other enforcement actions.
Stay informed and stay compliant.
California Waste & Recycling Laws
SB 1383 Short-Lived Climate Pollutant Reduction Strategy
The state requires that organic waste be diverted from landfill. Food scraps, yard trimmings, food-soiled paper, clean paper, and cardboard must be placed in appropriate compost or recycling bin(s). Some businesses are also required to donate surplus edible food. The law requires that compost and recycling bins be placed wherever there is a garbage bin. All bins must follow color coding: recycling must be blue, organics must be green, and garbage must be gray or black. All bins must also be clearly labeled to indicate common items that do and do not belong inside. Waste generators who are not in compliance may receive a Notice of Violation and associated fines.
Millbrae Municipal Code Chapter 6.45
Brisbane Municipal Code Chapter 8.25
City of South San Francisco Chapter 8.27
AB 341 Mandatory Commercial Recycling
The state requires that all businesses and public entities that generate 4 or more cubic yards of waste per week and multifamily dwellings with 5 or more living units to recycle.
Businesses and multi-family dwellings that meet the waste generation thresholds are required to do one of the following:
- Source separate recyclable materials from the waste they are discarding, and either self-haul or arrange for separate collection of the recyclables.
- Subscribe to a service that includes mixed waste processing that yields diversion results comparable to source separation.
AB 1826 Mandatory Commercial Organics Recycling
The state requires businesses and multifamily dwellings that generate 2 or more cubic yards of waste per week to recycle or compost organic waste from:
- Food
- Landscaping and pruning
- Untreated wood waste
- Food-soiled paper
Illegal Dumping and Littering
It is strictly unlawful to dump garbage or waste matter on any public or private property. This also includes dumping garbage in bins that are not for public use.
Millbrae Municipal Code Chapter 6.15
South San Francisco Municipal Code Chapter 8.20
Brisbane Municipal Code Chapter 8.25
California Code of Regulations Section 17331
The state requires that the owner or tenant of any premises, business establishment or industry be responsible for the satisfactory removal of all waste accumulated on their property. To discourage critters/vectors and the creation of nuisances, waste (except for inert materials), is not allowed to remain on the premises for more than 7 days.
Disposable Food Service Ware Ordinance
Food service businesses in the unincorporated areas of San Mateo County, as well as in the cities of South San Francisco, Millbrae, Brisbane, and several others are banned from using single-use plastic foodware. Fiber-based foodware is required. Reusable options are encouraged.
SB 54 Plastic Pollution Prevention and Packaging Producer Responsibility Act
The state is in the process of establishing a new extended producer responsibility (EPR) program to manage packaging and single-use plastic food service ware products across every sector of the economy. EPR gives primary responsibility for managing products after their useful life to producers, who can design and market products to be more easily reused or recycled.
