This webpage includes important information about recent recycling and food scrap composting laws that may impact City of Rancho Cordova businesses. More than 75% of businesses in the City are required to recycle and/or compost, and you can learn why here. The City is here to provide assistance with these programs. Read on to learn if your business is required to comply with recycling and/or food scrap composting laws, and for help getting started. 

Recycling

Who is required to separate recyclables for recycling? 

Business that have four cubic yards or more of waste collection per week are required to recycle. Check your monthly solid waste bill to find out if your business falls into this threshold.

Below are some examples of service that would require compliance with recycling laws:

• One 4-yard garbage bin collected once a week = 4 yards/week total
• Two 2-yard garbage bins collected once a week = 4 yards/week total
• One 2-yard garbage bin collected twice a week = 4 yards/week total
• Others...

Any of these combinations, or any other combination that equals at least four cubic yards or more per week, means the business is required to comply with state and local recycling laws. Visit the How You Can Comply page for more information. 

Food Scrap Composting 

Who is required to separate organic waste for food scrap composting?

Businesses that throw away four cubic yards of organic waste (food scraps and green waste) per week are required to compost. Does your business throw away four cubic yards or more of organic waste per week? Check your monthly solid waste bill to find out if your business falls into this threshold.

Approximately one third (1/3) of the waste stream is organic waste. Therefore, if your business has over 12 cubic yards of garbage collection per week, you likely fall into the compliance threshold (1/3 of 12 cubic yards is 4 cubic yards per week of organic waste).

Below are some examples of service that would require compliance with composting laws:

• One 6-yard garbage bin collected twice per week = 12 yards/week total
• One 4-yard garbage bin collected three times a week = 12 yards/week total
• Two 6-yard garbage bin collected once a week = 12 yards/week total
• Others...

Any of these combinations, or any other combination that equals at least four cubic yards or more per week, means the business is required to comply with state and local food scrap composting laws. 

Starting January 1, 2019, all businesses that have 4 cubic yards of waste per week will be required to have food scrap composting service. Therefore, all businesses that are required to have recycling (above) will also be required to have food scrap composting.

Businesses may compost food scraps by using one of the City’s franchised waste haulers, self-hauling, back-hauling, or using a third-party company. The City does not expect businesses to compost on-site. Collection with one of the City’s waste haulers fulfills the compliance requirements. Visit the How You Can Comply page for more information.

Who is required to food scrap compost?

Businesses that throw away four cubic yards of organic waste per week are required to compost food scraps. You may compost your food scraps by using one of the City’s franchised waste haulers, self-hauling, back-hauling, or using a third party company.