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South Lake Refuse
& Recycling Services

Recycling Laws

California is now experiencing the effects of a climate crisis: world record-breaking temperatures, even more devastating fire seasons, more extreme droughts, and rising sea levels that erode our coastlines. Scientists tell us that greenhouse gases released by human activities, like landfilling food, paper products and yard waste, cause climate change.

Several laws related to waste reduction, resource conservation, and greenhouse gas emission reduction have been passed over the years. Below you’ll find a summary of the laws that impact our customers.

Lake County’s Public Works Recycling & Waste Management division has a contract with South Lake Refuse & Recycling (SLR&R) to provide collection service for garbage, recycling, and compostable materials in southern lake County. Areas include Hidden Valley, Middletown, Cobb, Loch Lomond, Kelseyville Riviera, Lower Lake, and the surrounding unincorporated areas.  As partners, we are here to help you be in compliance with recycling laws.

Lake County Integrated Waste Management

 

Contact South Lake Refuse & Recycling

AB 341 MANDATORY COMMERCIAL Recycling

AB 341 requires business (including public entities) that generate 4 cubic yards or more of commercial solid waste per week and multifamily residential dwelling of five units or more to arrange for recycling services.

What do I need to do to comply with the law?

Arrange for recycling service with South Lake Refuse & Recycling. This is the easiest and most often cost-effective way to comply with the law. Visit Commercial Services Information for offerings.

AB 1826 MANDATORY COMMERCIAL ORGANICS

AB 1826 requires businesses, including multifamily dwellings, that generate 2 cubic yards or more of solid waste per week to separate organic waste from garbage for composting. Organic waste includes food waste, green waste, landscape and pruning waste, clean wood waste, and food-soiled paper waste.

What do I need to do to comply with the law?

Arrange for organics (compost and or food scraps) service with UVD&R or self haul organic material to a compost facility, such as Quakenbush Resource Recovery Park, for composting. Visit Commercial Services Information for offerings.

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AB 827
CUSTOMER ACCESS TO RECYCLING

AB 827 is intended to educate and involve consumers in achieving the state’s recycling goals by requiring businesses to make recycling and/or organic recycling bins available to customers.

What do I need to do to comply with the law?

Business that generate 2 cubic yards or more of solid waste per week and sell food that is consumed on site must provide containers for recycling, organics, and trash for your customers to use. These containers must be located next to each other, clearly labeled, color coded, and easily accessible.

We can help!

Print out labels to clearly mark your landfill, compost, and recycling containers.

SB 1383
SHORT LIVED CLIMATE POLLUTANTS

SB 1383 went into effect January 1, 2022. Businesses (including public entities) and single/multifamily residents are required to keep organic materials out of the landfill and can receive fines if they do not comply.

NOT YET APPLICABLE IN RURAL LAKE COUNTY- BUT COMING SOON

Some businesses will be required to divert edible food that would otherwise be landfilled, to a food recovery service or organization for human consumption.

What do I need to do to comply with the law at home?

  • Subscribe to and participate in organics/compost collection service with South Lake Refuse & Recycling or separate and self haul organic material to a compost facility, such as Quakenbush Resource Recovery Park, for composting.
  • Ensure there is not organic material in the trash or recycling.

What do I need to do to comply with the law as a business?

  • Arrange for organics and recycling service with South Lake Refuse & Recycling or separate and self haul organic material to a compost facility, such as Quakenbush Resource Recovery Park, for composting.
  • Annually educate employees, customers, and tenants on proper sorting of materials.
  • Provide indoor containers for organic waste and recyclables in all areas where disposal containers are provided for customers.
  • Ensure there is not organic material in the trash or recycling.
  • Some food service business will be required to arrange to recover the maximum amount of edible food that would otherwise to go landfills.

For all the details about SB 1383, visit CalRecycle’s website.  

WE CAN HELP!

We’re here to help you successfully comply with SB 1383, so we can divert organics from the landfill and reduce emissions! Below are a few of the resources we can provide.

  • The Upper Valley Waste Management Agency provides interior recycling and compost containers to businesses, schools and multi-family dwellings committed to recycling and composting.
  • South Lake Refuse has downloadable posters and signs for you to use in your business or home.
  • Onsite trainings are available from South Lake Refuse.
  • Site Assessments are available to help you determine what size and types of containers are right for your business.  We want to help you stop paying more to dispose of materials in the landfill that can be composted or recycled.  

Our Community Outreach Coordinator is available for a free site visit to analyze your waste streams, right size your services, train your staff, and more!

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