Business & Commercial Information


Business & Commercial


This page features information and resources on how to comply with garbage, organics, and recycling requirements.


Sacramento County's Department of Waste Management & Recycling (DWMR) regulates commercial solid waste collection services and recycling requirements for businesses located in the unincorporated areas of Sacramento County. DWMR does not provide commercial waste and recycling collection services. Contact DWMR's local franchised waste haulers to sign up for commercial waste, recycling, and organics collection services. All businesses are required to subscribe to weekly garbage service pursuant to Sacramento County Code 6.20.115

Changing your hauler, or cancelling service? See the Franchised Hauler page for information on how to terminate service with a commercial hauler. 


Non-local entities include special districts, federal facilities, prisons, state park facilities, public universities and community colleges, county fairgrounds, and state agencies.

Non-local entities are subject to mandatory recycling and organic recycling requirements, but DWMR does not regulate them.

For more information on the requirements of Non-Local Entities, please visit CalRecycle's Resources for Non-Local Entities page. For information on waiver eligibility and submission, visit CalRecycle's Department-Issued Waivers page. Questions concerning the waiver process can be emailed to slcp.organics@calrecycle.ca.gov.  ​​


Local Education Agencies are subject to Mandatory Recycling and Organic Recycling requirements and regulated directly by CalRecycle. Local Education Agencies include:

  • K-12 public and charter schools
  • School Districts
  • County offices of education that are not regulated by the city or county

For more information on the requirements of Local Education Agencies , please visit CalRecycle's Resources for Local Education Agencies page. For information on waiver eligibility and submission, visit CalRecycle's Department-Issued Waivers page. Questions concerning the waiver process can be emailed to slcp.organics@calrecycle.ca.gov.

Please note: Private schools and private colleges in Unincorporated Sacramento County are regulated by Sacramento County, Department of Waste Management and Recycling, not CalRecycle.​

It's the law: Title 14, § ​17331​ of the California Code of Regulations requires that refuse be removed from all properties every 7 days. Refuse is defined as garbage and rubbish.

How to comply: All businesses are required by law to subscribe to weekly garbage service. 

OPTION 1

​Sign up for weekly garbage service with a waste hauler - Enter into a weekly garbage collection service agreement with a Franchised Waste Hauler; or,

OPTION 2

Share garbage service with an adjacent commercial property - Sacramento County Department of Waste Management and Recycling (DWMR) allows commercial properties that are adjacent to each other to share garbage service as long as both parties are in agreement. In order to choose this option you will need to have a signed agreement between both parties. You will also need to submit a Commercial Property Shared Garbage Service Request form found here: Commercial Property Shared Garbage Service Request

It's the law: All businesses are required by law to subscribe to weekly organic material collection services.

Organic Materials: Food scraps, food-soiled paper, green waste/landscape trimmings and “clean wood" (no paint, no stain, etc.).  Download the Mandatory Commercial Organics Collection Requirements Flyer for a quick and easy reference document on commercial organic recycling collection requirements.



​How to Comply: Subscription to organics collection service is mandatory.  If your business does not have organics collection service, your waste hauler will give you advance notice before delivering a recycling bin/cart for starting the collection service. Businesses must select one or more of the following options to comply with the law: 

OPTION 1

Sign-Up for Organic Service with Waste Hauler – Enter into an organics recycling material collection service agreement with a Franchised Waste Hauler to collect and haul your organics material; or,

OPTION 2

Alternative Organic Service – Complete and submit the Alternative Service Verification section in the Organic Material Recycling Compliance Form if your business utilizes one or more alternative organic collection services:

Landscaper: The business contracts with a landscaper, who collects green waste/landscape trimmings off-site to a facility that recycles the green waste properly. (Note: “Landscaper" can only verify the green waste/landscape trimmings portion of organics, i.e., food scraps and food-soiled paper, and does not constitute full compliance for mandatory organics collection as a stand-alone alternate service). 

Third-Party Recycler: The business contracts with a non-franchised third-party hauler. Contracts between the business and each third-party hauler must be retained on-site for verification during inspection.

Self-Haul: The business hauls its organic material to a composting facility or transfer facility that properly hauls the organic material to a composting facility. Receipts must be retained on-site for verification during inspection.

Backhaul: The business hauls its organic material back to a central or corporate location for composting. A current and valid contract or other proof of evidence must be retained on-site for verification during inspection.

Onsite Composting: All organic material that is generated at a location is composted on-site. Photos of the onsite composting will be required when submitting the Organic Material Recycling Compliance Form and will be verified during inspection. On-site composting inspection will verify that the material is free of vectors and odors.

Shared Container: The business shares an organics container with an adjacent business. Evidence that all parties agree to sharing the container and a copy of the organic collection service contract must be retained on-site for verification during inspection; or

OPTION 3

Waivers:

20 Gallons or Less Waiver: If your business has a total solid waste service of two (2) or more cubic yards per week and the business generates less than 20 gallons of organic material per week, the business may apply for a 20-Gallon or Less Waiver in the Organic Material Recycling Compliance Form . Businesses who sell or produce food are ineligible to receive a 20-Gallon or Less Waiver. These include, but are not limited to, restaurants, theaters, hotels, school s, event centers, gas stations, and coffee shops. A complete list of all ineligible business types are listed in the Sacramento County Policy #2022-01Important: To submit waiver, separate your organic material from your garbage into a bucket for at least a week and measure how much material is collected. Your findings will need to be submitted in the waiver request. Waste Study Guide has been created to assist you with documentation.​ 

10 Gallons or Less Waiver: If your business has a total solid waste service of less than two (2) cubic yards per week and the business generates less than 10 gallons of organic material per week, the business may apply for a 10-Gallon or Less Waiver in the Organic Material Recycling Compliance Form . Businesses who sell or produce food are ineligible to receive a 20-Gallon or Less Waiver. These include, but are not limited to, restaurants, theaters, hotels, schools, event centers, gas stations, and coffee shops. A complete list of all ineligible business types are listed in the Sacramento County Policy #2022-01 . Important: To submit waiver, separate your organic material from your garbage into a bucket for at least a week and measure how much material is collected. Your findings will need to be submitted in the waiver request. A Waste Study Guide has been created to assist you with documentation.

Physical Space Waiver (not commonly used):  If the business does not have adequate space for the smallest 64-gallon organics collection container, complete and submit the Physical Space Waiver section on the Organic Material Recycling Compliance Form. Note: Supporting documents are required as evidence that the business does not have space for a 64-gallon cart (25" wide x 32" deep x 42" high). 

Visit the FAQs for more information or email us at commercialwaste@saccounty.gov. ​


It's the law: All businesses are required by law to subscribe to recycling material collection services.

What can be recycled:  Paper, cardboard and paperboard, plastic bottles and containers, metal cans, and glass bottles and jars. Contact your recycling collection hauler to learn more about acceptable and unacceptable items.


How to Comply: Subscription to recycling service is mandatory.  If your business does not have recycling collection service, your waste hauler will give you advance notice before delivering a  recycling bin/cart for starting the collection service. Businesses must select one or more of the following option s to comply with the law :

OPTION 1
Sign-Up for Recycling Service with Waste Hauler - Enter into a recycling collection service agreement with a Franchised Waste Hauler to collect and haul your recyclables; or,

OPTION 2

  • Alternative Recycling Service - Complete and submit the Alternative Service Verification section in the Recycling Compliance Form if your business utilizes one or more alternative recycling services:
  • Third-Party Recycler: The business contracts with a non-franchised third-party hauler. Contracts between the business and each third-party hauler must be retained on-site for verification during inspection.
  • Self-Haul: The business hauls its recyclable materials to a local recycling facility. Receipts must be retained on-site for verification during inspection. Note: If the business is only recycling aluminum cans, all other recyclable materials must also be collected and recycled either by self-haul or another option listed here.
  • Backhaul: The business hauls its recyclable materials back to a central or corporate location for recycling. A current and valid contract or other proof of evidence must be retained on-site for verification during inspection.
  • Shared Container: The business shares a recycling container with an adjacent business for its recyclables.  Evidence that all parties agree to sharing the container and a copy of the recycling collection service contract must be retained on-site for verification during inspection; or,

     

    OPTION 3

    Physical Space Waiver (not commonly used) - If the business does not have adequate space for the smallest 64-gallon recycling collection container, complete and submit the Physical Space Waiver section on the Recycling Compliance Form . Note: Supporting documents are required as evidence that the business does not have space for a 64-gallon cart (25" wide x 32" deep x 42" high). 



    Visit the FAQs for more information or email us at  commercialwaste@saccounty.gov.


What is AB 827?

State Assembly Bill (AB) 827 requires food service establishments to provide customers with easily accessible organics and recycling bins adjacent to all garbage bins, except in restrooms.

How to Comply?

On or before July 1, 2020, commercial food establishments must provide customers with organics and recycling bins adjacent to all front of the house garbage bins. All three bins must be easily accessible and visible, clearly labeled with educational signage on what is acceptable and unacceptable in each bin. Each franchise hauler offers free signage and bin labels which can also be under Resources. All bins must be properly serviced, meaning organic and recycling materials from internal bins should be regularly placed into external containers for collection by a franchise hauler.

Impacted Businesses

All commercial food service establishments who provide food for purchase and immediate consumption on site must comply with AB 827.

Exempt Food Service Businesses

“Full-service restaurants" are exempt however, they must provide properly labeled bins next to trash bins for employees to separate all post-consumer materials. Full-service restaurants are defined as those where all the following are true:

  • Customers are escorted or assigned to an assigned eating area by an employee.
  • Customers' food and beverage orders are taken after being seated.
  • The food and beverage orders as well as any other requested items are delivered directly to the customers.
  • The check is delivered directly to the customer at the assigned eating area.

Businesses that produce less than 220 pounds (approximately 27 gallons) of hazardous waste or 2.2 pounds of extremely hazardous waste per month are classified as Very Small Quantity Generators (VSQGs). VSQGs must call (916) 876-9458 to make an appointment for material disposal and must pay VSQGs fees, depending upon the material type. Cash, check, or credit cards are all accepted. For more information on VSQG requirements, review our Solid Waste Acceptance Policy or contact NARS HHW center at 916 -876-9458. 

VSQGs are required to obtain a permit from the Environmental Management Department (EMD) for waste generation and apply for an EPA ID number from the Department of Toxic Substances Control (DTSC) to dispose of the waste. Contact EMD at 916-875-8550 or cupapermit@saccounty.gov  for more information and permitting.

For more information about how to obtain an EPA ID Number, visit DTSC website.   


​Report Business Waste Collection Issues:

To report an issue with the organics/food waste, recycling, and garbage collection program observed at a business, submit the Commercial Waste Collection Issues Form  or contact CommercialWaste@SacCounty.gov.

Contact s us for more information:

County Commercial Solid Waste Correspondence: commercialwaste@saccounty.gov or call DWMR Commercial Phone Line (916) 874-4200. Please provide your service address, business name, and phone number.

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