Waste Management and Recycling

Solid Waste Collection Services

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. Please note that all businesses are required to have their garbage collected at least once every seven days 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

While they are subject to Mandatory Recycling and Organic Recycling requirements, DWMR does not regulate Non-Local Entities. Non-Local Entities are instead regulated by CalRecycle and include: special districts, federal facilities, prisons, state park facilities, public universities and community colleges, county fairgrounds, and state agencies. 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

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

​Recycling Laws

Businesses must meet State mandates for diverting recyclables and organic material (food waste and green waste) from landfill disposal in order to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.  Businesses are required to separate the waste they generate into recyclables, organics, and trash. Below lists more details about these laws and how to comply.

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 #2022-01 . 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.  
• 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, school s, event centers, gas stations, and coffee shops. A complete list of all ineligible business types are listed in the Sacramento County Policy #2022-01 . 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.
• 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). 

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 For​m 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).