City of Vallejo, CA, CA

Accepted Materials

Mandatory Organics Recycling

All businesses and multi-family properties in California are required by law to divert their organic waste from landfills, or in other words, compost!

SB 1383 builds upon California’s existing efforts—such as AB 1826 (Mandatory Commercial Organics Recycling)—to reduce methane emissions, one of the leading greenhouse gasses that contribute to climate change.

Multi-family properties must have collection service to comply. Businesses may do one of the following:

• Subscribe to organic waste collection service

• Self-haul all organic waste off-site to a composting facility and keep records

• Have an approved minimal generation ('de minimis') or physical space constraint waiver on file with the City 

Organic Waste Collection Exemption

Does your business generate minimal organic waste or have limited physical space to store an additional cart?

SB 1383 and Vallejo Municipal Code 7.44.181  requires all commercial businesses to subscribe to organic waste collection service, unless they have a City approved waiver or alternative compliance method (e.g. back-haul, self-haul, or shared service) on file.

If you believe you qualify for a waiver or have arranged for alternative compliance, please submit a completed Waiver Application and Alternative Compliance Certification Form to the City's Recycling Coordinator. Incomplete forms will not be accepted. If your waiver is approved, it is valid for a period of 5 years.

Minimal Generation (de minimis) Waiver Qualifications:
Note: There is approximately 200 gallons in a cubic yard. Ex. A 96-gal garbage cart = 0.48 cubic yards. Multi-family properties are not eligible for this waiver.

Does your business self- or back-haul all organic materials?

If all materials are back-hauled or self-hauled by employee(s) of your business to a composting or recycling facility, records must be kept and submitted on an annual basis at minimum. Weight tags/tickets or other forms of verification must include the following:

1. Material type (e.g. cardboard);
2. Total tonnage or cubic yard;
3. Name of facility

"Compostable" Plastics Should Not Be Thrown in Your Green Cart

Most plastics marketed as "compostable" or "biodegradable" do not actually break down in most composting facilities that our curbside green carts get taken to. Only a small number of industrial facilities have the specific conditions that can break these materials down. When these plastics don't decompose, they can contaminate organic material that would otherwise be used for compost on farms and in our gardens.

In addition, these products still require large amounts of energy, chemicals, and other resources to manufacture. Next time, skip the "bioplastics" and opt for paper-based products that are not plastic-lined!