City of Berkeley

 

Mandatory recycling in the City of Berkeley has been in effect since July 1, 2012 for businesses and institutions with 4 or more cubic yards of garbage service as well as multi-family properties with 5 or more units. Phase 2 of the Mandatory Recycling Ordinance began July 1, 2014, which adds food scraps and compostable paper to the “Covered Materials” list. It also requires all businesses to participate (not just those with 4 or more cubic yards of weekly garbage service).

 

Compliance Requirements

All businesses and institutions (regardless of garbage service volume) must:

  1. Provide containers and service of sufficient number, size and frequency for recyclable materials.
  2. Businesses and institutions that generate significant quantities of organics (food scraps and/or compostable paper), such as restaurants and grocery stores:* Provide containers and service of sufficient number, size and frequency for organics.
  3. Recycle all recyclable Covered Materials: cardboard, newspaper, white paper, mixed recyclable paper, recyclable glass food and beverage containers, metal (aluminum and steel) food and beverage containers, PET (#1) and HDPE (#2) plastic bottles.
  4. Businesses and institutions that generate significant quantities of organics, such as restaurants and grocery stores:* Place food scraps and compostable paper in separate organics cart/bin for organics collection.
  5. Ensure recycling and organics containers are contamination free. Only recyclable materials may be placed in recycling containers and only organics may be placed in organics containers.
  6. Provide information at least annually to employees, tenants, and contractors describing how to properly use the recycling, garbage, and organics containers, as well as no later than 14 days after move-in and no less than 14 days prior to move-out of tenant businesses.

* The Ordinance prohibits the disposal of any food scraps or compostable paper in the garbage. However, for practical use, organics are considered to be “significant” when 10 or more gallons (think two 5-gallon buckets full) are disposed of in a garbage cart or 20 or more gallons (four 5-gallon buckets full) of organics are disposed of in a garbage bin.

Additionally, ACWMA Ordinance 2008-01 requires businesses and institutions in Alameda County generating 4 or more cubic yards of garbage per week to separate all plant debris from garbage and recyclable materials. Those with on-site service must place plant debris in a designated organics collection bin. Businesses can arrange for the removal of plant debris by their landscaper. The landscaper must haul to an approved facility and must deposit plant debris in the facility’s designated “clean green” area.

Property owners and managers of multi-family properties with 5 or more units must:

  1. Provide containers and service of sufficient number, size and frequency for recyclable materials at the same or at an equally convenient location as garbage.
  2. Provide containers and service of sufficient number and size for organics (food scraps and compostable paper) at the same or at an equally convenient location as garbage.
  3. Provide information at least annually to employees, tenants, and contractors describing how to properly use the recycling, garbage, and organics containers, as well as no later than 14 days after move-in and no less than 14 days prior to move-out.

Additionally, ACWMA Ordinance 2008-01 requires multi-family properties in Alameda County generating 4 or more cubic yards of garbage per week to separate all plant debris from garbage and recyclable materials. Those with on-site service must place plant debris in a designated organics collection bin. Multi-family property owners or managers can arrange for the removal of plant debris by their landscaper. The landscaper must haul to an approved facility and must deposit plant debris in the facility’s designated “clean green” area.

Services Provided

Businesses and institutions:

The City of Berkeley provides all commercial wet garbage and organics (food scraps, food-soiled paper and plant debris) collection services. “Dry rubbish” – meaning garbage with NO food or wet items – and commercial recyclables are picked up by the city and city approved haulers.

City of Berkeley provides free onsite waste and recycling assessments. To make an appointment, or to subscribe to recycling and/or organics collection service, call (510) 981-7270.

Service Provider/City Information:
City of Berkeley
www.ci.berkeley.ca.us/ContentDisplay.aspx?id=4034
Customer Service: (510) 981-7270

Private Recycling Haulers List:
StopWaste database

Multi-family properties:

The City of Berkeley’s municipal collection service provides for all multi-family garbage and organics (food scraps, food-soiled paper and plant debris) collection. For complexes with 10 or more units, the City provides recycling service at no additional cost. For multi-family complexes with 9 or less units, the Ecology Center provides recycling service at no additional cost.

City of Berkeley provides free onsite waste and recycling assessments. To make an appointment, or to subscribe to recycling and/or organics collection service, call (510) 981-7270 (businesses or multi-family complexes). For multi-family residential recycling up to 9 units, call Ecology Center at (510) 527-5555.

Service Provider/City Information:
City of Berkeley
www.ci.berkeley.ca.us/recycling
Customer Service: (510) 981-7270

Ecology Center
www.ecologycenter.org/recycling
Phone: (510) 527-5555

Support Materials

Below are downloadable support materials specific to the City of Berkeley. Additional support materials for any community are also available for businesses and institutions and multi-family properties.

Businesses and institutions support materials:

Multi-family support materials: