City of Oakland

 

Mandatory recycling in the City of Oakland 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 requires all businesses to participate. Requirements to collect food scraps and compostable paper separately from garbage were effective as of July 1, 2016. Due to franchise agreements in Oakland, multi-family properties received organics cart service at no additional charge beginning July 1, 2015.

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, size and frequency 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 Oakland contracts with Waste Management of Alameda County for garbage and organics (food scraps, food-soiled paper and plant debris) services. However, this exclusive contract does not extend to recycling services for businesses and institutions. Oakland businesses are free to make arrangements for recycling with any recycling service provider. To find a commercial recycling service provider for your business, you may contact the City of Oakland at (510) 238-SAVE (7283) or review the Oakland Business Recycling Directory.

Garbage & Organics Service Provider Information:
Waste Management of Alameda County
www.oaklandrecycles.com
Phone: (510) 613-8700

City Information:
City of Oakland
www.oaklandrecycles.com
Phone: (510) 238-SAVE (7283)

Multi-Family Properties:

The City of Oakland contracts with Waste Management of Alameda County for garbage and organics (food scraps, food-soiled paper and plant debris) services. Recycling collection is available to all multi-family buildings at no additional cost, provided by California Waste Solutions. Free onsite waste and recycling assessments are available upon request.

The City of Oakland provides free multi-family toolkits upon request, including resident door hangers, posters, in-unit collection caddies for residents to use in transferring their recyclables to the centralized collection containers and in-unit kitchen pails for residents to use in transferring their food scraps to centralized organics collection containers, as supplies last. Order free materials at www.oaklandrecycles.com/multifamily-free-tools-resources.

Garbage & Organics Service Provider Information:
Waste Management of Alameda County
www.oaklandrecycles.com
Phone: (510) 613-8710

Multi-family Recycling Service Provider:
California Waste Solutions
www.calwaste.com
Phone: (510) 625-5263

City Information:
City of Oakland
www.oaklandrecycles.com
Phone: (510) 238-SAVE (7283)

Support Materials

Below are downloadable support materials specific to the City of Oakland. 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: