Sacramento, California – For Sacramento County businesses, sorting waste is no longer just about deciding what belongs in the trash. It also means managing collection schedules, training tenants and employees, labeling containers and keeping records that may be reviewed during an inspection.
To make that work less confusing, Sacramento County’s Department of Waste Management & Recycling has released a free Commercial Waste Compliance Service Guide for businesses, property managers and multifamily operators in unincorporated communities.
The guide brings California’s SB 1383 organics recycling requirements and Sacramento County rules into one practical resource. County officials said it is intended to help commercial property operators understand what they must do and how to put those requirements into everyday practice.
All commercial properties in unincorporated Sacramento County must receive service from a franchised waste hauler. That includes businesses, nonprofits, schools, government agencies and multifamily housing complexes.
Read also: Sacramento County property owners face Aug. 31 deadline before tax penalties begin
At a minimum, garbage and organics must be collected weekly. Organics include food scraps, food-soiled paper, green waste and clean wood. Recycling, including paper, cardboard, plastic containers, metal cans and glass, must be collected at least once a month.
Containers must be clearly marked, properly sized to avoid overflow and placed where they are as accessible as garbage bins. Recyclables must remain loose rather than being placed inside bags. The owner or manager holding the primary waste account is responsible for maintaining all required services, even when tenants arrange extra collection separately.
Education is another major part of compliance. Employees, tenants and contractors must receive sorting information at least once each year. New tenants must receive instructions within 14 days of moving in.
Read also: Two long-awaited parks finally open in Sacramento’s Northlake neighborhood
Free signs, labels and training materials are available at SacGreenTeam.com. Eligible small businesses and nonprofit organizations may also request Waste Diversion Toolkits containing indoor containers and educational materials.
Multifamily operators have additional duties, including providing residents with convenient organics containers, distributing educational materials, holding periodic training and documenting those efforts when necessary.
The guide also explains limited alternatives, such as verified self-hauling, third-party recycling and temporary waivers for properties with severe space limits or very small amounts of organic waste. County approval and recordkeeping are required, and some applications may involve an inspection.
Additional sections address hazardous waste from very small quantity generators, illegal dumping prevention and construction debris rules requiring at least 65 percent diversion for most permitted projects.
“Navigating commercial waste compliance doesn’t have to be complicated,” county officials said.
Assistance is available at [email protected] or (916) 874-4200.