Claremont Businesses To Be Enrolled In Free Food Waste Recycling Program

Press release from the City of Claremont:

05/26/2021

Effective July 1, 2021, all Claremont businesses will be automatically enrolled in a free food waste recycling program. Recycling food waste is convenient, good for the environment, and may have the potential to reduce your trash bill.

The California Legislature passed Assembly Bill 1826 in September 2014. This law now requires all businesses that generate more than two cubic yards of trash per week (approximately half a commercial dumpster) to recycle food waste. In addition, California Senate Bill 1383 will require ALL businesses to recycle their organic waste beginning in January 1, 2022.

To help Claremont businesses comply with these laws, in 2017 the City of Claremont utilized business feedback to develop a convenient Commercial Food Waste Recycling Program. The program provides separate 64-gallon food waste recycling containers in existing trash enclosures for businesses to recycle their food waste. Food waste includes meat, dairy, bones, fruit and vegetable trimmings, breads and grains, egg shells, and coffee grounds. Food waste must be placed in a clear plastic bag and placed in the shared food waste container for pickup. The material is collected Monday, Wednesday, Friday, and Saturday and taken to a composting facility for environmentally-friendly processing. The cost to collect food waste recycling is built into commercial trash rates, so there is no added fee to participate.

Businesses That Already Subscribe to the Program:

Many Claremont businesses have registered for this program and have access to existing food waste recycling containers. Starting in June 2021, the yellow lids on the food waste recycling containers will be replaced with brown lids. The color change is due to new State-mandates aimed at standardizing container colors for all California cities.

Businesses that already participate in the food waste recycling program are encouraged to revisit the program with their staff and ensure that they are recycling the maximum amount of food waste possible. As a reminder, all food waste should be placed in a clear plastic trash bag.

Business that Do Not Currently Subscribe to the Program:

Businesses that have not registered for the program will be automatically enrolled beginning July 1, 2021. The City will provide 64-gallon food waste recycling containers for collecting separated food waste at no additional cost. The containers are identifiable by their brown lid and are stamped “Food Waste.” Containers will be automatically placed in existing trash enclosures during the month of June and can be shared by multiple businesses. Food waste containers will be serviced Monday, Wednesday, Friday, and Saturday. Food waste must be “clean” and free of paper, trash, glass, metal, and plastics. Food waste must be placed in a clear plastic trash bag.

Please contact the Sanitation Division at (909) 399-5431 for more information regarding this program.

This press release was produced by the City of Claremont. The views expressed here are the author’s own.