The Solid Waste Management Act of 1989 (AB 939) requires that each municipality reduce the amount of waste sent to the landfills to 50%.

Mandatory Commercial Recycling

Assembly Bill 341, which went into effect July 1, 2012, requires all businesses that generate four or more cubic yards of waste per week and all multifamily complexes with five or more units to implement a recycling program. To be in compliance, businesses must recycle, compost, or divert recyclable material. Businesses can comply by placing recyclables in the City-provided bin, self-hauling recyclables to a recycling center, or donating reusable material.   Businesses can arrange for convenient recycling services through CR&R. A representative from the CR&R will assist you with developing a program for your business to recycle. CR&R staff will analyze the amount and type of recyclables in your waste stream and recommend a recycling program that meets your needs. Your business could reduce disposal costs and protect natural resources by recycling and practicing waste prevention.  

Mandatory Commercial Organics Recycling

The California Legislature passed Assembly Bill 1826 in September 2014.  This law requires all businesses that generate a certain amount of organic waste to begin recycling this waste.  Organic waste includes food scraps, vegetable trimmings, plate scrapings, and spoiled food.   To assist El Centro businesses comply with this law, the City of El Centro recently developed a convenient Commercial Food Waste Recycling Program.  Under the new program, the City, through CR&R will provide food waste recycling cart(s) for collecting separated food waste. Food waste must be “clean” and free of trash, glass, metal, and plastics. 

The rate structure for your trash and recycling service is based upon the frequency of trash pickups. Businesses may find that recycling segregated food waste reduces the amount of trash that the business generates, which can reduce the regular trash bill by reducing the number of weekly trash pickups. 

Businesses that wish to participate in the City’s Commercial Food Waste Recycling Program may contact CR&R sustainability specialist at 760-908-9882 or the City of El Centro Environmental Compliance Specialist at 760-337-3177

Reduce Waste

Waste prevention is something your business can do today that can significantly reduce the amount of waste that is landfilled. Waste prevention is any practice that causes a reduction in the generation of waste. Here are a few simple and inexpensive ideas:

– Make double-sided copies

– E-mail or post information on an announcement board

– Use ceramic mugs for coffee

– Use non-glossy fax paper that does not need to be copied

– Reuse large envelopes, boxes and packaging materials

– Use scrap paper for notes

If available, buy products that can be recycled

Please contact the Environmental Compliance Division for more waste prevention ideas for your business at 760-337-3177.

Close the Loop

The term “close the loop” refers to purchasing products with recycled content. Starting a recycling program in your business is the first step in making a difference. Another equally important step is to purchase recycled content products.

When you purchase goods with recycled content, you help to create a demand for the materials collected in our recycling program. Buying recycled content products is important to develop and maintain markets for the materials diverted from landfill disposal. A wide variety of recycled content products are available.

Questions?

If you need assistance starting a recycling or solid waste reduction program at your business, please contact the City of El Centro Environmental Compliance Division or visit CR&R for further information.

The City will work directly with businesses to establish programs that meet your needs in partnership with CR&R. In addition, the City provides a wide variety of educational materials to support your recycling efforts. Together, we can make a difference! City of El Centro Environmental Compliance Division

Department of Public Works
307 W. Brighton Avenue
El Centro CA 92243
760-337-3177