8.25.050 Separation of recyclable materials and organic waste.
A. Generators subject to the requirements of State Waste Laws shall fully comply with all applicable requirements of the State Waste Laws and this chapter.
B. All Generators in the City, except those that meet Self-Hauler requirements set forth in this chapter, or Commercial Businesses or property owners that obtain a waiver pursuant to requirements in this chapter, shall:
1. Prepare and separate Recyclable Materials and Organic Waste from Garbage.
2. Participate in the collection services provided by the Authorized Collector by placing Source Separated Recyclable Materials in the Recycling Container, and placing Source Separated Organic Waste in the Organics Container. Generators shall not place Prohibited Container Contaminants in Recycling Containers or in Organics Containers.
3. Obtain and utilize a sufficient number of Containers to adequately store all Source Separated Recyclable Materials and Source Separated Organic Waste generated in connection with the residence or business between the times designated for Collection. The City shall have the right to review the number and size of such Containers to evaluate the adequacy of capacity provided for each type of Collection service and to require additional or larger Containers (or additional service days) and to review the separation and containment of materials. Generators shall adjust service levels for their Collection services as requested by the City in order to meet the standards set forth in this chapter.
4. Place Recycling Containers and Organics Containers at the Designated Collection Location for collection by the Authorized Collector. Generators shall not place such Containers in an alley or on the curb or on the street before 6:00 p.m. on the day immediately prior to the collection day, nor permit Containers to remain in an alley or on a curb or on the street after 8:00 p.m. on the collection day.
5. Maintain Recycling Containers and Organics Containers in a sanitary condition at all times. Any bulky material must be reduced in size so that it may be placed in the appropriate Container not overflowing and with the cover tightly closed and without excessive tamping, so that the Container may be easily emptied. Brush and limbs of trees may be placed outside of Organics Containers, tied with natural fiber (compostable) twine into bundles of not more than four feet in length, 18 inches in diameter and 35 pounds in weight.
C. Notwithstanding the requirements in subsection (B) of this section, Generators may manage their Organic Waste by preventing or reducing their Organic Waste, managing Organic Waste on site, or using a community Composting site pursuant to 14 CCR Section 18984.9(c) to the extent permitted by other applicable laws.
D. Notwithstanding the requirements in subsection (B) of this section, Organic Waste may be fed to animals on the premises or property where such Organic Waste is produced; provided, that such premises or property are always kept in a sanitary condition to the satisfaction of the City Manager; and provided further, that the keeping and feeding of such animals shall at all times conform to the applicable regulations of those entities governing the same now in force or which thereafter may be enacted or promulgated.
E. In addition to the requirements in subsection (B) of this section, Commercial Businesses shall also:
1. Provide or arrange for Garbage Container, Organics Container, and Recycling Container Collection service for employees, contractors, tenants, and customers, and supply and allow access to an adequate number, size, and location of Containers with sufficient labels or colors as noted in this chapter or, if self-hauling, in compliance with self-hauling requirements set forth in this chapter. The requirements of this provision shall apply to Multifamily premises or properties.
2. Provide or arrange for Containers for the collection of Source Separated Organic Waste and Source Separated Recyclable Materials in all areas where the Commercial Business provides Garbage Containers for employees, contractors, tenants, customers and other users of the premises. Containers for Source Separated Organic Waste and Source Separated Recyclable Materials do not need to be provided in restrooms. If a Commercial Business does not generate, or has a waiver pertaining to, any of the materials that would be collected in one type of Container, then the business does not have to provide that particular type of Container in all areas where Garbage Containers are provided. Pursuant to 14 CCR Section 18984.9(b), the Containers provided by the business shall have either:
a. A body or lid that conforms with the following Container colors, with either lids conforming to these color requirements or bodies conforming to these color requirements, or both lids and bodies conforming to these color requirements: gray or black Containers for Garbage, blue Containers for Source Separated Recyclable Materials, and green Containers for Source Separated Organic Waste. Notwithstanding the foregoing, a Commercial Business is not required to replace functional Containers, including Containers purchased prior to codification of this chapter, that do not comply with the color requirements of this section prior to the end of the useful life of those Containers, or prior to January 1, 2036, whichever comes first; or
b. Container labels that include language or graphic images, or both, indicating the primary materials accepted and the primary materials prohibited in that Container, or Containers with imprinted text or graphic images that indicate the primary materials accepted and primary materials prohibited in the Container. The Container labeling requirements are required on new Containers commencing as of the date provided in the State Waste Laws.
The requirements of this subsection (E) shall not apply to Multifamily premises or properties. (Ord. 3523 § 2, 2022; Ord. 3507 § 1(B), 2021; Ord. 3105 § 1, 2008; Ord. 2992 § 1, 2005; Ord. 2740 § 3, 1998; Ord. 2492 § 1, 1992).