Commercial Recycling

AB 341 Mandatory Commercial Recycling (MCR)

California Assembly Bill 341, which was passed by the California legislature in October 2011, mandates businesses and public entities, generating four (4) cubic yards of trash or more and multi-family residential dwellings with five or more units, to establish and maintain recycling service.

Recycling not only conserves our natural resources but can save money by reducing waste disposal costs. Burrtec Waste Industries is the City's franchise hauler and can assist you in selecting the appropriate recycling service level, along with the necessary education and outreach to residents and managerial staff. Call their customer service department today to schedule a complimentary waste and recycling assessment.

If you already have a recycling program and would like to make additional enhancements, please call Burrtec's customer service department for assistance at 909-804-4222.

AB 1826 Mandatory Commercial Organics Recycling

In October 2014 Governor Brown signed AB 1826 Chesbro (Chapter 727, Statutes of 2014), requiring businesses to recycle their organic waste on and after April 1, 2016, depending on the amount of waste they generate per week. This law also requires that on and after January 1, 2016, local jurisdictions across the state implement an organic waste recycling program to divert organic waste generated by businesses, including multifamily residential dwellings that consist of five or more units (please note, however, that multifamily dwellings are not required to have a food waste diversion program). Organic waste (also referred to as organics throughout this resource) means food waste, green waste, landscape and pruning waste, nonhazardous wood waste, and food-soiled paper waste that is mixed in with food waste. This law phases in the mandatory recycling of commercial organics over time, while also offering an exemption process for rural counties. In particular, the minimum threshold of organic waste generation by businesses decreases over time, which means an increasingly greater proportion of the commercial sector will be required to comply.

Mandatory recycling of organic waste is the next step toward achieving California's aggressive recycling and greenhouse gas (GHG) emission goals. California disposes approximately 30 million tons of waste in landfills each year, of which more than 30 percent could be used for compost or mulch. Burrtec Waste Industries is the City's franchise hauler and can assist you in selecting the appropriate recycling service level, along with the necessary education and outreach to residents and managerial staff. Call their customer service department at (909) 804-4222 today to schedule a complimentary waste and recycling assessment.

California Universal Waste Rule
The California Universal Waste Rule addresses special management standards for hazardous waste batteries, including alkaline, sealed lead acid, nickel cadmium, nickel metal hydride, silver oxide, and virtually all other batteries except automotive type spent lead acid storage batteries; mercury ampule thermostats; and most fluorescent tubes, high-intensity discharge lamps, mercury vapor lamps and other street light type lamps. For assistance within San Bernardino County, call 909 382-5401 or 909-387-3080.

Cal Recycle Electronic Products Waste Reuse & Recycling Pages - 2001 DTSC ban of CRTs from landfill disposal
Many components of electronic equipment-including metals, plastic, and glass-can be reused or recycled, while others may present environmental hazards if not disposed correctly. This Web site provides information and resources on how to properly manage your electronic products.

CalGold Permitting Assistance
CalGOLD provides businesses with information on permits and other requirements of California agencies at all levels of government, including addresses, telephone numbers, and links to agency Internet web pages.

In 1990, the California Legislature enacted comprehensive requirements for the storage and disposal of waste tires. These requirements address potential fire and health risks posed by the growing number of tire piles in California. As a result of these statutes, the California Department of Resources Recycling and Recovery (CalRecycle) adopted regulations for the permitting of waste tire facilities.

Waste Tire Generator Requirements

What is a Waste Tire?

A waste tire is a tire that has been removed from the wheel of a vehicle and it is no longer suitable for its original intended purpose due to wear, damage or defect per PRC §42807. This includes used tires stored for the purpose of resale.

Regulatory Authority
Pursuant to Public Resources Code (PRC) §42811, CalRecycle is the sole authority in the enforcement of the waste tire standards. This statute does not preclude Local Enforcement Agencies from enforcing more stringent local ordinances to persons or businesses involved in the storage, stockpiling, processing, or disposing of waste tires.

The Waste Tire Statutes and Regulations authorize the CalRecycle to regulate:

  • Generators of waste tires
  • Transportation of waste tires
  • Storage and disposal of waste tires

Waste Tire Generator Requirements

Generators of waste tires are required to:

  • Release waste tires to only registered waste tire haulers
  • Maintain waste tire manifests and records for at least three years

Waste Tire Hauler Requirements

Any person who transports five (5) or more waste tires is required to be registered as a waste tire hauler.

Haulers of waste tires are required to:

  • Register annually with the CalRecycle

  • Post $10,000 bond

  • Have a waste tire manifest in possession while transporting waste tires

  • Transport waste tires to a landfill, permitted waste tire facility, or another authorized facility

  • Return completed manifest to generator if requested

Waste Tire Facility Requirements

A location which accumulates waste tires for resale, processing, storage, or disposal is a waste tire facility. Waste tire facilities are classified based upon the volume of waste tires being stockpiled at the location.

Major Waste Tire Facility
5,000 or more waste tires stored, stockpiled, accumulated, or discarded at any time.

Minor Waste Tire Facility
500 or more but less than 5,000 waste tires stored, stockpiled, accumulated, or discarded at any time.

Storage Standards
Major and Minor Waste Tire Facilities are required to meet certain storage standards. These include:

  • Fire Prevention Measures (12 CCR § 17351)
  • Communication equipment
  • Telephone
  • Fire Control equipment
    • Dry chemical fire extinguisher
    • 2 1/2 gallon water extinguisher
    • Pike pole at least 10 feet in length
    • Round point and square point shovels
  • Adequate water supply
    • 1,000 gpm for 3 hours
    • 2,000 gpm for 3 hours if 10,000 or more tires are present
  • Facility Access and Security (14 CCR § 17352)
    • Signs
      • Signs shall state the name of the operator, operating hours and site rules
      • Signs shall be posted at the facility entrance
    • Attendant
      • An attendant shall be present when the facility is open for business
    • Access
      • Access road maintained
      • Unauthorized access strictly controlled by fencing or other means
  • Vector Control Measures (14 CCR § 17353)
    Waste tires must be stored in a manner which prevents the breeding and harborage of mosquitoes, rodents, and other vectors by:
    • Covering with impermeable barriers
    • Use of treatments or methods to prevent or eliminate vector breeding as approved by the local vector control authority

Tires on Storage Rack

  • Waste Tire Storage Units shall:
    • Not exceed 6 feet in height when within 20 feet of any property line
    • Not be located within 10 feet of any property line
    • Be separated from vegetation and other potentially flammable materials (inner tubes) by no less than 40 feet
    • Have accessible fire lanes between storage units must be unobstructed at all times
    • Have surface water drainage directed around and away from storage area
    • Not be stored on surfaces with grades that interfere with fire fighting equipment or personnel unless approved by the local fire authority or a registered fire safety engineer
    • Have tires removed from rims immediately upon arrival at the facility
    • Be placed on a site constructed to provide protection of pyrolytic oil resulting from a potential tire fire
  • New Waste Tire Facilities
    Additionally, new waste tire facilities shall not:
    • Be located in 100 year flood plain unless migration of waste tires off site can be adequately controlled
    • Be located on sites with grades or other physical features that will interfere with fire fighting equipment or personnel

What are the Penalties for violating the Law?

  • PRC §42850 allows the CIWMB to impose penalties of up to $10,000 per violation for each day out of compliance. The penalties may be imposed in civil court or administratively.
  • PRC §42825 makes it a misdemeanor to accept waste tires at a major waste tire facility without a permit or to knowingly direct or transport waste tires to an unpermitted facility. Conviction is punishable by up to one year in the county jail and/or a fine of not less than $1,000 but not greater than $10,000 for each day of violation.
  • PRC §42835 makes it a misdemeanor to accept waste tires at a minor waste tire facility without a permit or to knowingly direct or transport waste tires to an unpermitted facility. Conviction is punishable by up to one year in the county jail and/or fine of not less than $500 but no greater than $5,000 for each day of violation.
  • Vehicle Code §31560 makes it an infraction for any person to transport five (5) or more waste tires without a valid waste tire hauler registration (issued by CIWMB) or the appropriate waste tire manifest.
  • Penal Code §374.3 (e) makes it an infraction for any person to dispose of waste tires on private lands or public highways. Upon conviction, penalties for disposal of waste tires are to be no less than $200 and no more than $2,000. If it can be established that commercial quantities were disposed, the violation becomes a misdemeanor which is punishable by no more than 6 months in county jail and a trebled fine.

For those interested in learning more about the Waste Tire Program.