AB 1826 Summary

• Requires businesses generating specified amounts of organic waste to arrange for organic waste recycling services, with thresholds decreasing over time: 8 cubic yards or more starting April 1, 2016; 4 cubic yards or more starting January 1, 2017; and potentially 2 cubic yards or more starting January 1, 2020 if statewide organic waste disposal has not been reduced by 50 percent.

• Mandates each jurisdiction implement an organic waste recycling program by January 1, 2016 designed to divert organic waste from covered businesses, with exemptions available for rural counties and jurisdictions that adopt a resolution and submit it to the state six months before the operative date.

• Allows businesses to comply through one of four methods: source separating organic waste and subscribing to collection/recycling services, recycling or self-hauling organic waste onsite, subscribing to mixed waste processing services, or making other approved arrangements.

• Requires jurisdictions to identify organic waste recycling facilities, barriers to siting new facilities, and develop remediation plans, while providing education, outreach, and monitoring to regulated businesses and reporting progress annually to the Department of Resources Recycling and Recovery.

• Authorizes local agencies to charge fees to organic waste generators to recover compliance costs and requires the state to address permitting and siting challenges for organic waste infrastructure and identify available state financing mechanisms and funding incentives.