Assembly Bill 341 Requires Commercial Recycling

California Assembly Bill 341 went into effect on July 1, mandating commercial recycling for all businesses that generate four or more cubic yards of waste per week and all multi-family dwellings with five units or more regardless of the amount of waste.

Harrison and the cities and unincorporated areas of Ventura County we serve not only must comply with the new regulations but we also want our customers to benefit from recycling not only for our environment but for their bottom line as well. Although there is a charge for recycling to cover truck and labor costs and normal business expenses, these costs are lower than for trash service.

Harrison can provide free waste assessments to show you how you can improve your waste diversion. The new legislation also has a goal of 75 percent diversion of waste from landfills by 2020. Although our cities are close to that diversion level, it will take the cooperation of all commercial and residential customers to achieve this goal.

Here are a few things you can do to assure your business is in compliance with this regulation:

• Make sure all employees are aware of what materials can be recycled. Harrison has free fliers and posters available.
• Make sure you have adequate containers within your business to separate trash and recyclables. Make it convenient. Always put the trash and recycling containers next to each other.
• Work with custodial staff to be sure that recycling separated inside your business is actually going into your outside recycling bin.
• For multi-family units, property managers can inform tenants of what materials can be recycled.

Together we can comply not only with the letter of the law but help reduce air and water pollution, generate more jobs, save landfill space, conserve valuable natural resources and lower green house gas emissions. Thanks for doing your part!

For more information, call Daniel Harrison at Harrison Industries at 647-1414.