Assembly Bill (AB) 341 (Chapter 476, Statutes of 2011) was signed by Governor Brown in 2011. AB 341 requires businesses and multi-family complexes of five units or more, that generate four cubic yards or more of trash per week, to have a recycling program. Each local jurisdiction is required to offer a recycling program, inform businesses and multi-family complexes about the recycling requirement, and to keep track of the level of recycling participation within the community. In addition, each jurisdiction is required to report to CalRecycle, the state agency that oversees recycling and solid waste, progress toward meeting the requirements of AB 341.

Currently, all commercial businesses are offered a three cubic yard recycling bin when subscribing to a recycling service with the City’s franchised hauler, Garden Grove Disposal. Newer developments with larger businesses have adequate space for recycling bins due to building codes and produce enough recyclable waste to fill the bins. Older developments with smaller businesses are faced with limited space and/or not enough recyclable materials produced to fill a three cubic yard bin. By providing businesses that cannot accommodate the larger bin with a smaller container, this will reduce the incidences of material overflowing from the refuse container, as the customers can shift the recyclable materials from the refuse bins to the recycling carts. Garden Grove Disposal provided an alternative option for a 96 gallon recycling bin. To help the smaller businesses comply with this State mandate, it is recommended to implement a recycling cart program through an amendment to the existing contract with Garden Grove Disposal.

There is no impact to the General Fund.

It is recommended that the City Council: 

• Approve Amendment No. 4 to the 2010 Agreement with Republic Waste Services of Southern California LLC, dba Garden Grove Disposal for a recycling cart program implementation; and

• Authorize the City Manager to execute the agreement amendment on behalf of the City, and make minor modifications as appropriate thereto.

It is recommended that the Sanitary District Board: 

• Approve Amendment No. 4 to the 2010 Agreement with Republic Waste Services of Southern California LLC, dba Garden Grove Disposal for a recycling cart program implementation; and

• Authorize the General Manager to execute the agreement amendment on behalf of the Sanitary District, and make minor modifications as appropriate thereto.

By: A.J. Holmon III, Streets/Environmental Manager