Sacramento, CA, May 8, 2012, 1:00pm – California businesses are going greener than ever this year as they start recycling programs to help meet a state recycling goal of 75 percent by the year 2020. A state law that goes into effect July 1 requires businesses and public entities that generate 4 cubic yards or more of waste to establish a recycling program. Schools and multifamily apartments with five or more units are included under the law. AB 341, the first state law of its kind in the nation, keeps California at the forefront of environmental protection while boosting the economy. CalRecycle estimates the new requirements will result in cumulative cost savings of $40 million to $60 million per year for businesses, schools, and local jurisdictions from 2012-2020. From mom-and-pop stores to multinational corporations operating in California, businesses have saved from hundreds to hundreds of thousands of dollars each year by diverting a portion of their waste from landfills. Schools often use recycling programs as fund-raisers. Schools and businesses will continue to have the option to sell their recyclable materials. CalRecycle is responsible for implementing the commercial recycling law. Local jurisdictions will inform businesses of the new recycling requirement, track recycling at commercial businesses, and report results to CalRecycle each year.
Find out more about Assembly Bill 341 and Mandatory Commercial Recycling at http://www.calrecycle.ca.gov/climate/Recycling/default.htm.
For answers to common business waste reduction and recycling issues as well as fact sheets and waste-conscious office management suggestions, visit CalRecycle’s Business Waste Reduction webpages
http://www.calrecycle.ca.gov/ReduceWaste/Business/
