Commercial Green Waste & Food Scraps Service
Did you know that businesses in El Cerrito can now put food scraps and food-soiled paper along with yard trimmings in their green waste carts for weekly curbside collection AND it’s the law?
Removing organic material from the landfill is a top priority for all of California. When organic material like food waste and green waste is landfilled, it breaks down and creates Methane – a greenhouse gas 80x more powerful than Carbon Dioxide. More methane means more global warming, droughts and wildfires.
Do your part to stop climate change by placing your food scraps, yard waste and food-soiled paper in your green cart! Composting produces a soil amendment for farmers and helps reduce greenhouse gases that contribute to global warming.
As of January 1, 2022, a new law (SB 1383) requires that all Californian’s properly sort their organic waste for composting from materials that go to the landfill. This service is included as part of your residential service package with East Bay Sanitary. The good news is, as long as you’re sorting all your organic waste into your green cart, you’re in compliance.
Commercial Green waste/Food Scrap collection is available for a reduced cost to assist commercial business customers to meet the requirements of the law.
Free Recycling Consultation
The City of El Cerrito is offering free consultations to help multifamily dwellings divert organic materials from the landfill.
Contact them to set up a free consultation to discuss your multifamily dwelling's recycling requirements.
City of El Cerrito
phone: 510.215.4350
What Belongs in Green Waste/Food Scraps
These materials can be placed in the yard waste/food scraps cart.
Yard Waste
- Grass clippings, yard trimmings, tree branches (up to 3 feet), weeds, leaves, flowers, pine needles
- fruits and vegetables,
- unpainted or untreated wood scraps.
Food Scraps
- Fruits and vegetables,
- food scraps (meat, bones, bread, pasta, egg shells, coffee grounds, and dairy).
Food-Soiled Paper
- Paper plates, paper cups, napkins, paper bags.
Plain, uncoated shredded paper can also go in the green waste cart.
What Doesn’t Belong in Green Waste/Food Scraps
These materials are not allowed in the green waste/food scraps cart.
- Plastic bags
- Milk and juice cartons
- Lawn sod
- Ash or burned material
- Painted or treated wood
- Pet waste or manure
- Dirt, rock, sand or concrete
Get the Guide
Check out the Commercial Recycling Guide for everything you ever wanted to know about recycling and garbage services in El Cerrito.
California Recycling Laws
All residents and businesses in California must separate organic waste from garbage by law.