Organic Waste & Recycling Waivers

Certain commercial businesses may be waived from SB 1383’s mandatory program requirements; however, only businesses that have requested and received a waiver from the City may avoid mandated participation in recycling and organic waste recycling programs through a franchise-hauler program. The City is required to re-inspect all businesses that receive a waiver at least once every five years to ensure that the business is still meeting the de minimis or physical space waiver requirements. If a waiver is not approved by the City, your business will be required to subscribe to mandated services immediately. To view all waiver requirements, please see Tustin Municipal Code § 4-3.62 (Waiver). 

De Minimis Waiver

The City may waive a business obligation to comply with some or all of the recycling and organic waste requirements of this article if the business provides documentation or the City has evidence demonstrating one of the two exceptions:

• The business generates two cubic yards or more of waste per week (trash, recycling, and organics), and the amount of paper, cardboard and other organic waste generated is less than 20 gallons per week each.
• The business generates less than two cubic yards of waste per week (trash, recycling, and organics), and the amount of paper, cardboard and other organic waste generated is less than 10 gallons per week each.

The City must verify that the business's waste generation meets these waiver thresholds. If the City obtains information at any time that a business that has received a waiver exceeds the waste thresholds specified above, the City is required under the regulations to rescind the waiver.

If you are eligible and wish to proceed with applying for a waiver, please contact CR&R at tustin-recycles@crrmail.com or (714) 372-8272 to schedule a site visit.