Restaurant Recycling and Organics Bins (AB 827)

Effective July 1, 2020, Assembly Bill 827 (AB 827) mandates food service establishments to provide customers with disposal containers for three types of materials – food scraps, recyclables, and trash – generated from products purchased and consumed onsite.

Which businesses are subject to the law?

  • Businesses covered in Mandatory Commercial Recycling and Mandatory Commercial Organics Recycling laws.
  • Any food generating establishment where customers bus their own tables, such as fast-food restaurants.

What is Required by this Law?

  • Businesses must provide customers with recycling and organics collection bins adjacent to each in-house trash bin (restroom bins are excluded). 
  • Bins must be in clear view and easily accessible.
  • Bins must be properly labelled to indicate which materials can be placed inside. 
    • Common organic materials include plate scrapings (leftover food) and food-soiled paper. 
    • Common recyclable materials include clean and dry paper and cardboard, empty and dry aluminum cans, and plastic beverage bottles.
    • Common trash materials include plastic single-use utensils, plastic straws, condiment packets, and soft drink cups.

What if a business sells food that is consumed off-site?

If all materials are consumed off-site and the business does not already provide a trash container for customers, then organic recycling collection bins are not needed.

Any exemptions?

Full-service restaurants are exempt; they are not required to provide customers with organics and recycling collection bins. However, businesses must provide properly labelled bins next to trash bins for employees to separate all post-consumer materials.

Grant Program for AB 827-Compliant Receptacles

The City of Tustin is offering a grant program to help restaurants comply with AB 827 by reimbursing up to two-thirds of the cost of purchasing receptacles that include trash, recycling, and food waste compartments.

  • Maximum reimbursement: $500 per restaurant
  • Example:
    • If your receptacles cost $300, you’ll receive $200 back.
    • If they cost $1,000, you’ll receive the maximum $500 reimbursement (even though two-thirds of $1,000 is $666.67).

This program is designed for fast-casual restaurants where customers bus their own waste, including food scraps and recyclables, after dining.