Requirements for Businesses and Multi-Family Properties

Apartments and condominiums serviced by a private hauler must:

• Subscribe to a recycling collection service, and maintain a service of sufficient quantity, size, and pickup frequency for ALL mixed recyclable materials generated onsite, including plastic and glass bottles and jars, paper, metal containers, cardboard, and rigid plastics.
• Subscribe to an organic waste collection service that is of sufficient quantity, size, and pickup frequency for ALL organic waste materials generated onsite, including yard trimmings, food waste, and food-soiled paper.
• Provide information on recycling and composting to tenants annually and upon move-in and upon notice of move-out. Your hauler may be able to provide you with recycling and composting outreach material to provide to your tenants. 

Multifamily properties are not eligible for receiving a De Minimis Waiver.

It's the law! 

Per SB 1383, food scraps, yard trimmings, and food soiled paper should all be place into the organics collection cart. 

Food Waste Prevention is the first step to make collection easier. Check out some tips to prevent food waste!

If you have questions about what goes where, reach out to your property manager or waste hauler. 

If you don't know if you have organics or recycling service, we recommend first contacting your property manager. If you believe you do not have access to organics or recycling service, you may request that the City investigate by submitting a request through our Citizen Portal. 

Businesses and institutional facilities must:

• Subscribe to a recycling collection service that is of sufficient quantity, size, and pickup frequency for ALL mixed recyclable materials generated onsite, including plastic and glass bottles and jars, paper, metal containers, cardboard, and rigid plastics.
• Subscribe to an organic waste collection service that is of sufficient quantity, size, and pickup frequency for ALL organic waste materials generated onsite, including yard trimmings, food waste, and food-soiled paper.
• Provide accessible containers for Organic and Recycling Waste
• Sort Waste Materials: Require employees to place organics waste only in organics containers
• Provide yearly information to employees, contractors, customers, and tenants about proper sorting of organic waste
• Periodically inspect organics waste containers for contamination
• Start an Edible Food Recovery Program (applies to large food-generating businesses only)

Certain businesses may qualify for limited term waivers from these mandatory programs; however, only those who have received an approved waiver from the city can avoid mandated participation. If a waiver is not approved by the City, your business or property will be required to participate in mandated services.

All waivers must be submitted to your hauler directly.

There are two types of waiver requests: 

1. Waiver for properties with Minimal Organic Waste (i.e., “De Minimis Waiver”)

Commercial businesses that generate a limited amount of organic waste may apply for a low generator “de minimis” waiver if they have:

a) Total solid waste collection of two cubic yards or more per week, and organic waste of less than 20 gallons per week.

b) Total solid waste collection of less than two cubic yards per week and collected organic waste of less than 10 gallons per week.

Multifamily properties are not eligible for receiving a De Minimis Waivers.

2. Space Constraint Waiver

Properties lacking space for separate or additional green waste or food waste collection containers may request a space-constraint waiver.

To qualify, you must demonstrate that space constraints cannot be resolved by downsizing containers, using split containers, or other solutions. You must first work with your hauler and/or the City to consider solutions to space constraints.

State regulations allow the City to waive compliance only if the City’s own staff, a licensed architect, or a licensed engineer confirms the lack of adequate container space on premises.

Your hauler will help you determine the capacity you have at your property to add this service and/or verify if your property qualifies for a waiver. Waivers must be submitted to your hauler directly.

Registration is required for all businesses in the City of Torrance that intend to self-haul organic waste (e.g., green materials, yard waste, and food scraps) and/or recyclable material (e.g., paper, aluminum, cardboard, plastics, etc.). Businesses currently subscribing to service from a City of Torrance Commercial Solid Waste Permitted Hauler or a business that has received an approved Organic Waste Collection Service Waiver do not need to register.

Eligibility Criteria and Requirements:

• Self-Hauling is only available for Commercial Businesses located in the City of Torrance.
• Accounts receiving City of Torrance solid waste collection are not eligible for self-hauling.
• Source separate recyclables and/or organics waste on-site and haul the separated materials to a solid waste facility operation, activity, or property that processes or recovers separated organic waste and/or recyclables.
• Keep a record of the amount of organic waste and recyclables delivered to each solid waste facility, operation, activity, or property that processes or recovers organic waste and recyclables. This record shall be subject to inspection by the City and include:
• • Delivery receipts and weight tickets from the facility accepting the waste
  • The amount of material in cubic yards or tons transported to each facility
• If the organic waste and/or recyclable material is transported to a site that does not have scales or that employs scales incapable of weighing the waste received, the self-hauler is not required to record the weight of material. However, the self-hauler must maintain a record of the entity that received the organic waste.
• If, at any time, an approved self-hauler fails to meet these requirements, they must immediately make arrangements for the collection of this waste by a licensed waste hauler.

Register to be a Self-Hauler. Please allow 3-5 business days for review of your application by City staff.