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Upper Valley
Disposal & Recycling Services

Recycling Laws

California is now experiencing the effects of a climate crisis: world record-breaking temperatures, even more devastating fire seasons, more extreme droughts, and rising sea levels that erode our coastlines. Scientists tell us that greenhouse gases released by human activities, like landfilling food, paper products and yard waste, cause climate change.

Several laws related to waste reduction, resource conservation, and greenhouse gas emission reduction have been passed over the years. Below you’ll find a summary of the laws that impact our customers.

SB 1383
SHORT LIVED CLIMATE POLLUTANTS

SB 1383 went into effect January 1, 2022. Businesses (including public entities) and single/multifamily residents are required to keep organic materials out of the landfill and can receive fines if they do not comply.

Some businesses will be required to divert edible food that would otherwise be landfilled, to a food recovery service or organization for human consumption.

What do I need to do to comply with the law at home?

  • Subscribe to and participate in organics/compost collection service with UVD&R or separate and self haul organic material to a compost facility, such as Clover Flat Resource Recovery Park, for composting.
  • Ensure there is not organic material in the trash or recycling.

What do I need to do to comply with the law as a business?

  • Arrange for organics and recycling service with UVD&R or separate and self haul organic material to a compost facility, such as Clover Flat Resource Recovery Park, for composting.
  • Annually educate employees, customers, and tenants on proper sorting of materials.
  • Provide indoor containers for organic waste and recyclables in all areas where disposal containers are provided for customers.
  • Ensure there is not organic material in the trash or recycling.
  • Some food service business will be required to arrange to recover the maximum amount of edible food that would otherwise to go landfills.

For all the details about SB 1383, visit CalRecycle’s website.  For an abbreviated version of the law and how it affects you, SB 1383 Information Sheet for Customers

WE CAN HELP!

We’re here to help you successfully comply with SB 1383, so we can divert organics from the landfill and reduce emissions! Below are a few of the resources we can provide.

  • The Upper Valley Waste Management Agency provides interior recycling and compost containers to businesses, schools and multi-family dwellings committed to recycling and composting.
  • Upper Valley Disposal & Recycling Visit has downloadable posters and signs for you to use in your business or home.
  • Onsite trainings are available from Upper Valley Disposal & Recycling and the Upper Valley Waste Management Agency.
  • Site Assessments are available to help you determine what size and types of containers are right for your business.  We want to help you stop paying more to dispose of materials in the landfill that can be composted or recycled.  

Our Community Outreach Coordinator is available for a free site visit to analyze your waste streams, right size your services, train your staff, and more!

Check out our blog post about SB 1383 in Napa County.

SB 1383 ROUTE REVIEWS:
LID FLIP AUDITS FOR CONTAMINATION

UVD&R staff giving the OK on no compost found in this trash cart!

SB 1383 went into effect January 1, 2022. It requires all residents and business to sort their materials properly into recycling, compost and  trash containers to be in compliance.
This law also requires that we conduct periodic visual inspections also called “route reviews” of the garbage, recycling and compost containers to make sure that customers are putting the correct materials in each container.

We call these inspections “lid-flip” audits. 

The goal of this law is to make sure that materials that can be recycled or composted do not end up in a landfill where they contribute to pollution, climate change, and the use of natural resources.

How will the lid-flip audits be conducted?

  • Staff from Upper Valley Disposal & Recycling and the Upper Valley Waste Management Agency will be conducting the audits.
  • They will look into each container to check if the correct materials are in the containers. If they find that you have placed something that does not belong, you will be left an “OOPS TAG” showing you how to correct the problem. See tag examples below.
  • A non-collection notice “VIOLATION TAG” will be left on your container and it will be turned around so the driver knows not to empty it. See tag example below.
  • You will be given the opportunity to clean up the container so it can be emptied on your next service say. Or you may opt to request a special pickup (for a fee) after removing the contaminants from the container.
  • We can charge for contamination, but we want to provide you with education before we have to do this.
  • If you have any questions, you can call our office at 707-963-7988 and we will provide you with assistance to properly sort your materials.
Recycle Oops Tag Thumbnail
Recycling Oops Tag
(Click to view PDF)
Compost Oops Tag Thumbnail
Compost Oops Tag
(Click to view PDF)
Commercial Food Scrap Oops Thumbnail
Commercial Food Scraps Oops Tag
(Click to view PDF)
Garbage Oops Tag Thumbnail
Garbage Oops Tag
(Click to view PDF)
Violation Notice Thumbnail
Violation Tag
(Click to view PDF)

AB 341 MANDATORY COMMERCIAL Recycling

AB 341 requires business (including public entities) that generate 4 cubic yards or more of commercial solid waste per week and multifamily residential dwelling of five units or more to arrange for recycling services.

What do I need to do to comply with the law?

Arrange for recycling service with Upper Valley Disposal & Recycling. This is the easiest and most often cost-effective way to comply with the law. Visit Commercial Services Information for offerings.

AB 1826 MANDATORY COMMERCIAL ORGANICS

AB 1826 requires businesses, including multifamily dwellings, that generate 2 cubic yards or more of solid waste per week to separate organic waste from garbage for composting. Organic waste includes food waste, green waste, landscape and pruning waste, clean wood waste, and food-soiled paper waste.

What do I need to do to comply with the law?

Arrange for organics (compost and or food scraps) service with UVD&R or self haul organic material to a compost facility, such as Clover Flat Resource Recovery Park, for composting. Visit Commercial Services Information for offerings.

ED_3Carts_Web_Cropped.jpg

AB 827
CUSTOMER ACCESS TO RECYCLING

AB 827 is intended to educate and involve consumers in achieving the state’s recycling goals by requiring businesses to make recycling and/or organic recycling bins available to customers.

What do I need to do to comply with the law?

Business that generate 2 cubic yards or more of solid waste per week and sell food that is consumed on site must provide containers for recycling, organics, and trash for your customers to use. These containers must be located next to each other, clearly labeled, color coded, and easily accessible.

We can help!

Print out labels to clearly mark your landfill, compost, and recycling containers.

Upper Valley Waste Management Agency (UVWMA) has a contract with Upper Valley Disposal & Recycling (UVD&R) to provide collection service for garbage, recycling, and compostable materials in the Town of Yountville, Cities of St Helena and Calistoga and the surrounding unincorporated areas. You may find more information on the Upper Valley Waste Management Agency on the Napa County website. As partners, we are here to help you be in compliance with recycling laws.

For information on Upper Valley Waste Management Agency’s meetings, agendas and other activities, please visit https://www.countyofnapa.org/1534/Upper-Valley-Waste-Management-Agency

Contact UVD&R

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