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FAQs about the Mandatory Recycling & Composting Ordinance

• Why pass a recycling and composting law?
• How does this law help me?
• What type of enforcement will there be?
• Won't composting be messy and smelly?
• I'm a renter. How do I get recycling and composting service at my building?
• I'm elderly and/or disabled and I cannot physically move 3 carts to the curb.
• I'm a renter and I don't produce enough organic waste to warrant using a 32 gallon green cart. Can I put my kitchen pail on the curb?
• I'm a property owner or manager for a residential building. Will I get fined if my tenants do not comply with the Ordinance?
• Where can I get signs for my compost, recycling and trash bins and/or outreach material for my tenants or my building?
• Where can I purchase compostable bags?
• How do I report recycling theft?
• For more information...

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Frequently Asked Questions

Why pass a recycling and composting law?
After decades of voluntary, convenient programs and financial incentives, 36 percent of what San Francisco sends to landfill is compostable (mostly food scraps) and 31 percent is recyclable (mostly paper). San Francisco has the goal of achieving 75 percent diversion from landfill by 2010 and zero waste by 2020. If San Francisco collected everything that could be recycled or composted, we'd be diverting 90 percent of our waste stream. It is highly unlikely that San Francisco will achieve its diversion or climate action goals without mandatory recycling and composting for everyone.
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How does this law help me?
Anyone with a refuse collection account can get recycling and composting service from Sunset Scavenger or Golden Gate. This service is free for residences. When you compost and recycle you can reduce your trash service, which can reduce your bill.

Residents can get a free kitchen pail for food scraps from Sunset Scavenger or Golden Gate Recycling & Disposal. Pails or other containers can be lined with compostable bags or newspaper. You can put food scraps in a paper milk carton, paper bag, or wrap them in paper before placing them in your green collection container.

If you want to compost in your backyard, the Garden for the Environment offers free monthly urban composting workshops.
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What type of enforcement will there be?
Residences and businesses are required to subscribe and pay for adequate trash, recycling and composting service. Any property owner or manager who fails to maintain and pay for adequate trash, recycling, and composting service is subject to liens, fines, and other fees. There are also fines for not complying with other provisions of the ordinance that vary for different types of generators.

For decades now, the city and the refuse collectors have tagged containers with incorrect materials, sent letters, called, and visited generators. Enforcement of this ordinance will not be any more intrusive than what has been the case historically-although it will now carry the force of law for those who refuse to participate.

The ordinance mandates collectors to inform and educate customers who put the wrong material in a container. Warnings will be issued prior to fines. The ordinance first requires a tag on the container and then, if misuse continues, a letter. After multiple warnings, the collector may refuse to empty a cart and leave another tag and send a written notice to the customer identifying the incorrect materials and describing what action must be taken for the carts to be collected.

The city may request collectors to provide a list of addresses that have been warned for repeated misuse. City enforcement may then follow starting with a call or visit to the address.

If someone refuses to install service, support, or use it properly, the city may consider liens, fines, and other fees. Fines can go up to $1,000, but may not exceed $100 for small generators (anyone producing up to one cubic yard of refuse per week-about six standard 32-gallon carts). The city will not create liens without a hearing or issue fines without warnings. Fines can be appealed, and properties with insufficient space may apply for a waiver by submitting the form below.

There will be no fines for improper separation at multifamily or multi-tenant commercial properties unless regulations are adopted after June 30, 2011. However, fines may be assessed for not instituting and maintaining adequate recycling and composting programs. Recyclables or compostables in the trash at such buildings may indicate inadequate service, or the need for operational adjustments, or additional education.

Residents and businesses want to do the right thing, and will do so once they know how. Warnings are opportunities for education, and fines to be levied only in egregious ongoing situations. Our recycling and composting programs are the best in the nation. Together, we'll make them even more successful and approach San Francisco's goal of zero waste by 2020.
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Will composting be messy or smelly?
Compostables collection shouldn't be any more messy or smelly than putting food scraps in your trash. You have the same amount and type of compostable material-you're just putting it into a different container.
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I'm a renter. How do I get recycling and composting service at my building?
Renters can call their property managers and inform them about the Ordinance. If the property manager is unresponsive, the renter can inform SF Environment by clicking on this link and filling out the following form.
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I'm elderly and/or disabled and I cannot physically move 3 carts to the curb?
There is currently a special rate for disabled residents. Recology will collect all 3 carts from inside locations at no additional distance fee or key charge. To apply, call Recology at (415) 330-1300 or visit their website at www.RecologySF.com.
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I'm a renter and I don't produce enough organic waste to warrant using a 32 gallon green cart. Can I put my kitchen pail on the curb?
Department of Public Health regulations prohibit putting loose organics out for collection. The current collection system does not allow for collection from kitchen pails. Combining small amounts of compostables in a neighbor's green cart (with their consent) is an acceptable practice.
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I'm a property owner or manager for a residential building. Will I get fined if my tenants do not comply with the Ordinance?
You will only be fined if you fail to provide composting, recycling and trash services for your tenants and properly label containers and educate your tenants. You will not be fined for improper sorting of material.
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Where can I get signs for my compost, recycling and trash bins and/or outreach material for my tenants or my building?
Download posters and fliers from our website or contact us at 355-3700.
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Where can I purchase compostable bags?
Information about where to purchase compostable bags and other compostable products can be found on our website: SFEnvironment.org/compostableproducts.
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How do I report recycling theft?
It is illegal for a third party to take materials out of the recycling container provided by your refuse collector. And with the Mandatory Recycling and Composting ordinance it is also now illegal for someone to mix the contents among your containers after you have separated them. This adds an important new tool for the City to take action against organized theft of recyclables.

If you see someone taking material from your recycling container or mixing materials among containers, particularly if the material is being loaded into a vehicle, please report it on Recology's Recycle Theft Form.

You will not be fined if someone else tosses the wrong thing into one of your containers or mixes your separated materials together.
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For more information
For any additional questions please contact SF Environment. Email environment@sfgov.org, or call 355-3700.
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