Top Composting & Food Waste in Burbank, California Ranked

For restaurants in Burbank, managing organic waste is not just an environmental best practice-it's a legal requirement. California's SB 1383 mandates that all businesses, including food service establishments, separate their food scraps and other compostable materials for collection. This organics recycling ordinance is designed to dramatically reduce the amount of waste sent to landfills, where decomposing food releases potent greenhouse gases. For restaurant owners and managers, compliance involves understanding specific local rules for containers, accepted materials, and collection schedules managed by the city's contracted haulers. A well-run food waste diversion program can streamline kitchen operations, demonstrate a commitment to sustainability to customers, and help Burbank meet its critical climate goals.

Griffith Park Composting Facility

5400 Griffith Park Dr, Los Angeles, CA 90027

Griffith Park Composting Facility provides food waste composting services primarily for restaurants in Glendale, CA. The facility specializes in processing organic waste to support sustainable waste management practices in the area.

4.5

38 Reviews

TAWA compost green waste food recycling

4002 Drysdale Ave, Los Angeles, CA 90032

TAWA Compost Green Waste Food Recycling is based in Los Angeles, CA, providing food waste and composting services primarily for restaurants and commercial clients. They offer drop-off options for commercial food waste, green waste, and residential waste, as well as onsite waste management and emergency food waste pickup available 24/7. Founded during the COVID-19 pandemic, TAWA Compost began as a food rescue initiative to address food insecurity and now focuses on turning inedible food into nutrient-rich compost. They also conduct workshops to educate the community on reducing waste and maximizing resources.

5.0

7 Reviews

Royal Pumping and Jetting

los angeles

Royal Pumping and Jetting provides a comprehensive range of pumping and jetting services for restaurants and hospitality businesses in Los Angeles, CA. Their offerings include grease trap and interceptor cleaning, waste kitchen oil removal, hydro jetting, grease trap repair, high-pressure washing, and complete plumbing services. The company has been serving Los Angeles, Orange County, and San Bernardino since 2008, with a team of certified experts skilled in handling various pump and blast operations. They also offer 24/7 availability to meet urgent service needs.

5.0

3 Reviews

CR & R Inc

12739 Lakeland Rd, Santa Fe Springs, CA 90670

CR & R Inc provides food waste and composting services for restaurants in La Mirada, CA. The company focuses on sustainable solid waste and recycling solutions, operating advanced materials processing centers and using alternative fuel vehicles to reduce environmental impact. With over three decades of experience, CR & R Inc has developed a state-of-the-art anaerobic digester to process organic waste and produce renewable natural gas, supporting cleaner air and greener practices in the region.

3.1

14 Reviews

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Understanding SB 1383 Compliance for Burbank Restaurants

The foundation of Burbank's organics recycling program is California Senate Bill 1383. This statewide law aims to reduce organic waste disposal by 75% by 2025 and rescue at least 20% of currently disposed edible food for human consumption ^{1 2}. For your restaurant, this translates into mandatory action. You are required to subscribe to and properly use an organics collection service, which is typically bundled with your existing trash and recycling services ^{3 4}.

The law categorizes businesses as "Tier 1" or "Tier 2" generators based on the type and size of the operation. Many full-service restaurants, grocery stores, and food distributors fall into these tiers, which carry an additional requirement: they must establish a food donation program to divert edible food to people in need ^{5 2}. It's crucial to verify your restaurant's tier status with the City of Burbank's Public Works Department to ensure full compliance with both waste separation and potential food recovery mandates.

Setting Up Your Kitchen and Dining Area for Success

Proper containerization is the first step toward an efficient and compliant organics recycling system. The city provides clear guidelines for both front-of-house and back-of-house setups.

In the Kitchen: Start by obtaining free kitchen food scrap pails from the City of Burbank ⁶. These small, lidded containers are perfect for collecting peels, scraps, and spoiled food during food prep and dishwashing. Staff should empty these pails regularly into your main commercial green organics cart. It is essential to remember that all organic material must be placed loose in the cart-plastic bags, even those labeled as "compostable" or "biodegradable," are not allowed in Burbank's green bins ^{7 8 9}.

In Public Dining Areas: Customers must have access to proper sorting stations. The city mandates that areas where food is served, consumed, or disposed of by the public must provide three distinct containers: a green bin for organics, a blue bin for recyclables, and a black or grey bin for landfill trash ^{7 1}. These bins should feature clear, graphic signage (available from the city or your hauler) to minimize contamination from well-intentioned but confused patrons.

What Goes In the Green Organics Cart?

Knowing exactly what materials are accepted prevents contamination, which can spoil entire loads of compostable material. You can confidently place the following items in your restaurant's green cart:

• All Food Scraps: This includes fruits, vegetables, meat, bones, fish, dairy products, bread, pasta, coffee grounds, and eggshells ^{7 8}.
• Food-Soiled Paper Products: Napkins, paper towels, paper take-out containers (without plastic lining), coffee filters, tea bags, and pizza boxes (grease-stained cardboard is acceptable) ^{7 10}.
• Yard Trimmings: If your establishment has landscaping, leaves, grass clippings, and small branches can also go in the green cart ⁸.

Critical Contaminants to Exclude: Never place plastic of any kind, glass, metals, liquids, or hazardous waste in the green cart. A common point of confusion is "compostable" plastic utensils, cups, or bags. Burbank's processing facilities do not accept these items, and they must go in the landfill trash ^{8 9}. Keeping these contaminants out ensures the collected organics can be successfully turned into compost or used for renewable energy production.

Working with Your Hauler: Schedules and Services

The City of Burbank contracts with licensed haulers, such as Southland Disposal, to provide commercial waste, recycling, and organics collection services ^{3 4}. Your restaurant does not choose a separate provider for composting; the service is integrated.

Collection schedules for organics typically align with your existing trash and recycling pickup days, though frequency may vary based on the volume your restaurant generates and the size of your carts ⁴. It is your responsibility to contact your assigned hauler directly to confirm your specific service days, ensure you have the appropriate number and size of containers, and understand any protocols for cart placement.

Navigating Waivers and Special Circumstances

The city recognizes that some businesses may face unique challenges. If your restaurant generates a minimal amount of organic waste (typically less than a certain volume per week) or if you have physical space constraints that make storing multiple carts impossible, you may apply for a waiver or an alternative compliance method ^{11 5}. These waivers are not automatic and require formal approval from the Burbank Public Works Department. The application process involves demonstrating your situation, and approvals are reviewed annually. It is always best to explore all operational solutions for compliance before seeking a waiver.

The Cost of Organics Recycling Service

Investing in organics recycling is an operational cost, but it aligns with broader environmental and community values. Pricing for commercial service in Burbank is not a flat fee; it varies based on several factors specific to your restaurant ^{12 13}. The primary determinants are:

• Cart Size: Haulers offer different cart sizes (e.g., 32-gallon, 64-gallon, 96-gallon wheeled carts).
• Service Frequency: How many times per week your carts are emptied.
• Service Bundle: Costs are usually quoted as part of a bundled package that includes trash, recycling, and organics collection.

To get accurate, current rates for your establishment, you should consult your specific hauler's commercial rate sheet or contact the City of Burbank's Public Works Department for guidance ^{3 4}. While there is a cost for service, proper waste sorting can sometimes allow businesses to downsize their more expensive landfill trash service, potentially offsetting some of the cost of the new organics program.

Building a Culture of Compliance in Your Restaurant

Successful organics recycling depends on your entire team. Training is essential. Use the educational posters and guides provided by the city and your hauler to conduct regular staff training sessions ^{7 8}. Clearly label all bins in both English and Spanish, using pictures. Designate a "sustainability champion" among your staff to monitor bins, answer questions, and ensure the kitchen pails are emptied correctly. When your team understands the "why" behind the sorting rules-reducing landfill waste, fighting climate change, and creating nutrient-rich compost-they are more likely to follow the "how" consistently.

The Broader Impact of Your Restaurant's Efforts

When Burbank restaurants diligently separate their food scraps, they contribute to a circular economy. The collected organics are processed at regional facilities where they are transformed into compost, a valuable soil amendment used in agriculture and landscaping, or converted into renewable natural gas ¹¹. Furthermore, by complying with edible food donation requirements if applicable, your restaurant can play a direct role in addressing food insecurity in the local community. Your commitment to organics recycling is a powerful statement of your restaurant's role as a responsible and integral part of Burbank.

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