Top Composting & Food Waste in Cerritos, California Ranked

For restaurants and food service businesses in Cerritos, managing organic waste is not just an environmental choice-it's a state-mandated requirement. California's SB 1383 regulations require all commercial entities, including every restaurant and food truck, to separate their food scraps and other organic materials for recycling. The City of Cerritos has partnered with Athens Services to provide the necessary collection infrastructure, making compliance a streamlined process focused on proper sorting into designated containers. This system helps divert waste from landfills, reducing greenhouse gas emissions and contributing to the creation of beneficial compost and renewable energy. Understanding the local rules for organic waste recycling is essential for smooth operations and avoiding potential penalties.

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 and Cerritos' Mandatory Program

California's landmark law, SB 1383, aims to reduce short-lived climate pollutants by drastically cutting the amount of organic waste sent to landfills. For businesses in Cerritos, this translates to a mandatory organics recycling program¹. The city's municipal code (Chapter 6.09) formally enacts these requirements, making it illegal for food service establishments to dispose of food waste in the standard trash stream². The goal is to achieve a 75% reduction in statewide organic waste disposal by 2025. Compliance is not optional; it's a legal obligation for all commercial food generators, designed to turn a waste stream into a resource for soil health and clean energy.

Who is Required to Participate in Organics Recycling?

Eligibility for this program is broad. All businesses that generate organic waste are required to participate. This explicitly includes:

• Restaurants, cafes, and bakeries
• Catering companies and food trucks
• Grocery stores and supermarkets with prepared food sections
• Hotels and banquet halls with food service
• Corporate cafeterias and school kitchens

Essentially, if your business in Cerritos prepares, serves, or sells food, you must have a system in place to separate and recycle your food scraps and food-soiled paper^{1 3}. There are no exemptions based on size or volume for standard food service establishments under the city's implementation of the state law.

The Three-Stream System: Containers, Colors, and Labels

Cerritos utilizes a clear three-container system to simplify waste sorting. Consistent color-coding and labeling are crucial for both staff and customers to participate correctly.

• Green Container (Organics): This bin is for all compostable materials. Acceptable items include food scraps (fruits, vegetables, meat, dairy, bones, coffee grounds), food-soiled paper (uncoated napkins, paper plates, pizza boxes), and yard waste^{1 4 5}.
• Blue Container (Recyclables): This bin is for clean, dry recyclables. This includes cans, bottles, jars, and clean cardboard or paper that is not soiled by food^{1 6}.
• Gray Container (Trash/Landfill): This bin is for everything else that cannot be composted or recycled. This includes plastic wrappers, Styrofoam, and any material contaminated with food or grease that is not a compostable paper product¹.

Businesses are responsible for providing clearly labeled internal collection bins that match this color and stream system. Proper signage and staff training are mandatory components of the program to ensure materials are sorted correctly at the source^{4 6}.

Your Service Provider: Scheduling and Logistics with Athens Services

The City of Cerritos has an exclusive agreement with Athens Services for commercial waste, recycling, and organics collection^{7 8}. This means your restaurant does not need to shop for a provider; Athens is your designated hauler.

To set up or modify your service, you must contact Athens Services directly. They will work with you to determine:

• The appropriate size and number of green, blue, and gray containers for your business's volume.
• A customized pickup schedule that meets your operational needs (e.g., daily, weekly).
• Any specific service considerations for your location.

You can find contact information and service details on the Athens Services page specifically for Cerritos commercial clients⁸.

Critical Contamination Guidelines: What Stays Out of the Green Bin

Proper sorting is the key to a successful organics recycling program. Contamination-placing the wrong item in the green bin-can spoil entire loads of compostable material. Here's what must never go into your organics container:

• Plastics of Any Kind: This includes so-called "compostable" or "biodegradable" plastics (like PLA cups and utensils). California's composting facilities do not accept these materials, and they are considered contaminants^{1 9}.
• Liquids and Oils: Do not pour cooking oil, grease, or beverages into the green bin.
• Waxed or Plastic-Coated Cardboard: Milk cartons, juice boxes, and coated paper plates are not acceptable^{4 5}.
• Glass, Metal, or Foam Packaging.

Acceptable items for the green bin include: all food waste (including meat, bones, and dairy), coffee filters and grounds, tea bags, eggshells, nutshells, and food-soiled paper like uncoated napkins, paper towels, and pizza boxes (free of plastic liners)^{1 5 3}. Regular inspection of bins and ongoing staff education are the best ways to minimize contamination.

Cost Considerations for Food Waste Recycling

The cost for commercial organic waste collection in Cerritos is not a flat fee. It is based on a service agreement with Athens Services and varies depending on factors such as the volume of waste generated, the frequency of pickup, and the size of the containers provided⁸. The City of Cerritos updated its agreement with Athens Services, which influences the rate structure. For the most accurate and current pricing information tailored to your business's specific needs, you should consult directly with Athens Services or refer to the City of Cerritos' official solid waste pages for any published rate guidelines^{7 8}.

Benefits Beyond Compliance

While compliance is the primary driver, participating in Cerritos' food waste recycling program offers significant benefits. Diverting organics from landfills reduces methane emissions, a potent greenhouse gas. The collected material is processed into compost, which enriches soil and supports local agriculture, or into renewable natural gas. Furthermore, efficient waste sorting can sometimes reveal opportunities to reduce overall disposal costs by optimizing service levels for trash versus recycling and compost.

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