Top Composting & Food Waste in Long Beach, California Ranked

For restaurants and food service businesses in Long Beach, managing organic waste is no longer just an environmental consideration-it's a legal requirement. California's landmark SB 1383 mandates that commercial entities generating significant waste participate in organics recycling programs, transforming food scraps from trash into a valuable resource. The City of Long Beach has implemented a comprehensive system, utilizing green carts for collection, to help businesses comply. Successfully navigating these new rules involves understanding service requirements, strict contamination guidelines, and associated costs, ensuring your establishment contributes to the state's ambitious climate goals while 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 Long Beach's Mandate

California's Short-Lived Climate Pollutant Reduction Law (SB 1383) sets a statewide target to reduce organic waste disposal by 75% by 2025. For businesses in Long Beach, this translates into direct action. The law requires any business, including restaurants, that generates two or more cubic yards of total solid waste per week to arrange for organics recycling services ^{1 2 3}. This measurement includes your combined trash, recycling, and organic waste. The City of Long Beach has codified this requirement into its municipal code, making participation mandatory for covered entities ⁴. The primary goal is to divert food scraps, food-soiled paper, and yard trimmings from landfills where they decompose and produce methane, a potent greenhouse gas.

Who Must Participate in Commercial Organics Recycling?

The mandate applies broadly across the commercial sector. If your Long Beach restaurant, grocery store, cafeteria, or food processing facility produces two cubic yards or more of total waste weekly, you are required to subscribe to organics collection service. It's crucial to assess your current waste volume, as this threshold determines your compliance obligations. Even if you are just below the threshold, participating voluntarily can prepare your business for future regulatory changes and demonstrate environmental leadership. The rules also include specific edible food recovery requirements for larger food generators, which work in tandem with the composting mandate to reduce waste ⁴.

Setting Up Your Service: Containers and Haulers

Participating begins with setting up the right service. Businesses must use designated green carts for their organic waste. These containers are distinct from black (trash) and blue (recycling) bins. Service can be provided by the City of Long Beach's Public Works Department or by a permitted private hauler, such as EDCO Long Beach ^{5 6 1}. The rollout of the city's residential and commercial program is ongoing, so it's essential to confirm who your service provider is and understand their specific schedule for pickup. Collection frequencies vary by hauler and service area, so direct coordination is necessary to ensure your organic waste is collected regularly and does not accumulate ⁷.

What Goes In the Green Bin (Accepted Materials)

• All Food Scraps: This includes fruits, vegetables, meat, bones, dairy, bread, coffee grounds, and eggshells.
• Food-Soiled Paper: Paper towels, napkins, uncoated paper plates, pizza boxes (without plastic liners), and paper food containers.
• Yard Trimmings: Grass clippings, leaves, small branches, and flowers ^{5 6 8}.

What Stays Out (Strict Prohibitions)

Contamination is a critical issue that can disrupt the composting process. The most important rule is: NO PLASTIC BAGS of any kind in the green organics cart. This includes bags marketed as "compostable" or "biodegradable," as they are not accepted in Long Beach's processing system ^{6 8 9}. Other prohibited items include:

• Glass, metal, or plastic containers
• Styrofoam
• Pet waste
• Textiles
• Any non-organic recyclables

The Critical Rule: Avoiding Contamination

Maintaining a clean stream of organic material is paramount for the program's success. Contamination, especially from plastic bags, is a major challenge ^{6 8}. To comply:

• Do Not Bag Organics in Plastic: Always place food scraps and soiled paper loosely in the green cart.
• Use Paper Liners: You may line your kitchen pail or the green cart itself with newspaper, paper bags, or paper towels to absorb moisture and simplify cleanup ^{8 10}.
• Train Your Staff: Comprehensive employee training on proper sorting is not just a best practice-it's a business requirement to ensure compliance ⁹. Clearly labeled bins in prep and dishwashing areas are essential.
• Inspect Bins: Before pickup, do a quick check of the green cart to ensure no prohibited items have been accidentally tossed in.

Costs and Rate Structure for Businesses

Adding organics recycling service represents an additional line item for business waste management. Rates are structured based on the size of your containers (e.g., 65-gallon, 95-gallon carts) and the services you receive (trash, recycling, and organics). The City of Long Beach adjusts its refuse and recycling rates periodically. For example, effective August 2025, the monthly rate for a 65-gallon cart for trash and recycling only is approximately $41.55, while adding organics collection increases the cost to about $59.29. Similarly, a 95-gallon cart moves from around $50.00 for trash/recycling to roughly $67.63 with organics service included ^{5 7}. These are city-provided examples; costs from private haulers will vary. It is vital to contact Long Beach Public Works or your private waste hauler directly for an exact quote tailored to your business's specific container sizes and service frequency needs.

Benefits Beyond Compliance

While the program is mandatory, the benefits extend far beyond checking a regulatory box. Participating in commercial food waste composting:

• Reduces Environmental Impact: Diverts waste from landfills, cutting methane emissions and supporting California's climate goals.
• Creates Valuable Compost: The collected organics are processed into nutrient-rich compost, which can be used to enrich soil in agriculture and landscaping.
• Provides Waste Insight: Managing a third waste stream often leads businesses to conduct a waste audit, which can identify opportunities to reduce overall waste generation and potentially lower disposal costs over time.
• Enhances Brand Image: Demonstrating a commitment to sustainability resonates positively with customers, employees, and the community.

Steps to Get Started and Stay Compliant

1. Determine Your Status: Calculate your weekly waste volume to confirm if you meet the 2-cubic-yard threshold.
2. Contact Your Hauler: Reach out to the City of Long Beach Public Works Department or your private waste hauler to establish organics collection service and obtain the correct green carts.
3. Implement Internal Sorting: Set up clearly labeled collection pails in kitchens and prep areas. Use paper liners or empty scraps directly into the cart.
4. Train Your Team: Conduct training sessions for all staff, emphasizing the "no plastic bags" rule and what materials belong in each stream.
5. Monitor and Adjust: Regularly check your green carts for contamination and provide refresher training as needed. Stay informed about any updates to local guidelines from the city.

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