Top Composting & Food Waste in Mountain View, California Ranked

For restaurants and food service businesses in Mountain View, managing organic waste is not just an environmental best practice-it's the law. The city has comprehensive ordinances requiring all commercial properties to separate food scraps and compostable materials for weekly collection. Partnering with Recology Mountain View, the city's service provider, businesses can turn food waste, soiled paper, and yard trimmings into valuable compost, contributing to California's broader climate goals. This guide outlines the mandatory requirements, practical steps for compliance, and resources available to help your establishment navigate organic waste recycling successfully.

Recology Peninsula Services

1356 Marsten Rd, Burlingame, CA 94010

Recology Peninsula Services provides food waste and composting solutions for restaurants in San Bruno, CA. They focus on sustainable waste management and help businesses implement effective recycling and composting programs. Their Waste Zero Team supports businesses in improving recycling practices and managing compost and landfill materials. Recology is committed to advancing sustainability and circular economy efforts through community partnerships and innovative waste solutions.

2.9

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Mandatory Commercial Organics Recycling

California's statewide organics recycling law (SB 1383) mandates that businesses recycle their organic waste, and Mountain View has implemented specific local regulations to enforce this ¹. All commercial properties, including every restaurant, café, grocery store, and food facility, must subscribe to and participate in the organics recycling service ^{2 3}. This is not an optional "green" program but a legal requirement for waste generators.

The mandate extends beyond just separating scraps. "Tier One" commercial edible food generators, which include large restaurants, have an additional responsibility: they must arrange for the recovery of edible food for donation to people in need ^{2 3}. Furthermore, Mountain View's Food Service Ware Ordinance complements these rules by banning plastic and compostable plastic foodware, requiring the use of aluminum or fiber-based containers that are free of PFAS and truly compostable ⁴. This creates a cohesive system where the packaging and the food waste can often be disposed of in the same stream, simplifying compliance.

What Goes In the Green Organics Bin?

Proper sorting is critical to avoid contamination, which can lead to entire loads being rejected and may result in additional fees for your business ⁵. Knowing exactly what materials belong in your green compost cart is the first step to an efficient program.

Accepted Food Scraps & Organics:

• All food waste: fruits, vegetables, meat, bones, fish, dairy, bread, grains, and eggshells.
• Coffee grounds and filters, tea bags (without staples).
• Food-soiled paper: napkins, paper towels, uncoated paper plates, and pizza boxes (free of wax or plastic lining).
• Yard trimmings: leaves, grass, and small branches.

Strictly Prohibited Items (These belong in Trash):

• All plastics: This includes so-called "compostable" or "biodegradable" plastic bags, utensils, and containers. Mountain View's program only accepts fiber-based compostable items ^{2 3}.
• Liquids, oils, and grease.
• Styrofoam (polystyrene).
• Glass, metal, or any non-compostable material.

Setting Up and Managing Your Service

Recology Mountain View is the exclusive provider for the city's organics collection. To start service or adjust your current plan, you can contact them directly. They will help you determine the appropriate cart or bin size (e.g., 32-gallon, 64-gallon, or 96-gallon carts) based on your volume of organic waste ².

Collection Logistics:

• Schedule: Organics are collected weekly. It's important to check Recology's collection calendar for any changes due to holidays ⁶.
• Set-Out: Carts must be placed at the curb by 7:00 AM on your collection day. Ensure the wheels are facing your property and leave about 18 inches of space between carts for the automated collection arm ⁶.
• Containers: While Recology provides the large outdoor carts, businesses are responsible for obtaining smaller, interior collection bins for kitchen and prep areas to make sorting easy for staff.

Costs and Support: Service costs are variable and depend on the size of your container and the frequency of pickup ². The city and Recology understand that compliance can be a shift; therefore, they offer free technical assistance and educational resources to help your team understand the rules and set up an effective system ². If your business generates a minimal amount of organic waste or has legitimate space constraints that prevent using a cart, you can apply for a waiver from the city ².

Best Practices for Restaurant Compliance

Successfully managing food waste recycling requires more than just signing up for a green bin. Implementing a few key practices will ensure smooth operations and avoid costly contamination.

1. Contact Recology: Begin by calling Recology Mountain View at (650) 967-3034 to discuss your specific service needs, get answers to questions, and request educational materials for your team ^{2 7}.
2. Train Your Staff Thoroughly: This is the most crucial step. Hold training sessions to ensure every employee, from dishwashers to chefs, understands what can and cannot go in the green organics bin. Clear signage posted above indoor bins is extremely helpful.
3. Prevent Contamination: Be vigilant about keeping plastics and liquids out of the organics stream. Use only unlined paper bags or approved compostable liners for indoor collection, and never use plastic bags as liners.
4. Monitor and Adjust: Regularly check your outdoor cart before pickup. If you see contamination, remove it and re-educate your staff. If you consistently have too much or too little organic waste, contact Recology to resize your container.

By embracing these organics recycling requirements, Mountain View restaurants play a direct role in reducing landfill methane emissions and creating nutrient-rich compost for local agriculture. A well-run program can also provide insights into food prep waste, potentially leading to reduced purchasing costs and improved operational efficiency.

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