Top Composting & Food Waste in Orange, California Ranked

For restaurant owners and food service operators in Orange, managing organic waste is no longer just an environmental consideration-it's a legal requirement. California's landmark SB 1383 mandates that all businesses, including every restaurant, café, and food establishment, separate their food scraps and other compostable materials from the general trash stream. This organic waste recycling initiative is designed to dramatically reduce landfill methane emissions by turning food waste into valuable compost or renewable energy. In Orange, compliance is streamlined through a partnership with the city's designated hauler, CR&R Environmental Services, which provides the containers, collection schedules, and guidance needed to meet state regulations efficiently. Understanding the specifics of the program, from what can go in the green cart to the associated costs and mandatory training, is essential for seamless and cost-effective operations.

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: The Law Behind the Program

California's Short-Lived Climate Pollutants (SLCP) reduction law, known as SB 1383, sets ambitious targets to reduce organic waste disposal by 75% by 2025. For commercial entities in Orange, this translates to a universal requirement: you must subscribe to and participate in your jurisdiction's organic waste collection service. There are no opt-outs based on business size or type ^{1 2}. The law is enforced at the local level, and non-compliance can result in warnings, fines, or other enforcement actions. Beyond basic separation, the regulation includes a critical edible food recovery component. Large food generators, typically defined as restaurants with 5,000+ square feet of facility space or 250+ seats, have an additional mandate to establish programs for donating edible food to recovery organizations ^{1 3}. This two-pronged approach-diverting inedible scraps to composting and edible surplus to people in need-forms the core of the state's strategy to tackle food waste.

Your Local Hauler: Working with CR&R Environmental Services

In the City of Orange, commercial organic waste collection is managed exclusively by CR&R Environmental Services. They are your primary point of contact for setting up service, obtaining containers, understanding your schedule, and getting answers to specific questions. CR&R provides a three-stream collection system to every business:

• Gray or Black Cart: For landfill trash that cannot be recycled or composted.
• Blue Cart: For traditional recyclables like cans, bottles, cardboard, and paper.
• Green Cart: For all organic material, including food waste and yard trimmings ^{3 4 5}.

Your existing service will be modified to include the green organics cart if it isn't already part of your setup. It's crucial to contact CR&R directly to discuss your business's specific volume needs, finalize your pickup frequency, and receive your official quote and service agreement ^{1 4}.

What Goes In the Green Organics Cart?

Proper sorting is the key to a successful program and avoiding contamination fees. The green cart is designated for a wide range of organic materials.

Accepted Food & Organics:

• All food scraps: fruit and vegetable peels, leftovers, plate scrapings, and spoiled food.
• Meat, bones, fish, and dairy products (including cheese, yogurt, and butter).
• Bread, pasta, rice, grains, and eggshells.
• Food-soiled paper products like napkins, paper towels, uncoated paper plates, and pizza boxes (free of wax or plastic lining).
• Coffee grounds and paper filters, tea bags (staples removed).
• Yard waste such as grass clippings, leaves, and small branches ^{1 3 5 6}.

Strict Contaminants to Keep Out:

• Plastic bags of any kind, even those labeled "biodegradable" or "compostable." These do not break down properly in local processing facilities.
• "Compostable" plastic utensils, cups, or packaging unless explicitly approved by CR&R.
• Glass, metal, rubber, textiles, or Styrofoam.
• Pet waste, diapers, or hygiene products.
• Liquids, fats, oils, and grease (these should be managed separately through a grease trap service and used cooking oil collection) ^{3 5 7 8}.

Setting Up Your Restaurant for Success

Implementation goes beyond just putting a green cart in the alley. Effective internal sorting stations are mandatory for compliance and staff efficiency.

1. Internal Bin Placement: You must provide clearly labeled and color-coded collection bins for organics and recycling in all areas where trash is generated. This includes the kitchen, prep areas, dishwashing station, and in customer dining areas (but not restrooms). The bins should be placed side-by-side to make proper disposal the easiest choice for staff and customers ^{1 4}.
2. Signage & Training: California law requires businesses to educate employees on how to properly sort materials. CR&R and the City of Orange provide printable signage and training materials. Conduct regular training sessions with your team to review what goes in each bin and why it matters. Clear, consistent signage above or on the bins is a simple and effective tool to reduce contamination ^{3 4}.
3. Collection Schedules: Organic waste pickup frequency is determined by your business's volume and agreement with CR&R. For many restaurants, weekly collection is standard, though some may qualify for bi-weekly service. Your collection day for organics will be aligned with your existing trash and recycling schedule ^{1 3}.

Costs and Pricing Structure

The cost for commercial organic waste collection in Orange is not a flat fee but is based on a tiered pricing structure. Your monthly rate is primarily determined by two factors:

• Container Size: CR&R typically offers commercial bins in standard sizes such as 32-gallon, 64-gallon, and 96-gallon carts.
• Pickup Frequency: How often your green cart is serviced (e.g., weekly, bi-weekly).

As a general estimate, a restaurant using a 32-gallon green cart with weekly pickup might see a monthly cost in the range of $30 to $50. However, this is highly variable. Many haulers offer discounted rates when you bundle organics service with your existing trash and recycling collection. The only way to get an accurate, tailored quote for your specific operation is to contact CR&R Environmental Services directly ^{1 4 2 9}.

Avoiding Contamination and Penalties

Contamination-the presence of prohibited items in the green organics cart-is a serious issue. Loads with high contamination levels may be rejected at the processing facility, leaving you responsible for the disposal costs and potentially facing fines from your hauler or the city. To avoid this:

• Never use plastic bags as liners in your internal kitchen bins. Use a washable container or empty scraps directly into the outdoor cart.
• Be vigilant about "compostable" plastics, as most local facilities cannot process them.
• Regularly audit your bins to ensure staff are sorting correctly and refresh training as needed.

The Broader Impact: From Waste to Resource

When your restaurant's food scraps are collected in the green cart, they are transported to a local anaerobic digestion facility or commercial composting operation. In anaerobic digesters, microorganisms break down the waste in an oxygen-free environment, capturing the methane produced and converting it into renewable natural gas (RNG) that can fuel trucks or generate electricity. The remaining digestate becomes a nutrient-rich compost. In composting facilities, the material is aerobically broken down into a fertile soil amendment used in agriculture, landscaping, and erosion control ^{1 2}. By participating diligently, your restaurant directly contributes to a circular economy, reducing greenhouse gas emissions, creating renewable energy, and rebuilding California's soils.

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