New Bill Requires Businesses to Recycle

With the enactment of on July 1, just about every commercial business and apartment building in Belmont must start recycling.

According to Recology San Mateo County, this mandatory commercial recycling bill applies to office buildings, retail establishments, restaurants, non-profits, strip malls and government buildings that generate four or more cubic yards of garbage per week. [Note: A cubic yard is approximately the size of an average washing machine.] Additionally, multifamily dwellings (apartments, townhomes and condominiums) consisting of five or more units must also recycle regardless of how much garbage they generate.  

To assist in recycling efforts, Recology is providing businesses and multifamily dwellings with blue carts and bins through its BizSMART program.

In addition to the typical items (glass/plastic bottles, cans, newspapers, etc.), businesses may recycle office papers, phone books, hard/soft-cover books, metal cans, small scrap metal, and shredded paper.

For more information, go to www.calrecycle.ca.gov.