recycLA Organics Service (Multi-Family Residential)

Call our 24-hour Customer Care Center at 1-800-773-2489 to connect with your designated recycLA Service Provider (RSP). Your service provider will conduct a free waste assessment of your property to right-size your bins and select the most cost-effective collection frequency.

This program applies to:

• Restaurants and food service businesses
• Commercial businesses (all sectors)
• Multifamily properties (5 or more units)
• Schools and institutions

Keeping food waste out of landfills isn’t just required — it makes a measurable impact. Every peel, stem, plate scrap, coffee ground, and food-soiled napkin your business separates helps create compost that nourishes soil and supports California agriculture.

By participating, you, your tentants, and your business:

• Comply with California law (SB 1383) and City of Los Angeles requirements
• Help reduce methane emissions from landfills
• Support food recovery efforts for people in need
• Contribute to a more sustainable Los Angeles

The following may be placed in the green bin:

• Fruits, vegetables
• Dairy, eggshells
• Bread, cereal, grains, rice, pasta, beans
• Meat, bone, fish, shells
• Coffee grounds and filters
• Food soiled paper products including greasy napkins and pizza boxes
• Yard waste, flowers, grass clippings, tree trimmings
• Clean untreated wood 
• Natural wood chopsticks (clean, untreated, not lacquered)
• 100% natural bamboo (clean, untreated, not coated)
• Natural corks (consider a web search for "cork recycling" for drop-off locations)

Compostable and biodegradable items belong in the trash.

Items labeled “compostable” or “biodegradable” often do not break down quickly enough in commercial composting facilities. Please do not put these items in your green bin or dumpster. Instead, you can put compostable utensils, bags, and other biodegradable or compostable items in the black bin (trash), where they will decompose in the landfill over time.

If your property lacks physical space for green containers or generates less than 10-20 gallons of organic waste per week, your business may be eligible for a waiver from the requirement of mandatory organics collection. 

recycLA customers may be eligible for waiver if one of the waiver criteria below are met.

De minimis Waiver

• The commercial business’s total solid waste collection service is two (2) cubic yards or more per week and organic waste subject to collection in a blue container or a green container as specified in Section 18984.1(a) comprises less than 20 gallons per week per applicable container of the business’ total waste.
• The commercial business’s total solid waste collection service is less than two (2) cubic yards per week and organic waste subject to collection in a blue container or a green container as specified in Section 18984.1(a) comprises less than 10 gallons per week per applicable container of the business’ total waste.

Physical Space Waiver

• The City may waive a commercial business’ or property owner’s obligation to comply with the organic waste collection service requirements if the commercial business or property owner provides documentation, or the jurisdiction has evidence from its staff, a hauler, licensed architect, or licensed engineer demonstrating that the premises lack adequate space for any of the organic waste container configurations allowed under the SB 1383 regulations.

How to Request a Waiver

If you believe your business/property meets the eligibility conditions above, please use these links:

• Waiver Request online form in English
• Waiver Request online form in Spanish

The City will evaluate your request and notify you of your waiver determination.

Please call LASAN’s 24-hour Customer Care Center at 1-800-773-2489 or visit MyLA311.lacity.gov to:

• Request a waste assessment
• Set up organics recycling service
• Report a missed collection
• Ask questions about compliance or requirements

Help your staff and tenants sort correctly with our ready-to-use guides. 

The following toolkits are available at the bottom of this page, complete with posters and bin labels.

• Restaurant Toolkit
• Property Owner Toolkit
• Parents and Caregivers Toolkit
• Advocacy Toolkit

Professor Green is our friendly digital assistant, who can answer all of your questions about black/blue/green/brown bins, bulky item disposal, S.A.F.E. Centers, upcoming LASAN events, and more. Simply scan the QR code and a browser will open on your phone. Then choose your language and ask your food waste questions. It’s that easy!

If you don't have (or can't use) a Professor Green QR code, you can use the chat widget on this page OR visit Professor Green using this link.