Fines by Alameda County Waste Management for Violation of Mandatory Recycling Ordinance
Waste Management Announces Imposed Recycling Fines –
The Alameda County Waste Management Authority (the Authority) began issuing fines to non-compliant businesses and multi-family property owners still in violation of Alameda County’s Mandatory Recycling Ordinance. In Piedmont recycling and organics collection is mandatory for all businesses and multi-family buildings with five or more units.
Fine amounts can vary from $100 for a single violation to $400 depending on the number and type of violation(s). Continued non-compliance can result in additional penalties according to the ordinance that became effective went into effect on July 1, 2012. There is a 30-day appeal period that allows fine recipients to contest the citation. As of November 23, 2015 100 citation notices have been served. Inspections will continue and may result in more citations.
The purpose of the Ordinance is to reduce the amount of waste Alameda County sends to landfill and to help reach long-term waste reduction goals – specifically, to ensure that by 2020, waste sent to landfills contains less than 10% of materials that are easily recyclable or compostable. For businesses, the amount of this “good stuff” in the garbage varies by industry. In 2014, 25% to 59% of the items in businesses’ garbage containers could have been recycled or composted. Looking at multi-family properties, an average of 46% of their “garbage” is actually recyclable or compostable.
