Albert Lopez
Planning Director
Planning

ALAMEDA COUNTY'S WASTE PROGRAM


Alameda County's Waste Program, a program of the Community Development Agency (CDA), oversees solid waste collection and organics waste reduction and recycling in the unincorporated areas of Alameda County (excluding the Castro Valley Sanitary District and the Oro Loma Sanitary District). CDA is responsible for ensuring that the County's Waste Program is administered in compliance with local, State, and Federal regulations.

The County's Waste Program is implemented under the Alameda County Solid Waste Collection and Organic Waste Reduction Ordinance and the Alameda County Solid Waste Collection and Organic Waste Reduction Regulations, which also serve as the County's enforceable mechanism in response to the regulations promulgated by CalRecyle for implementation of Senate Bill (SB)1383, the Short-lived Climate Pollutants(SLCP) Organic Waste Reduction Regulations (also called the "SB1383 Regulations".)

screen shot of PDF cover showing a map of alameda county

MANDATORY CURBSIDE COLLECTION SERVICE

The Alameda County Solid Waste Collection and Organic Waste Reduction Ordinance and County Regulations, which became effective January 1, 2022 in compliance with SB 1383, require all businesses and residences in the County's Waste Program Jurisdiction to subscribe to curbside collection service for trash, recycling, and compost via an Authorized Hauler, unless a waiver or exemption has been granted. Businesses and residences are required to participate in curbside collection by placing materials in designated containers, and by not placing Prohibited Container Contaminants in collection containers.

Coming soon: The County is in the process of establishing mandatory curbside waste collection services in its Waste Program Jurisdiction for trash, recycling, and compost. Details about mandatory curbside collection service will be posted to this site as they become available, including a list of Authorized Haulers and hauler requirements for properly separating materials into appropriate containers.

AUTHORIZED HAULERS

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An Authorized Hauler is a company that has been approved by the County to haul Solid and/or Organic Waste in the County's unincorporated Waste Program Jurisdiction.

Unincorporated Livermore area

  • Authorized hauler: Livermore Sanitation
  • Areas included: County Collection Service Zone 1 (See map at right. Link to 2012 agreement available here.)
  • To start or modify service: call 925-449-7300 or visit https://www.livermoresanitation.com/

Other Unincorporated Areas

The remainder of the County's unincorporated Waste Program Jurisdiction is not currently under an agreement with a particular hauler. The County is in the process of authorizing additional haulers. Please check back for more information regarding Authorized Haulers in your area, including hauler requirements for properly separating materials into appropriate containers.

If you are located in an unincorporated portion of Alameda County served by Oro Loma Sanitary District or Castro Valley Sanitary District, please contact your sanitary district directly to learn more about authorized haulers in your area.

COMPOSTING AND RECYCLING TO FIGHT CLIMATE CHANGE

Properly sorting your food scraps and other compostable materials not only helps fight climate change, it's the law. State law (SB1383) now requires residents and businesses to keep compostable and recyclable materials out of California's landfills. When compostable materials like food scraps and plant trimmings break down in a landfill, they produce methane, a potent greenhouse gas that contributes to climate change. By composting and recycling, you're helping to reduce methane emissions and create a healthier planet.

For more information on methods for the prevention of organic waste generation, recycling organic waste on-site, sending organic waste to community composting, and other requirements and resources regarding organic waste, please visit: www.stopwaste.org

It's easy to compost and recycle properly. Here's how:

Compost: food scraps, dirty paper containers, paper towles & tissues, plants, and wood Recycle: paper, plastic, metal, and glass

MANDATORY CURBSIDE COLLECTION:
EXEMPTIONS, WAIVERS, AND EXCLUSIONS

The SB1383 Regulations provide for very limited exceptions to the mandatory curbside collection requirement, including the option to self-haul in place of subscribing to curbside collection service.

Coming Soon: Details on exceptions, exemptions, and waivers are in process at the State and local levels. Please check back for more information about exceptions, exemptions, and waivers in your area.

SELF-HAULING

Self-Hauling is permitted only in limited circumstances. Self-haul generators must be approved by the County and must meet all requirements as set forth in the Alameda County Solid Waste Collection and Organic Waste Reduction Ordinance and Regulations and the SB1383 Regulations.

Self-Haulers are required to haul their Source Separated Recyclable Materials to a facility that recovers those materials; and haul their Source Separated Compost Container Organic Waste to a Solid Waste facility, operation, activity, or property that processes or recovers Source Separated Organic Waste. Alternatively, Self-Haulers may haul Organic Waste to a High Diversion Organic Waste Processing Facility. (See County Solid Waste Collection and Organic Waste Reduction Regulations Section 5.)

Coming soon: Please check back for more information on Self-Haul Requirements and how to obtain authorization to Self-Haul.

EDIBLE FOOD RECOVERY

Californians send 11.2 billion pounds of food to landfills each year, some of which was still fresh enough to have been recovered to feed people in need. While billions of meals go to waste, millions of Californians don't have enough to eat.

To reduce food waste and help address food insecurity, SB1383 Regulations require that by 2025 California will recover 20 percent of edible food that would otherwise be sent to landfills, to feed people in need. The law requires the following:

  • Local jurisdictions must establish food recovery programs and strengthen their existing food recovery networks
  • Food donors must arrange to recover the maximum amount of their edible food that would otherwise go to landfills
  • Food recovery organizations and services must maintain records

For more information about edible food recovery in Alameda County, please visit https://www.stopwaste.org/rules-food-recovery.

A list of Food Recovery Organizations in Alameda County is available from StopWaste at https://resource.stopwaste.org/food-recovery-organizations.

infographic showing that 1 in 5 californians are food insecure. CA throws away more than 6 million tons of food waste every year. CA disposed of approximately 24 tons of organic waste in 2018. Organic waste is the largest waste stream in CA, greenwaste 7%, woodwaste 9%, other organics 9%, foodwaste 13%, paper 14%, non organic waste 48%

ENFORCEMENT

In compliance with SB1383 Regulations, the County may enforce provisions of Alameda County's Solid Waste Collection and Organics Waste Reduction Ordinance and Regulations as follows:

  • Beginning January 1, 2022:
    • Requirements for Commercial Business Generators
    • Waivers for Commercial Business Generators
    • Requirements for Haulers and Facility Operators
    • Requirements for Self-Haulers
    • Inspections related to compliance with the above sections
  • Beginning January 1, 2024:
    • Requirements for Single Family Generators
    • Requirements for Commercial Edible Food Generators
    • Requirements for Food Recovery Organizations and Services
    • Inspections related to compliance with the above sections

Coming soon: Please check back for details about enforcement of Alameda County's Solid Waste Collection and Organics Waste Reduction Ordinance and Regulations.

QUESTIONS AND COMPLAINTS

Questions and complaints regarding the Alameda County Waste Program may be sent by email or US Mail to the following addresses:

*This inbox is for questions related to solid waste and recycling in the unincorporated Alameda County Waste Program Jurisdiction, which does not include any Cities or Sanitary Districts. If you are having issues related to your curbside waste or recycling account, please contact your waste hauler directly. If you are located in a City or Sanitary District, please contact your City or Sanitary District directly.

Email: Please use our email form

US Mail: Community Development Agency Planning Department
Attn: Waste Program
224 W Winton Ave, Suite 111
Hayward, CA 94544

STOPWASTE WASTE MANAGEMENT AUTHORITY

The County is a member of StopWaste, the regional Alameda County Waste Management Authority (WMA). StopWaste provides County residents with many solid waste benefits, including community outreach and education. StopWaste partners with the County on waste reduction efforts and in the administration of State Laws such as SB1383. For more information about preventing organic waste generation, recycling organic waste on-site, sending organic waste to community composting, and more, visit www.stopwaste.org.

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