Amador County – Amador County and city officials have been working with ACES Waste Service to prepare for a mandated recycling law that takes affect July 1 and will affect 170 businesses in the county.

AB341 by Assemblyman Wesley Chesbro of Santa Rosa will require recycling to be done by any commercial business that generates more than four cubic yards of waste per week or any apartment complex or multi-family housing business that has five units or more. Amador Waste Management Director Jim McHargue said it requires recycling from five or more unit-businesses, but a “four-plex would not require it.”

Amador County Integrated Waste Management Regional Agency, made up of one elected official from each city, and two Supervisors, formed an ad hoc committee and has been working with ACES to come up with a solution. McHargue said the work has found a solution, and any business that falls within the requirements will be provided with a 96-gallon cart for their recycling and if they need other carts, they will be provided at a reduced cost. The 96-gallon cart is the largest of rolling carts.

McHargue said they seek to comply with regulations and at same time not require undue financial burdens. Some businesses are already complying. The state is mandating that these businesses are to recycle. They want to not put a whole lot of unnecessary financial burden on businesses, and a lot of businesses are having financial trouble.

The program will be evaluated in six months to see that it is meeting requirements. Businesses will be evaluated. McHargue said: “We think that with the program that we develop, we will be able to assist all of the businesses that must comply.” The good thing is that it has a good degree of flexibility, and this mandate does not specify what particular items need to be recycled or what amounts need to be recycled.

McHargue said so far, we’re looking at about somewhere around 170 businesses that will be triggered by the recycling mandate, but at least 50 already have recycling taking place. There are a significant number of smaller businesses that would not meet the threshold and would not have the requirements apply.

Story by Jim Reece This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.