Ordinance No. 2021-06 | SB1383 Implementation - Waste Disposal Reduction | Adopted 12/06/2021ORDINANCE NO. 2021-06
AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY
OF GILROY AMENDING GILROY CITY CODE CHAPTER
12 TO ADD A NEW ARTICLE VI, ENTITLED
MANDATORY ORGANIC WASTE DISPOSAL
REDUCTION, TO CHAPTER 12 OF THE GILROY CITY
CODE TO IMPLEMENT THE REQUIREMENTS OF SB 1383
WHEREAS, the City of Gilroy (City) is a municipal corporation, duly organized under the
constitution and laws of the State of California; and
WHEREAS, Senate Bill 1383 (SB 1383), the Short-lived Climate Pollutant Reduction Act of
2016, requires the California Department of Resources Recycling and Recovery (CalRecycle) to
develop regulations to reduce organics in landfills as a source of methane. As adopted by
CalRecycle, these SB 1383 regulations (SB 1383 Regulations) place requirements on multiple
entities, including the City, residential households, commercial businesses and business owners,
commercial edible food generators, haulers, self-haulers, food recovery organizations, and food
recovery services to support achievement of statewide organic waste disposal reduction targets;
and
WHEREAS, the SB 1383 Regulations require the City to adopt and enforce an ordinance or other
enforceable mechanism to implement relevant provisions of the SB 1383 Regulations; and
WHEREAS, this Ordinance implements the requirements of the SB 1383 Regulations.
NOW, THEREFORE, THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF GILROY DOES
HEREBY ORDAIN AS FOLLOWS:
SECTION I
Article VI entitled Mandatory Organic Waste Disposal Reduction, is hereby added to
Chapter 12, to read as follows:
ARTICLE VI. MANDATORY ORGANIC WASTE DISPOSAL REDUCTION
12.74 Definitions.
For the purposes of this chapter, the following terms, phrases, words and their derivations have
the meaning given in this section:
“Blue Container” has the same meaning as in 14 CCR Section 18982.2(a)(5) and shall be used for
the purpose of storage and collection of Source Separated Recyclable Materials or Source
Separated Blue Container Organic Waste.
“CalRecycle” means California's Department of Resources Recycling and Recovery, which is the
Department designated with responsibility for developing, implementing, and enforcing SB 1383
Regulations on cities (and others).
Ordinance No. 21-06 -2- December 6, 2021
“California Code of Regulations” or “CCR” means the State of California Code of Regulations.
CCR references in this ordinance are preceded with a number that refers to the relevant Title of
the CCR (e.g., “14 CCR” refers to Title 14 of CCR).
“Commercial Business” or “Commercial” means a firm, partnership, proprietorship, joint-stock
company, corporation, or association, whether for-profit or nonprofit, strip mall, industrial facility,
or a multifamily residential dwelling, or as otherwise defined in 14 CCR Section 18982(a)(6). A
Multi-Family Residential Dwelling that consists of fewer than five (5) units is not a Commercial
Business for purposes of implementing this ordinance.
“Commercial Edible Food Generator” includes a Tier One or a Tier Two Commercial Edible Food
Generator as defined in Section 12.74 of this ordinance or as otherwise defined in 14 CCR Section
18982(a)(73) and (a)(74). For the purposes of this definition, Food Recovery Organizations and
Food Recovery Services are not Commercial Edible Food Generators pursuant to 14 CCR Section
18982(a)(7).
“Compliance Review” means a review of records by the City, Department, or Designee to
determine compliance with this ordinance.
“Community Composting” means any activity that composts green material, agricultural material,
food material, and vegetative food material, alone or in combination, and the total amount of
feedstock and Compost on-site at any one time does not exceed 100 cubic yards and 750 square
feet, as specified in 14 CCR Section 17855(a)(4); or, as otherwise defined by 14 CCR Section
18982(a)(8).
“Compost” has the same meaning as in 14 CCR Section 17896.2(a)(4), which stated, as of the
effective date of this ordinance, that “Compost” means the product resulting from the controlled
biological decomposition of organic solid Wastes that are Source Separated from the municipal
Solid Waste stream, or which are separated at a centralized facility.
“Compostable Plastics” or “Compostable Plastic” means plastic materials that meet the ASTM
D6400 standard for compostability, or as otherwise described in 14 CCR Section 18984.1(a)(1)(A)
or 18984.2(a)(1)(C).
“Container Contamination” or “Contaminated Container” means a container, regardless of color,
that contains Prohibited Container Contaminants, or as otherwise defined in 14 CCR Section
18982(a)(55).
“C&D” means construction and demolition debris.
“Department” or “authorized Department” means any department of the County of Santa Clara, or
any other public agency authorized by the City to enforce or administer this chapter, as authorized
in 14 C.C.R. Section 18981.2.
“Designee” means any private entity that the City or authorized Department contracts with or
otherwise designates to carry out any of the City’s responsibilities of this chapter as authorized in
14 CCR Section 18981.2. A Designee may be a hauler, a private entity, or a combination of private
entities.
Ordinance No. 21-06 -3- December 6, 2021
“Edible Food” means food intended for human consumption, or as otherwise defined in 14 CCR
Section 18982(a)(18). For the purposes of this chapter, “Edible Food” is not Solid Waste if it is
recovered and not discarded. Nothing in this ordinance or in 14 CCR, Division 7, Chapter 12
requires or authorizes the recovery of edible food that does not meet the food safety requirements
of the California Retail Food Code.
“Enforcement Action" means an action of the City or authorized Department to address non-
compliance with this ordinance including, but not limited to, issuing administrative citations, fines,
penalties, or using other remedies.
“Excluded Waste” means hazardous substance, hazardous waste, infectious waste, designated
waste, volatile, corrosive, medical waste, infectious, regulated radioactive waste, and toxic
substances or material that facility operator(s), which receive materials from the City and its
generators, reasonably believe(s) would, as a result of or upon acceptance, transfer, processing, or
disposal, be a violation of local, State, or Federal law, regulation, or ordinance, including: land use
restrictions or conditions, waste that cannot be disposed of in Class III landfills or accepted at the
facility by permit conditions, waste that in the City, or its Designee’s reasonable opinion would
present a significant risk to human health or the environment, cause a nuisance or otherwise create
or expose City, or its Designee, to potential liability; but not including de minimis volumes or
concentrations of waste of a type and amount normally found in Single-Family or Multi-Family
Solid Waste after implementation of programs for the safe collection, processing, recycling,
treatment, and disposal of batteries and paint in compliance with sections 41500 and 41802 of the
California Public Resources Code. Excluded Waste does not include used motor oil and filters
and/or household batteries when the generator or customer has properly placed the materials for
collection pursuant to instructions provided by City or its Designee for collection services.
“Food Distributor” means a company that distributes food to entities including, but not limited to,
Supermarkets and Grocery Stores, or as otherwise defined in 14 CCR Section 18982(a)(22).
“Food Facility” means an operation that stores, prepares, packages, serves, vends, or otherwise
provides food for human consumption at the retail level, including, but not limited to facilities
listed in Section 113789 of the Health and Safety Code.
“Food Recovery” means actions to collect and distribute food for human consumption that
otherwise would be disposed, or as otherwise defined in 14 CCR Section 18982(a)(24).
“Food Recovery Organization” means an entity that engages in the collection or receipt of edible
food from commercial edible food generators and distributes that edible food to the public for food
recovery either directly or through other entities. “Food Recovery Organization” includes, but is
not limited to:
(1) A food bank as defined in Section 113783 of the Health and Safety Code;
(2) A nonprofit charitable organization as defined in Section 113841 of the Health and
Safety code; and
(3) A nonprofit charitable temporary food facility as defined in Section 113842 of the
Health and Safety Code.
Ordinance No. 21-06 -4- December 6, 2021
A Food Recovery Organization is not a commercial edible food generator for the purposes of this
chapter and implementation of 14 CCR, Division 7, Chapter 12 pursuant to 14 CCR Section
18982(a)(7). If the definition in 14 CCR Section 18982(a)(25) for Food Recovery Organization
differs from this definition, the definition in 14 CCR Section 18982(a)(25) shall apply to this
chapter.
“Food Recovery Service” means a person or entity that collects and transports Edible Food from
a commercial edible food generator to a Food Recovery Organization or other entities for Food
Recovery, or as otherwise defined in 14 CCR Section 18982(a)(26). A Food Recovery Service is
not a Commercial Edible Food Generator.
“Food Scraps” means all food such as, but not limited to, fruits, vegetables, meat, poultry, seafood,
shellfish, bones, rice, beans, pasta, bread, cheese, and eggshells. Food Scraps excludes fats, oils,
and grease when such materials are Source Separated from other Food Scraps.
“Food Service Provider” means an entity primarily engaged in providing food services to
institutional, governmental, commercial, or industrial locations of others based on contractual
arrangements with these types of organizations, or as otherwise defined in 14 CCR Section
18982(a)(27).
“Food-Soiled Paper” is compostable paper material that has come in contact with food or liquid,
such as, but not limited to, compostable paper plates, paper coffee cups, napkins, pizza boxes, and
milk cartons.
“Food Waste” means Food Scraps, Food-Soiled Paper, and Compostable Plastics.
“Gray Container” has the same meaning as in 14 CCR Section 18982.2(a)(28) and shall be used
for the purpose of storage and collection of Gray Container Waste.
“Gray Container Waste” means Solid Waste that is collected in a Gray Container that is part of a
three-container Organic Waste collection service that prohibits the placement of Organic Waste in
the Gray Container as specified in 14 CCR Sections 18984.1(a) and (b), or as otherwise defined in
14 CCR Section 17402(a)(6.5).
“Green Container” has the same meaning as in 14 CCR Section 18982.2(a)(29) and shall be used
for the purpose of storage and collection of Source Separated Green Container Organic Waste.
“Grocery Store” means a store primarily engaged in the retail sale of canned food; dry goods; fresh
fruits and vegetables; fresh meats, fish, and poultry; and any area that is not separately owned
within the store where the food is prepared and served, including a bakery, deli, and meat and
seafood departments, or as otherwise defined in 14 CCR Section 18982(a)(30).
“Hauler Route” means the designated itinerary or sequence of stops for each segment of the city’s
collection service area, or as otherwise defined in 14 CCR Section 18982(a)(31.5).
“Health Facility” has the same meaning as in Section 1250 of the Health and Safety Code.
“High Diversion Organic Waste Processing Facility” means a facility that is in compliance with
the reporting requirements of 14 CCR Section 18815.5(d) and meets or exceeds an annual average
Ordinance No. 21-06 -5- December 6, 2021
Mixed Waste organic content Recovery rate of 50 percent between January 1, 2022 and December
31, 2024, and 75 percent after January 1, 2025, as calculated pursuant to 14 CCR Section
18815.5(e) for Organic Waste received from the “Mixed waste organic collection stream” as
defined in 14 CCR Section 17402(a)(11.5); or, as otherwise defined in 14 CCR Section
18982(a)(33).
“Hotel” has the same meaning as in Section 17210 of the Business and Professions code.
“Inspection” means the City, an authorized Department, or their Designee’s electronic or onsite
review of records, containers, and an entity’s collection, handling, recycling, or landfill disposal
of organic waste or edible food handling to determine if the entity is complying with requirements
set forth in this chapter, or as otherwise defined in 14 CCR Section 18982(a)(35).
“City Enforcement Official” means the director of public works or designated city department, or
the authorized Department who is/are partially or wholly responsible for enforcing the ordinance.
See also “Regional or County Agency Enforcement Official”.
“Large Event” means an event, including, but not limited to, a sporting event or a flea market, that
charges an admission price, or is operated by a local agency, and serves an average of more than
2,000 individuals per day of operation of the event, at a location that includes, but is not limited
to, a public, nonprofit, or privately owned park, parking lot, golf course, street system, or other
open space when being used for an event. If the definition in 14 CCR Section 18982(a)(38) differs
from this definition, the definition in 14 CCR Section 18982(a)(38) shall apply to this Chapter.
“Large Venue” means a permanent venue facility that annually seats or serves an average of more
than 2,000 individuals within the grounds of the facility per day of operation of the venue facility.
A venue facility includes, but is not limited to, a public, nonprofit, or privately owned or operated
stadium, amphitheater, arena, hall, amusement park, conference or civic center, zoo, aquarium,
airport, racetrack, horse track, performing arts center, fairground, museum, theater, or other public
attraction facility. A site under common ownership or control that includes more than one Large
Venue that is contiguous with other Large Venues in the site, is a single Large Venue. If the
definition in 14 CCR Section 18982(a)(39) differs from this definition, the definition in 14 CCR
Section 18982(a)(39) shall apply to this chapter.
“Local Education Agency” means a school district, charter school, or county office of education
that is not subject to the control of city or county regulations related to Solid Waste, or as otherwise
defined in 14 CCR Section 18982(a)(40).
“Multi-Family Residential Dwelling” or “Multi-Family” means of, from, or pertaining to
residential premises with five (5) or more dwelling units. Multi-Family premises do not include
hotels, motels, or other transient occupancy facilities, which are considered Commercial
Businesses. Under the SB 1383 Regulations and for the purpose of this ordinance, Multi-Family
Residential Dwellings with five (5) or more units are included under the definition of a
Commercial Business per 14 CCR
“Non-Compostable Paper” includes but is not limited to paper that is coated in a plastic material
that will not breakdown in the composting process, or as otherwise defined in 14 CCR Section
18982(a)(41).
Ordinance No. 21-06 -6- December 6, 2021
“Non-Local Entity” means an entity that is an organic waste generator but is not subject to the
control of a jurisdiction’s regulations related to solid waste. These entities may include, but are not
limited to, special districts, federal facilities, prisons, facilities operated by the state parks system,
public universities, including community colleges, county fairgrounds, and state agencies.
“Non-Organic Recyclables” means non-putrescible and non-hazardous recyclable wastes
including but not limited to bottles, cans, metals, plastics and glass, or as otherwise defined in 14
CCR Section 18982(a)(43).
“Notice of Violation (NOV)” means a notice that a violation has occurred that includes a
compliance date to avoid an action to seek penalties, or as otherwise defined in 14 CCR Section
18982(a)(45) or further explained in 14 CCR Section 18995.4.
“Organic Waste” means Solid Wastes containing material originated from living organisms and
their metabolic waste products, including but not limited to food, green material, landscape and
pruning waste, organic textiles and carpets, lumber, wood, Paper Products, Printing and Writing
Paper, manure, biosolids, digestate, and sludges or as otherwise defined in 14 CCR Section
18982(a)(46). Biosolids and digestate are as defined by 14 CCR Section 18982(a).
“Organic Waste Generator” means a person or entity that is responsible for the initial creation of
Organic Waste, or as otherwise defined in 14 CCR Section 18982(a)(48).
“Paper Products” include, but are not limited to, paper janitorial supplies, cartons, wrapping,
packaging, file folders, hanging files, corrugated boxes, tissue, and toweling, or as otherwise
defined in 14 CCR Section 18982(a)(51).
“Printing and Writing Papers” include, but are not limited to, copy, xerographic, watermark, cotton
fiber, offset, forms, computer printout paper, white wove envelopes, manila envelopes, book paper,
note pads, writing tablets, newsprint, and other uncoated writing papers, posters, index cards,
calendars, brochures, reports, magazines, and publications, or as otherwise defined in 14 CCR
Section 18982(a)(54).
“Prohibited Container Contaminants” means the following: (i) discarded materials placed in the
Blue Container that are not identified as acceptable Source Separated Recyclable Materials for the
City’s Blue Container; (ii) discarded materials placed in the Green Container that are not identified
as acceptable Source Separated Green Container Organic Waste for the City’s Green Container;
(iii) discarded materials placed in the Gray Container that are acceptable Source Separated
Recyclable Materials and/or Source Separated Green Container Organic Wastes to be placed in
City’s Green Container and/or Blue Container; and, (iv) Excluded Waste placed in any container.
“Recovered Organic Waste Products” means products made from California, landfill-diverted
recovered Organic Waste processed in a permitted or otherwise authorized facility, or as otherwise
defined in 14 CCR Section 18982(a)(60).
“Recovery” means any activity or process described in 14 CCR Section 18983.1(b), or as
otherwise defined in 14 CCR Section 18982(a)(49).
Ordinance No. 21-06 -7- December 6, 2021
“Recycled-Content Paper” means Paper Products and Printing and Writing Paper that consists of
at least 30 percent, by fiber weight, postconsumer fiber, or as otherwise defined in 14 CCR Section
18982(a)(61).
“Regional Agency” means regional agency as defined in Public Resources Code Section 40181.
“Regional or County Agency Enforcement Official” means a regional or county agency
enforcement official, authorized by the City with responsibility for enforcing the ordinance in
conjunction or consultation with City Enforcement Official.
“Remote Monitoring” means the use of the internet of things (IoT) and/or wireless electronic
devices to visualize the contents of Blue Containers, Green Containers, and Gray Containers for
purposes of identifying the quantity of materials in containers (level of fill) and/or presence of
Prohibited Container Contaminants.
“Renewable Gas” means gas derived from Organic Waste that has been diverted from a California
landfill and processed at an in-vessel digestion facility that is permitted or otherwise authorized by
14 CCR to recycle Organic Waste, or as otherwise defined in 14 CCR Section 18982(a)(62).
“Restaurant” means an establishment primarily engaged in the retail sale of food and drinks for
on-premises or immediate consumption, or as otherwise defined in 14 CCR Section 18982(a)(64).
“Route Review” means a visual Inspection of containers along a Hauler Route for the purpose of
determining Container Contamination, and may include mechanical Inspection methods such as
the use of cameras, or as otherwise defined in 14 CCR Section 18982(a)(65).
“SB 1383” means Senate Bill 1383 of 2016 approved by the Governor on September 19, 2016,
which added Sections 39730.5, 39730.6, 39730.7, and 39730.8 to the Health and Safety Code, and
added Chapter 13.1 (commencing with Section 42652) to Part 3 of Division 30 of the Public
Resources Code, establishing methane emissions reduction targets in a Statewide effort to reduce
emissions of short-lived climate pollutants as amended, supplemented, superseded, and replaced
from time to time.
“SB 1383 Regulations” or “SB 1383 Regulatory” means or refers to, for the purposes of this
ordinance, the Short-Lived Climate Pollutants: Organic Waste Reduction regulations developed
by CalRecycle and adopted in 2020 that created 14 CCR, Division 7, Chapter 12 and amended
portions of regulations of 14 CCR and 27 CCR.
“Self-Hauler” means a person, who hauls Solid Waste, Organic Waste or recyclable material he or
she has generated to another person. Self-hauler also includes a person who back-hauls waste, or
as otherwise defined in 14 CCR Section 18982(a)(66). Back-haul means generating and
transporting Organic Waste to a destination owned and operated by the generator using the
generator’s own employees and equipment, or as otherwise defined in 14 CCR Section
18982(a)(66)(A).
“Share Table” has the same meaning as in Section 114079 of the Health and Safety Code.
“Single-Family” for the purpose of this ordinance means of, from, or pertaining to any residential
premises with fewer than five (5) units.
Ordinance No. 21-06 -8- December 6, 2021
“Solid Waste” or “Solid Waste Matter” has the same meaning as defined in State Public Resources
Code Section 40191, which defines Solid Waste as all putrescible and non-putrescible solid,
semisolid, and liquid wastes, including garbage, trash, refuse, paper, rubbish, ashes, industrial
wastes, demolition and construction wastes, abandoned vehicles and parts thereof, discarded home
and industrial appliances, dewatered, treated, or chemically fixed sewage sludge which is not
hazardous waste, manure, vegetable or animal solid and semi-solid wastes, and other discarded
solid and semisolid wastes, with the exception that Solid Waste does not include any of the
following wastes:
(1) Hazardous waste, as defined in the State Public Resources Code Section 40141.
(2) Radioactive waste regulated pursuant to the State Radiation Control Law (Chapter 8
(commencing with Section 114960) of Part 9 of Division 104 of the State Health and Safety
Code).
(3) Medical waste regulated pursuant to the State Medical Waste Management Act (Part
14 (commencing with Section 117600) of Division 104 of the State Health and Safety
Code). Untreated medical waste shall not be disposed of in a Solid Waste landfill, as
defined in State Public Resources Code Section 40195.1. Medical waste that has been
treated and deemed to be Solid Waste shall be regulated pursuant to Division 30 of the
State Public Resources Code.
"Solid waste collector" means any person with whom the City has duly contracted under the terms
set out in this chapter, to collect and transport solid waste matter through the streets, alleys or
public ways of the city.
“Source Separated” means materials, including commingled recyclable materials, that have been
separated or kept separate from the Solid Waste stream, at the point of generation, for the purpose
of additional sorting or processing those materials for recycling or reuse in order to return them to
the economic mainstream in the form of raw material for new, reused, or reconstituted products,
which meet the quality standards necessary to be used in the marketplace, or as otherwise defined
in 14 CCR Section 17402.5(b)(4). For the purposes of this chapter, Source Separated shall include
separation of materials by the generator, property owner, property owner’s employee, property
manager, or property manager’s employee into different containers for the purpose of collection
such that Source Separated materials are separated from Gray Container Waste or other Solid
Waste for the purposes of collection and processing.
“Source Separated Blue Container Organic Waste” means Source Separated Organic Wastes that
can be placed in a Blue Container that is limited to the collection of those Organic Wastes and
Non-Organic Recyclables as defined in Section 18982(a)(43), or as otherwise defined by Section
17402(a)(18.7) such as Paper Products and Printing and Writing Paper.
“Source Separated Green Container Organic Waste” means Source Separated Organic Waste that
can be placed in a Green Container that is specifically intended for the separate collection of
Organic Waste by the generator, excluding Source Separated Blue Container Organic Waste,
carpets, Non-Compostable Paper, and textiles.
Ordinance No. 21-06 -9- December 6, 2021
“Source Separated Recyclable Materials” means Source Separated Non-Organic Recyclables and
Source Separated Blue Container Organic Waste.
“State” means the State of California.
“Supermarket” means a full-line, self-service retail store with gross annual sales of two million
dollars ($2,000,000), or more, and which sells a line of dry grocery, canned goods, or nonfood
items and some perishable items, or as otherwise defined in 14 CCR Section 18982(a)(71).
“Tier One Commercial Edible Food Generator” means the following:
(1) Supermarket, as defined above.
(2) Grocery Store with a total facility size equal to or greater than 10,000 square feet.
(3) Food Service Provider, as defined above.
(4) Food Distributor, as defined above.
(5) Wholesale Food Vendor, as defined above.
(i) If the definition in 14 CCR Section 18982(a)(73) of Tier One Commercial Edible
Food Generator differs from this definition, the definition in 14 CCR Section
18982(a)(73) shall apply to this ordinance.
(ii) For the purposes of this chapter, Food Recovery Organizations and Food
Recovery Services are not commercial edible food generators.
“Tier Two Commercial Edible Food Generator” means the following:
(1) Restaurant with 250 or more seats, or a total facility size equal to or greater than 5,000
square feet.
(2) Hotel with an on-site Food Facility and 200 or more rooms.
(3) Health facility with an on-site Food Facility and 100 or more beds.
(4) Large Venues, as defined above.
(5) Large Event, as defined above.
(6) A State agency with a cafeteria with 250 or more seats or total cafeteria facility size
equal to or greater than 5,000 square feet.
(7) Local Education Agency facilities, as defined above, with on-site Food Facilities, as
defined above.
Ordinance No. 21-06 -10- December 6, 2021
(i) If the definition in 14 CCR Section 18982(a)(74) of Tier Two Commercial Edible
Food Generator differs from this definition, the definition in 14 CCR Section
18982(a)(74) shall apply to this ordinance.
(ii) Non-local entities that operate a facility that meets this definition are Tier Two
Commercial Edible Food Generators.
(iii) For the purposes of this chapter, food recovery organizations and food recovery
services are not commercial edible food generators.
“Wholesale Food Vendor” means a business or establishment engaged in the merchant wholesale
distribution of food, where food (including fruits and vegetables) is received, shipped, stored,
prepared for distribution to a retailer, warehouse, distributor, or other destination, or as otherwise
defined in 14 CCR Section 189852(a)(76).
12.75 Requirements for Single-Family Generators.
Single-Family Organic Waste Generators shall comply with the following requirements:
(a) Shall subscribe to City’s Organic Waste collection services for all Organic Waste generated as
described below in Section 12.75(b). City, authorized Department and/or Designee shall have the
right to review the number and size of a generator’s containers to evaluate adequacy of capacity
provided for each type of collection service for proper separation of materials and containment of
materials; and, Single-Family generators shall adjust its service level for its collection services as
requested by the City, authorized Department or Designee. Generators may additionally manage
their Organic Waste by preventing or reducing their Organic Waste, managing Organic Waste on
site, and/or using a Community Composting site pursuant to 14 CCR Section 18984.9(c).
(b) Shall participate in the City’s Organic Waste collection service(s) by placing designated
materials in designated containers as described below, and shall not place Prohibited Container
Contaminants in collection containers.
Generator shall place Source Separated Green Container Organic Waste, including Food Waste,
in the Green Container; Source Separated Recyclable Materials in the Blue Container; and Gray
Container Waste in the Gray Container. Generators shall not place materials designated for the
Gray Container into the Green Container or Blue Container.
12.76 Requirements for Commercial Businesses.
Generators that are Commercial Businesses, including Multi-Family Residential Dwellings, shall:
(a) Subscribe to City’s three-container collection services and comply with requirements of those
services as described below in Section 12.76(b), except Commercial Businesses that meet the Self-
Hauler requirements in Section 12.81 of this ordinance. City shall have the right to review the
number and size of a generator’s containers and frequency of collection to evaluate adequacy of
capacity provided for each type of collection service for proper separation of materials and
Ordinance No. 21-06 -11- December 6, 2021
containment of materials; and Commercial Businesses shall adjust their service level for their
collection services as requested by the City.
(b) Except Commercial Businesses that meet the Self-Hauler requirements in Section 12.81 of this
ordinance, participate in the City’s Organic Waste collection service(s) by placing designated
materials in designated containers as described below.
(1) Generator shall place Source Separated Green Container Organic Waste, including
Food Waste, in the Green Container; Source Separated Recyclable Materials in the Blue
Container; and Gray Container Waste in the Gray Container. Generator shall not place
materials designated for the Gray Container into the Green Container or Blue Container.
(c) Supply and allow access to adequate number, size and location of collection containers with
sufficient labels or colors (conforming with sections 12.76(d)(1) and 12.76(d)(2) below) for
employees, contractors, tenants, and customers, consistent with the City’s Blue Container, Green
Container, and Gray Container collection service or, if self-hauling, per the Commercial
Businesses’ instructions to support its compliance with its self-haul program, in accordance with
Section 12.81.
(d) Excluding Multi-Family Residential Dwellings, provide containers for the collection of Source
Separated Green Container Organic Waste and Source Separated Recyclable Materials in all
indoor and outdoor areas where disposal containers are provided for customers, for materials
generated by that business. Such containers do not need to be provided in restrooms. If a
Commercial Business does not generate any of the materials that would be collected in one type
of container, then the business does not have to provide that particular container in all areas where
disposal containers are provided for customers. Pursuant to 14 CCR Section 18984.9(b), the
containers provided by the business shall have either:
(1) A body or lid that conforms with the container colors provided through the collection
service provided by the City, with either lids conforming to the color requirements or
bodies conforming to the color requirements or both lids and bodies conforming to color
requirements. A Commercial Business is not required to replace functional containers,
including containers purchased prior to January 1, 2022, that do not comply with the
requirements of the subsection prior to the end of the useful life of those containers, or
prior to January 1, 2036, whichever comes first.
(2) Container labels that include language or graphic images, or both, indicating the
primary material accepted and the primary materials prohibited in that container, or
containers with imprinted text or graphic images that indicate the primary materials
accepted and primary materials prohibited in the container. Pursuant 14 CCR Section
18984.8, the container labeling requirements are required on new containers commencing
January 1, 2022.
(e) Multi-Family Residential Dwellings are not required to comply with container placement
requirements or labeling requirement in Section 12.76(d) pursuant to 14 CCR Section 18984.9(b).
(f) To the extent practical through education, training, Inspection, and/or other measures,
excluding Multi-Family Residential Dwellings, prohibit employees from placing materials in a
Ordinance No. 21-06 -12- December 6, 2021
container not designated for those materials per the City’s Blue Container, Green Container, and
Gray Container collection service or, if self-hauling, per the Commercial Businesses’ instructions
to support its compliance with its self-haul program, in accordance with Section 12.81.
(g) Excluding Multi-Family Residential Dwellings, periodically inspect Blue Containers, Green
Containers, and Gray Containers for contamination and inform employees if containers are
contaminated and of the requirements to keep contaminants out of those containers pursuant to 14
CCR Section 18984.9(b)(3).
(h) Annually provide information to employees, contractors, tenants, and customers about Organic
Waste Recovery requirements and about proper sorting of Source Separated Green Container
Organic Waste and Source Separated Recyclable Materials.
(i) Provide education information before or within fourteen (14) days of occupation of the premises
to new tenants that describes requirements to keep Source Separated Green Container Organic
Waste and Source Separated Recyclable Materials separate from Gray Container Waste (when
applicable) and the location of containers and the rules governing their use at each property.
(j) Provide or arrange access for City, Department and/or Designee to properties during all
Inspections conducted in accordance with Section 12.82 of this ordinance to confirm compliance
with the requirements of this ordinance.
(k) If applicable, accommodate and cooperate with City’s Remote Monitoring program for
Inspection of the contents of containers for Prohibited Container Contaminants, which may be
implemented at a later date, to evaluate generator’s compliance with Section 12.76(b). If
implemented, the Remote Monitoring program shall involve installation of Remote Monitoring
equipment on or in the Blue Containers, Green Containers, and Gray Containers.
(l) At Commercial Business’s option and subject to approval required from the City, implement a
Remote Monitoring program for Inspection of the contents of its Blue Containers, Green
Containers, and Gray Containers for the purpose of monitoring the contents of containers to
determine appropriate levels of service and to identify Prohibited Container Contaminants.
Generators may install Remote Monitoring devices on or in the Blue Containers, Green Containers,
and Gray Containers subject to written notification to and approval by the City, authorized
Department, or its Designee.
(m) If a Commercial Business wants to self-haul, meet the Self-Hauler requirements in Section
12.81 of this ordinance.
(n) Nothing in this section prohibits a generator from preventing or reducing waste generation,
managing Organic Waste on site, or using a Community Composting site pursuant to 14 CCR
Section 18984.9(c).
(o) Commercial Businesses that are Tier One or Tier Two Commercial Edible Food Generators
shall comply with Food Recovery requirements, pursuant to Section 12.78.
Ordinance No. 21-06 -13- December 6, 2021
12.77 Waivers for Generators.
(a) De Minimis Waivers: A city may waive a Commercial Business’ obligation (including Multi-
Family Residential Dwellings) to comply with some or all of the Organic Waste requirements of
this ordinance if the Commercial Business provides documentation that the business generates
below a certain amount of Organic Waste material as described in Section 12.77(a)(2) below.
Commercial Businesses requesting a de minimis waiver shall:
(1) Submit an application specifying the services that they are requesting a waiver from
and provide documentation as noted in Section 12.77(a)(2) below.
(2) Provide documentation that either:
(i) The Commercial Business’ total Solid Waste collection service is two cubic yards
or more per week and Organic Waste subject to collection in a Blue Container or
Green Container comprises less than 20 gallons per week per applicable container
of the business’ total waste; or,
(ii) The Commercial Business’ total Solid Waste collection service is less than two
cubic yards per week and Organic Waste subject to collection in a Blue Container
or Green Container comprises less than 10 gallons per week per applicable
container of the business’ total waste.
(3) Notify City if circumstances change such that Commercial Business’s Organic Waste
exceeds threshold required for waiver, in which case waiver will be rescinded.
(4) Provide written verification of eligibility for de minimis waiver every 5 years, if City
has approved de minimis waiver.
(b) Physical Space Waivers: City may waive a Commercial Business’ or property owner’s
obligations (including Multi-Family Residential Dwellings) to comply with some or all of the
recyclable materials and/or Organic Waste collection service requirements if the City has evidence
from its own staff, a hauler, licensed architect, or licensed engineer demonstrating that the premises
lacks adequate space for the collection containers required for compliance with the Organic Waste
collection requirements of Section 12.76.
A Commercial Business or property owner may request a physical space waiver through the
following process:
(1) Submit an application form specifying the type(s) of collection services for which they
are requesting a compliance waiver.
(2) Provide documentation that the premises lacks adequate space for Blue /Brown
Containers and/or Green Containers including documentation from its hauler, licensed
architect, or licensed engineer.
(3) Provide written verification to City that it is still eligible for physical space waiver
every five years, if City has approved application for a physical space waiver.
Ordinance No. 21-06 -14- December 6, 2021
12.78 Requirements for Commercial Edible Food Generators.
(a) Tier One Commercial Edible Food Generators must comply with the requirements of this
section commencing January 1, 2022, and Tier Two Commercial Edible Food Generators must
comply commencing January 1, 2024, pursuant to 14 CCR Section 18991.3.
(b) Large Venue or Large Event operators not providing food services, but allowing for food to be
provided by others, shall require Food Facilities operating at the Large Venue or Large Event to
comply with the requirements of this section, commencing January 1, 2024.
(c) Tier One and Tier Two Commercial Edible Food Generators shall comply with the following
requirements:
(1) Arrange to recover the maximum amount of Edible Food that would otherwise be
disposed.
(2) Contract with, or enter into a written agreement with Food Recovery Organizations or
Food Recovery Services for:
(i) the collection of Edible Food for Food Recovery; or,
(ii) acceptance of the Edible Food that the Commercial Edible Food Generator self-
hauls to the Food Recovery Organization for Food Recovery.
(3) Shall not intentionally spoil Edible Food that is capable of being recovered by a Food
Recovery Organization or a Food Recovery Service.
(4) Allow the City, authorized Department and/or Designee to access the premises, conduct
Inspections, and review electronic and hard copy records pursuant to 14 CCR Section
18991.4.
(5) Keep records that include the following information, or as otherwise specified in 14
CCR Section 18991.4:
(i) A list of each Food Recovery Service or Organization that collects or receives its
Edible Food pursuant to a contract or written agreement established under 14
CCR Section 18991.3(b).
(ii) A copy of all contracts or written agreements established under 14 CCR Section
18991.3(b). A copy of all contracts or written agreements established under 14
CCR Section 18991.3(b).
(iii) A record of the following information for each of those Food Recovery Services
or Food Recovery Organizations:
• The name, address and contact information of the Food Recovery
Service or Food Recovery Organization.
• The types of food that will be collected by or self-hauled to the Food
Recovery Service or Food Recovery Organization.
• The established frequency that food will be collected or self-hauled.
• The quantity of food, measured in pounds recovered per month,
collected or self-hauled to a Food Recovery Service or Food
Recovery Organization for Food Recovery.
(d) Tier One Commercial Edible Food Generators shall submit Food Recovery Reports, as defined
below, to the City, authorized Department or Designee according to the following schedule:
Ordinance No. 21-06 -15- December 6, 2021
(1) On or before August 1, 2022, Tier One Commercial Edible Food Generators shall
submit a Food Recovery Report for the period of January 1, 2022 through June 30, 2022.
(2) On or before May 1, 2023, and on or before May 1st each year thereafter, Tier One
Commercial Edible Food Generators shall submit a Food Recovery Report for the period
covering the entire previous calendar year.
(e) Tier Two Commercial Edible Food Generators shall submit Food Recovery Reports, as defined
below, to the City, authorized Department or Designee according to the following schedule:
(1) On or before May 1, 2025, and on or before May 1st each year thereafter, Tier Two
Commercial Edible Food Generators shall submit a Food Recovery Report for the period
covering the entire previous calendar year.
(f) Food Recovery Reports submitted by Tier One and Tier Two Commercial Edible Food
Generators shall include the following information:
(1) The name and address of the Commercial Edible Food Generator;
(2) The name of the person responsible for the Commercial Edible Food Generator’s edible
food recovery program;
(3) A list of all contracted Food Recovery Services or Food Recovery Organizations that
collect Edible Food from the Commercial Edible Food Generator;
(4) The total number of pounds of Edible Food, per year, donated through a contracted
Food Recovery Organization or Food Recovery Service.
(g) Nothing in this chapter shall be construed to limit or conflict with the protections provided by
the California Good Samaritan Food Donation Act of 2017, the Federal Good Samaritan Act, or
share table and school food donation guidance issued by the California Department of Education
pursuant to Senate Bill 557 (2017).
12.79 Requirements for Food Recovery Organizations and Services.
(a) Food Recovery Services collecting, receiving, or coordinating the collection of Edible Food
directly from Tier One or Tier Two Commercial Edible Food Generators, via a contract or written
agreement established under 14 CCR Section 18991.3(b), shall maintain the following records, or
as otherwise specified by 14 CCR Section 18991.5(a)(1):
(1) The name, address, and contact information for each Commercial Edible Food
Generator from which the Service collects Edible Food.
(2) The quantity in pounds of Edible Food collected from each Commercial Edible Food
Generator per month.
(3) The quantity in pounds of Edible Food transported to each Food Recovery Organization
per month.
(4) The name, address, and contact information for each Food Recovery Organization that
the Food Recovery Service transports Edible Food to for Food Recovery.
(b) Food Recovery Organizations collecting, receiving, or coordinating the collection of Edible
Food directly from Tier One or Tier Two Commercial Edible Food Generators, via a contract or
written agreement established under 14 CCR Section 18991.3(b), shall maintain the following
records, or as otherwise specified by 14 CCR Section 18991.5(a)(2):
Ordinance No. 21-06 -16- December 6, 2021
(1) The name, address, and contact information for each Commercial Edible Food
Generator from which the Organization receives Edible Food.
(2) The quantity in pounds of Edible Food received from each Commercial Edible Food
Generator per month.
(3) The name, address, and contact information for each Food Recovery Service that the
organization receives Edible Food from for Food Recovery.
(c) Food Recovery Organizations and Food Recovery Services that have their primary address
physically located in the city and contract with or have written agreements with one or more Tier
One or Tier Two Commercial Edible Food Generators pursuant to 14 CCR Section 18991.3(b)
shall submit Food Recovery Reports, as defined below, to the City, authorized Department and/or
Designee according to the following schedule:
(1) On or before August 1, 2022, Food Recovery Organizations and Food Recovery
Services shall submit a Food Recovery Report for the period of January 1, 2022 through
June 30, 2022;
(2) On or before May 1, 2023, and on or before May 1st each year thereafter, Food
Recovery Organizations and Food Recovery Services shall submit a Food Recovery Report
for the period covering the entire previous calendar year.
(d) Food Recovery reports submitted by Food Recovery Services or Organizations shall include
the following information:
(1) Total pounds of Edible Food recovered in the previous calendar year from Tier One
and Tier Two Edible Food Generators with whom the reporting entity has a contract or
written agreement pursuant to 14 CCR Section 18991.3(b).
(2) Total pounds of Edible Food recovered in the previous calendar year from Tier One
and Tier Two Edible Food Generators within Santa Clara County with whom the reporting
entity has a contract or written agreement pursuant to 14 CCR Section 18991.3(b).
(e) In order to support Edible Food Recovery capacity planning assessments or other studies
conducted by the City, the County of Santa Clara or other authorized Department or their
Designees, Food Recovery Services and Food Recovery Organizations operating in the city shall
provide information and consultation to the City, Department, or Designee upon request, regarding
existing, or proposed new or expanded, Food Recovery capacity that could be accessed by the City
and its Tier One and Tier Two Commercial Edible Food Generators. A Food Recovery Service or
Food Recovery Organization contacted by the City, authorized Department, or a Designee shall
respond to such request for information within 60 days, unless a shorter timeframe is specified.
12.80 Requirements for Haulers and Facility Operators.
(a) Requirements for Haulers are as follows:
(1) All haulers including exclusive franchised haulers, non-exclusive franchised haulers,
permitted haulers, and licensed haulers providing residential, Commercial, or industrial
Organic Waste collection services to generators within city boundaries shall meet the
following requirements and standards as a condition of approval of a contract, agreement,
or other authorization with the City to collect Organic Waste:
Ordinance No. 21-06 -17- December 6, 2021
(i) Through written notice to the City annually on or before February 1 of each year,
identify the facilities to which they will transport Organic Waste including
facilities for Source Separated Recyclable Materials and Source Separated Green
Container Organic Waste, and Mixed Waste.
(ii) Transport Source Separated Recyclable Materials and Source Separated Green
Container Organic Waste to a facility, operation, activity, or property that
recovers Organic Waste as defined in 14 CCR, Division 7, Chapter 12, Article 2.
(iii)Obtain approval from the City to haul Organic Waste, unless it is transporting
Source Separated Organic Waste to a Community Composting site or lawfully
transporting C&D in a manner that complies with 14 CCR Section 18989.1.
(2) All haulers including exclusive franchised haulers, non-exclusive franchised haulers,
permitted haulers, and licensed haulers with authorization to collect Organic Waste shall
comply with education, equipment, signage, container labeling, container color,
contamination monitoring, reporting, and other requirements contained within its franchise
agreement, permit, license, or other agreement entered into with the city.
(b) Requirements for Facility Operators and Community Composting Operations
(1) Owners of facilities, operations, and activities that recover Organic Waste, including,
but not limited to, Compost facilities, in-vessel digestion facilities, and publicly-owned
treatment works shall, upon City’s request, provide information regarding available and
potential new or expanded capacity at their facilities, operations, and activities, including
information about throughput and permitted capacity necessary for planning purposes.
Entities contacted by the City shall respond within 60 days.
(2) Community Composting operators, upon City request, shall provide information to the
City to support Organic Waste capacity planning, including, but not limited to, an estimate
of the amount of Organic Waste anticipated to be handled at the Community Composting
operation. Entities contacted by the City shall respond within 60 days.
12.81 Self-Hauler Requirements.
(a) Self-Haulers shall source separate all recyclable materials and Organic Waste (materials that
City otherwise requires generators to separate for collection in the City’s organics and recycling
collection program) generated on-site from Solid Waste in a manner consistent with 14 CCR
sections 18984.1 and 18984.2, or shall haul Organic Waste to a High Diversion Organic Waste
Processing Facility as specified in 14 CCR Section 18984.3.
(b) Self-Haulers shall haul their Source Separated Recyclable Materials to a facility that recovers
those materials; and haul their Source Separated Green 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.
(c) Self-Haulers that are Commercial Businesses (including Multi-Family Residential Dwellings)
shall keep a record of the amount of Organic Waste delivered to each Solid Waste facility,
operation, activity, or property that processes or recovers Organic Waste; this record shall be
subject to Inspection by the City. The records shall include the following information:
Ordinance No. 21-06 -18- December 6, 2021
(1) Delivery receipts and weight tickets from the entity accepting the waste.
(2) The amount of material in cubic yards or tons transported by the generator to each
entity.
(3) If the material is transported to an entity that does not have scales on-site, or employs
scales incapable of weighing the Self-Hauler’s vehicle in a manner that allows it to
determine the weight of materials received, the Self-Hauler is not required to record the
weight of material but shall keep a record of the entities that received the Organic Waste.
(d) Self-Haulers that are Commercial Businesses (including Multi-Family Self-Haulers) shall
provide information collected in Section 12.81(c) to City if requested.
(e) A residential Organic Waste Generator that self-hauls Organic Waste is not required to record
or report information in Section 12.81(c) and (d).
12.82 Inspections and Investigations by City.
(a) The City, authorized Department(s) and/or Designee(s) are authorized to conduct Inspections
and investigations, at random or otherwise, of any collection container, collection vehicle loads,
or transfer, processing, or disposal facility for materials collected from generators, or Source
Separated materials to confirm compliance with this chapter by Organic Waste Generators,
Commercial Businesses (including Multi-Family Residential Dwellings), property owners, Tier
One and Tier Two Commercial Edible Food Generators, haulers, Self-Haulers, Food Recovery
Services, and Food Recovery Organizations, subject to applicable laws. This section does not
allow the City or its designated representative to enter the interior of a private residential property
for Inspection.
(b) Regulated entities shall provide or arrange for access during all inspections (with the exception
of residential property interiors) and shall cooperate with the City and/or its designated inspection
representative(s) during such Inspections and investigations. Such Inspections and investigations
may include confirmation of proper placement of materials in containers, in-person or electronic
review of Edible Food Recovery activities, records, or any other requirement of this chapter
described herein. Failure to provide or arrange for access to an entity’s premises or access to
records for any Inspection or investigation is a violation of this chapter and may result in penalties
described.
(c) Any records obtained by the City or their designated representative during Inspections, Remote
Monitoring, and other reviews shall be subject to the requirements and applicable disclosure
exemptions of the Public Records Act as set forth in Government Code Section 6250 et seq.
(d) The City, authorized Department(s) and/or their Designee(s) are authorized to conduct any
Inspections, Remote Monitoring, or other investigations as reasonably necessary to further the
goals of this chapter, subject to applicable laws.
(e) The City or its designated representative shall receive written complaints, including
anonymous complaints, regarding entities that may be in violation of this chapter. Complaints
shall include the name and contact information of the complainant, if the complainant is not
anonymous; the identity of the alleged violator, if known; a description of the alleged violation
including location(s) and all other relevant facts known to the complainant; any relevant
Ordinance No. 21-06 -19- December 6, 2021
photographic or documentary evidence to support the allegations in the complaint; and the identity
of any witnesses, if known.
12.83 Enforcement.
(a) Responsible Entity for Enforcement. Enforcement pursuant to this section may be undertaken
by the following:
(1) City Enforcement Official, which is the director of public works or his/her designated
city department(s), legal counsel, or combination thereof.
(2) Regional or County Agency Enforcement Official and/or other authorized
Department(s), as designated by the City and in consultation with the City Enforcement
Official or his/her designated city department(s), when needed.
(i) Regional or County Agency Enforcement Official and/or other authorized
Department(s) when applicable, will interpret ordinance; determine the
applicability of waivers, if violation(s) have occurred; implement Enforcement
Actions; and, determine if compliance standards are met. The authorized
enforcement representative will consult with the City Enforcement Official(s) or
his/her designated City department(s) as needed.
(ii) Enforcement Official(s), including Regional or County Agency Enforcement
Official or other authorized Department, may issue Notices of Violation(s).
(b) Notice of Violation. Violation of any provision of this ordinance shall constitute grounds for
issuance of a Notice of Violation. Before assessing an administrative citation and fine, the City or
designated representative shall issue a Notice of Violation requiring compliance within sixty days
of issuance of the Notice. The Notice shall include: (1) the name(s) of each person or entity to
whom it is directed, (2) a factual description of the violations, including the regulatory section(s)
being violated, (3) a compliance date by which the respondent is to take specified action(s), and
(4) the penalty for not complying before the specified deadline.
(c) Extensions to Notice of Violation Compliance Deadlines. The City or designated enforcement
representative may extend the compliance deadlines set forth in a Notice of Violation if it finds
that there are extenuating circumstances beyond the control of the respondent that make
compliance within the deadlines impracticable, including the following:
(1) Acts of God such as earthquakes, wildfires, flooding, and other emergencies or natural
disasters;
(2) Delays in obtaining discretionary permits or other government agency approvals;
(3) Deficiencies in Organic Waste recycling infrastructure or Edible Food Recovery
capacity and the existence of a corrective action plan imposed by CalRecycle pursuant to
14 CCR Section 18996.2 due to those deficiencies; or
(4) Any other circumstance in which the City, in their sole discretion, finds good cause to
extend the compliance deadlines.
(d) Administrative Citations and Fines. Absent compliance by the respondent within the deadline
set forth in the Notice of Violation, City or designated representative shall commence an action to
impose penalties, via an administrative citation and fine. The City’s procedures on imposition of
Ordinance No. 21-06 -20- December 6, 2021
administrative fines, or the procedures of the City’s designated enforcement representative as
applicable, are hereby incorporated in their entirety, as modified from time to time, and shall
govern the imposition, enforcement, collection, and review of administrative citations issued to
enforce this ordinance and any rule or regulation adopted pursuant to this ordinance, except as
otherwise indicated in this ordinance.
(e) Amount of Fine. The amount of the administrative fine for each violation of this chapter shall
be as follows:
(1) For a first violation, the amount of the base penalty shall be $50 to $100 per violation.
(2) For a second violation, the amount of the base penalty shall be $100 to $200 per
violation.
(3) For a third or subsequent violation, the amount of the base penalty shall be $250 to
$500 per violation.
(f) Factors Considered in Determining Penalty Amount. The following factors shall be used to
determine the amount of the penalty for each violation within the appropriate penalty range:
(1) The nature, circumstances, and severity of the violation(s).
(2) The violator’s ability to pay.
(3) The willfulness of the violator's misconduct.
(4) Whether the violator took measures to avoid or mitigate violations of this chapter.
(5) Evidence of any economic benefit resulting from the violation(s).
(6) The deterrent effect of the penalty on the violator.
(7) Whether the violation(s) were due to conditions outside the control of the violator.
(g) Appeals. Persons receiving an administrative citation for an uncorrected violation may request
a hearing to appeal the citation. The City will appoint a hearing officer who shall conduct the
hearing and issue a final written order. The hearing officer may be a City official or another public
agency designated by the City. The hearing officer shall be identified in the administrative citation.
A hearing will be held only if it is requested within the time prescribed and consistent with City
and/or authorized Department, procedures in the applicable codes for appeals of administrative
citations.
(h) Other Remedies. Other remedies allowed by law may be used to enforce this ordinance,
including civil action or prosecution as misdemeanor or infraction. The City and/or authorized
Department may pursue civil actions in the California courts to seek recovery of unpaid
administrative citations. The City and/or designated representative may choose to delay court
action until such time as court action is a reasonable use of staff and resources.
(i) Education Period for Non-Compliance. Beginning January 1, 2022 and through December 31,
2023, the City, authorized Department, and/or Designee will conduct Inspections, Remote
Monitoring (if program is active), Route Reviews or waste evaluations, and Compliance Reviews,
depending upon the type of regulated entity, to determine compliance. If the City or its designated
representative determines that an Organic Waste Generator, Self-Hauler, hauler, Tier One
Commercial Edible Food Generator, Food Recovery Organization, Food Recovery Service, or
other entity is not in compliance, it shall provide educational materials to the entity describing its
Ordinance No. 21-06 -21- December 6, 2021
obligations under this ordinance and a notice that compliance is required. It shall also provide
notice that violations may be subject to administrative civil penalties starting on January 1, 2024.
(j) Process for Enforcement
(1) The City Enforcement Official or designated city department(s), Regional or County
Enforcement Officials or other authorized Department(s) and/or Designee(s) will monitor
compliance with the ordinance randomly and through Compliance Reviews, Route
Reviews, investigation of complaints, and an Inspection program (that may include Remote
Monitoring). Section 12.82 establishes the City’s right to conduct inspections and
investigations.
(2) Contamination Processing Fees/Penalties. For incidences of Prohibited Container
Contaminants found in containers, City or authorized Department may issue a Notice of
Violation to any generator found to have Prohibited Container Contaminants in a container.
Such notice may be provided via a cart tag or other communication immediately upon
identification of the Prohibited Container Contaminants and no later than within one week
after determining that a violation has occurred. If the City, authorized Department or
Designee observes Prohibited Container Contaminants in a generator’s containers on more
than three consecutive occasion(s), the City may assess contamination processing fees or
contamination penalties on the generator.
(k) Civil Penalties for Non-Compliance. Beginning January 1, 2024, if the City, authorized
Department, or Designee determines that an Organic Waste Generator, Self-Hauler, hauler, Tier
One or Tier Two Commercial Edible Food Generator, Food Recovery Organization, Food
Recovery Service, or other entity is not in compliance with this ordinance, it shall document the
noncompliance or violation, and the City or authorized Department will issue a Notice of
Violation, and take Enforcement Action pursuant to Section 12.83, as needed.
(l) Enforcement Table. Table 1 below is a list of most common likely violations related to this
ordinance. Possible violations related to this ordinance are not limited to those listed in the table.
Table 1. List of Violations
Requirement Description of Violation
Commercial Business and
Commercial Business Owner
Responsibility Requirements,
Section 12.76
Commercial Business fails to provide or arrange for
Organic Waste collection services consistent with city
requirements and as outlined in this ordinance, for
employees, contractors, tenants, and customers, including
supplying and allowing access to adequate numbers, size,
and location of containers and sufficient signage and
container color.
Organic Waste Generator
Requirements, Section 12.75 and
12.76
Organic Waste Generator fails to comply with
requirements adopted pursuant to this ordinance for the
collection and Recovery of Organic Waste.
Hauler Requirements, Section
12.80
A hauler providing residential, Commercial or industrial
Organic Waste collection service fails to transport Organic
Ordinance No. 21-06 -22- December 6, 2021
Waste to a facility, operation, activity, or property that
recovers Organic Waste, as prescribed by this ordinance.
Hauler Requirements, Section
12.80
A hauler providing residential, Commercial, or industrial
Organic Waste collection service fails to obtain applicable
approval issued by the City to haul Organic Waste as
prescribed by this ordinance.
Hauler Requirements, Section
12.80
A hauler fails to keep a record of the applicable
documentation of its approval by the City, as prescribed
by this ordinance.
Self-Hauler Requirements,
Section 12.81
A generator who is a Self-Hauler fails to comply with the
requirements of 14 CCR Section 18988.3(b).
Commercial Edible Food
Generator Requirements, Section
12.78
Tier One Commercial Edible Food Generator fails to
arrange to recover the maximum amount of its Edible
Food that would otherwise be disposed by establishing a
contract or written agreement with a Food Recovery
Organization or Food Recovery Service and comply with
this section commencing Jan. 1, 2022.
Commercial Edible Food
Generator Requirements, Section
12.78
Tier Two Commercial Edible Food Generator fails to
arrange to recover the maximum amount of its Edible
Food that would otherwise be disposed by establishing a
contract or written agreement with a Food Recovery
Organization or Food Recovery Service and comply with
this section commencing Jan. 1, 2024.
Commercial Edible Food
Generator Requirements, Section
12.78
Tier One or Tier Two Commercial Edible Food Generator
intentionally spoils Edible Food that is capable of being
recovered by a Food Recovery Organization or Food
Recovery Service.
Organic Waste Generator,
Commercial Business Owner,
Commercial Edible Food
Generator, Food Recovery
Organization or Food Recovery
Service, sections 12.76 and 12.78
Failure to provide or arrange for access to an entity’s
premises for any Inspection or investigation.
Recordkeeping Requirements for
Commercial Edible Food
Generators, Section 12.78
Tier One or Tier Two Commercial Edible Food Generator
fails to keep records, as prescribed by Section 12.78.
Recordkeeping Requirements for
Food Recovery Services and Food
Recovery Organizations, Section
12.79
A Food Recovery Organization or Food Recovery Service
that has established a contract or written agreement to
collect or receive Edible Food directly from a Commercial
Edible Food Generator pursuant to 14 CCR Section
18991.3(b) fails to keep records, as prescribed by Section
12.79.
Ordinance No. 21-06 -23- December 6, 2021
12.84 Effective Date
This ordinance shall be effective commencing on January 1, 2022.
SECTION II
If any section, subsection, sentence, clause or phrase of this Ordinance is for any reason held to be
invalid or unconstitutional, such decision shall not affect the validity of the remaining portions of
this ordinance. The City Council of the City of Gilroy hereby declares that it would have passed
and adopted this ordinance, and each section, subsection, sentence, clause or phrase hereof,
irrespective of the fact that any one or more sections, subsections, sentences, clauses or phrases
may be declared invalid or unconstitutional.
SECTION III
This Ordinance shall take effect on January 1, 2022. The City Clerk is hereby directed to publish
this Ordinance or a summary thereof pursuant to Government Code Section 36933.