Business Programs | City of Davis, CA

Waste Collection Service

The City has an exclusive franchise waste agreement with Recology Davis to collect trash, recyclables, organics, yard material piles, and perform street sweeping within the city limits. A variety of bin sizes and service levels are available. More information on monthly solid waste rates. Billing for these services is handled by the City's Finance Department. Recology Davis offers basic organics collection service (one 95-gallon recycling cart serviced weekly for most businesses and a 65-gallon organics cart services twice a week for restaurants and other businesses that generate large volumes of food scraps) and unlimited recycling service no extra cost to all customers that subscribe to garbage service. Additional organics carts and more frequent service are available for a fee.

Recycling and organic waste collection carts should be located in or near the waste enclosure. There are two different recycling carts: one for mixed paper and one for plastic, glass and metal containers. Cardboard boxes should be emptied of all packing materials and flattened. Some businesses have a cardboard recycling bin. For those that do not, place flattened cardboard on the ground next to the recycling carts (there should be a space designated for cardboard recycling).

Waste Diversion Requirements: All Businesses

Statewide regulations under SB 1383: Short-Lived Climate Pollutants require all businesses to follow certain rules regarding waste sorting, collection, and education. Please see the list of rules below. Per State law, the City is required to issue a Notice of Violation for any violation of these rules found after January 1, 2024 and fines must be assessed if the violations are not cleared within 60 days.

Businesses are required to either:

Subscribe to recycling and organic waste collection service levels that are sufficient to allow all recyclables and organic wastes to be collected from their business.
- Recycling service: Businesses in Davis that have trash collection service through Recology Davis receive unlimited recycling service at no additional cost (the cost is already included in trash service fees).
- Organic waste service: Trash collection service also includes one organics cart. Restaurants, grocery stores, and other businesses that generate large volumes of food scraps receive a 65-gallon organics cart that is serviced twice per week. All other businesses receive a 95-gallon organics cart that is serviced once per week. Additional carts and more frequent service are available for a fee. Depending on the amount of organic waste generated, businesses may need additional organics carts or more frequent service.
- Organic waste and recycling carts must be located at each trash enclosure. There must be a sufficient number to collect all recyclables and organics generated onsite.
- All waste enclosures must have either a cardboard recycling bin or a designated area for cardboard recycling.
  - Businesses that have space in their waste enclosure can contact Recology to request a cardboard recycling bin for free.
  - If there is not space for a cardboard bin, businesses must set aside an area in or near the waste enclosure and clearly mark it for cardboard recycling. The City has free cardboard recycling signs that can be posted to meet this requirement. You can request them via this online form. After setting up an area for cardboard recycling, contacting Recology Davis to request to be added to the cardboard recycling route, in order to ensure that your cardboard is collected regularly. There is no charge for this. Unlimited cardboard recycling service is included in the price of your regular garbage fees.
OR

Self-haul recyclables and organic waste to a recycling center, composting facility, community composting program, and/or other collection activity or program. If this option is chosen, there are specific reporting requirements that must be followed. Businesses must ensure that recyclables and organic waste materials are kept out of the trash and must keep and submit records to show that this is occurring. More information on self-haul waivers.

Businesses are also required to:

Supply and allow access to an adequate number, size, and location of recycling and organic waste containers for all employees, contractors, and tenants to ensure that all organic wastes and recyclables are kept out of the trash.
- The City has free waste bins and labels available to Davis businesses while supplies last.
Require that any contract or work agreement with a gardening or landscaping service specify that yard trimmings be kept out of the trash/landfill.
Place recycling and organic waste bins next to all trash bins provided for customer use. The bins must be of a sufficient number and size to collect all recyclables and organic wastes generated onsite. If a business has a trash bin in an area that does not generate any recycling or organic wastes, then it does not have to provide recycling and/or organics containers in that particular area. For example: A trash can in an examination room at a doctor’s office may not need a paper recycling bin if there is no paper waste generated in that room.
- The City has free waste bins and labels available to Davis businesses while supplies last.
Provide restrooms with an organics bin to collect paper towels, if paper towels are present.
- The City has free waste bins and labels available to Davis businesses while supplies last.
Ensure that all bins for customers, employees, and contractors meet either the color OR labeling requirements listed below.
- Color requirements: Bins must be color-coded (trash = gray or black, recycling = blue, organics = green). Either the lid and/or the body of the container must be color-compliant. Existing bins do not need to be replaced until January 1, 2036, but all new bins purchased after January 1, 2022 must be color-compliant. Businesses can continue to use their existing waste bins for customers, regardless of the color, as long as they are clearly labeled to show what can be placed inside.
- Labeling requirements: Bins must be clearly labeled with what can and cannot go inside the bin.
Annually provide information to all employees, contractors, and tenants on waste diversion requirements and how to properly sort recyclables and organic waste into the correct bins. The City has fliers, videos and other resources that can assist with this.
- These materials can be provided to residential tenants to meet the education requirement.
- These fliers can be provided to commercial tenants to meet the education requirement:
  - Waste sorting information:
    - Waste Sorting Flier for Businesses (PDF)
    - Multi-Lingual Recycling Flier (PDF)
  - SB 1383 Information:
Prohibit employees from placing organic waste and recyclables in the wrong bins.
Periodically inspect recycling and organic waste bins for contamination. If waste collection bins are found to be contaminated, businesses need to inform employees of the requirement to sort waste properly and ensure that proper sorting of waste occurs. The City has fliers, videos and other resources that can assist with this.
Provide information to new tenants about their requirements to sort waste properly within 14 days of occupation of the premises. The City has fliers, videos and other resources that can assist with this.
- Information for residential tenants:
- Information for commercial tenants:
Some businesses (grocery stores, supermarkets, food service providers, food distributors and wholesale food vendors) are required to arrange to recover the maximum amount of their edible food that would otherwise go to landfills. They must establish contracts with food recovery organizations/services that will accept their edible food and keep records of all edible food recovery. More information on food recovery requirements .is provided in the drop-down below.

Additional information on laws regarding waste diversion:

Waste Diversion Requirements: Multi-Family Properties

Statewide regulations under SB 1383: Short-Lived Climate Pollutants require all businesses to follow certain rules regarding waste sorting, collection, and education. These rules also apply to all property owners and managers. While having access to recycling and organics recycling service has been required by State and local law for a number of years, new statewide regulations under SB 1383: Short-Lived Climate Pollutants will require significant changes to the way that businesses and residents statewide manage their waste.

SB 1383 Information for Single-Family and Multi-Family Property Managers (PDF)
SB 1383 Information for Commercial Property Managers (PDF)

Businesses and Multi-family properties are required to either:

Subscribe to recycling and organic waste collection service levels that are sufficient to allow all recyclables and organic wastes to be collected from their property.
- Recycling service: Properties in Davis that have trash collection service through Recology Davis receive unlimited recycling service at no additional cost (the cost is already included in trash service fees).
- Organic waste service: Trash collection service also includes one 95-gallon organics cart that is serviced once per week. Additional carts and more frequent service are available for a fee. Depending on the amount of organic waste generated, properties may need additional organics carts or more frequent service.
- Organic waste and recycling carts must be located at each trash enclosure. There must be a sufficient number to collect all recyclables and organics generated onsite.
- All waste enclosures must have either a cardboard recycling bin or a designated area for cardboard recycling.
  - Properties that have space in their waste enclosure can contact Recology to request a cardboard recycling bin for free.
  - If there is not space for a cardboard bin, properties must set aside an area in or near the waste enclosure and clearly mark it for cardboard recycling. The City has free cardboard recycling signs that can be posted to meet this requirement. You can request them via this online form. After setting up an area for cardboard recycling, contacting Recology Davis to request to be added to the cardboard recycling route, in order to ensure that your cardboard is collected regularly. There is no charge for this. Unlimited cardboard recycling service is included in the price of your regular garbage fees.
OR

Self-haul recyclables and organic waste to a recycling center, composting facility, community composting program, and/or other collection activity or program. If this option is chosen, there are specific reporting requirements that must be followed. Properties must ensure that recyclables and organic waste materials are kept out of the trash and must keep and submit records to show that this is occurring. More information on self-haul waivers.

Businesses and Multi-family properties are also required to:

Supply and allow access to an adequate number, size, and location of recycling and organic waste containers for all employees, contractors and tenants to ensure that all organic wastes and recyclables are kept out of the trash.
- The City has free waste bins and labels available to Davis businesses while supplies last.
Require that any contract or work agreement with a gardening or landscaping service specify that yard trimmings be kept out of the trash/landfill.
Place recycling and organic waste bins next to all trash bins provided for tenant use in common areas (hallways, club rooms, gyms, etc.). The bins must be of a sufficient number and size to collect all recyclables and organic wastes generated onsite. If there is a trash bin in an area that does not generate any recycling or organic wastes, then it does not have to provide recycling and/or organics containers in that particular area. For example: A trash can in an examination room at a doctor’s office may not need a paper recycling bin if there is no paper waste generated in that room.
- The City has free waste bins and labels available to Davis businesses while supplies last.
Provide restrooms in common areas with an organics bin to collect paper towels, if paper towels are present.
- The City has free waste bins and labels available to Davis businesses while supplies last.
Ensure that all bins for customers, employees, contractors and tenants meet either the color OR labeling requirements listed below.
- Color requirements: Bins must be color-coded (trash = gray or black, recycling = blue, organics = green). Either the lid and/or the body of the container must be color-compliant. Existing bins do not need to be replaced until January 1, 2036, but all new bins purchased after January 1, 2022 must be color-compliant. Businesses can continue to use their existing waste bins for customers, regardless of the color, as long as they are clearly labeled to show what can be placed inside.
- Labeling requirements: Bins must be clearly labeled with what can and cannot go inside the bin.
Annually provide information to all employees, contractors, and tenants on waste diversion requirements and how to properly sort recyclables and organic waste into the correct bins. The City has fliers, videos and other resources that can assist with this.
- These materials can be provided to residential tenants to meet the education requirement.
- These fliers and videos can be provided to commercial tenants and employees to meet the education requirement:
  - Waste sorting information:
    - Waste Sorting Flier for Businesses (PDF)
    - This video can be shared with employees and commercial tenants to meet the education requirement. This video is also available in Spanish and Chinese.
  - SB 1383 Information:
Prohibit employees from placing organic waste and recyclables in the wrong bins.
Periodically inspect recycling and organic waste bins for contamination. If waste collection bins are found to be contaminated, businesses need to inform employees of the requirement to sort waste properly and ensure that proper sorting of waste occurs. The City has fliers, videos and other resources that can assist with this.
Provide information to new tenants about their requirements to sort waste properly within 14 days of occupation of the premises. The City has fliers, videos and other resources that can assist with this.
- Information for residential tenants:
- Information for commercial tenants:

Additional information on laws regarding waste diversion:

Waste Diversion Requirements: Single-Family Rental Properties

Statewide regulations under SB 1383: Short-Lived Climate Pollutants require everyone in California to follow certain rules regarding waste sorting. While having access to recycling and organics recycling service has been required by State and local law for a number of years, new statewide regulations under SB 1383: Short-Lived Climate Pollutants require everyone in California to recycle all organic waste, including paper, cardboard, yard materials, food scraps, and food-soiled paper. Do you manage a single-family rental in Davis? Please see the specific requirements for single-family properties below.

SB 1383 requirements for single-family rental properties

Property owners/managers must ensure that the rental property has to adequate recycling and organics collection service. Single-family properties must either subscribe to and participate in the City’s recycling and organics curbside collection service or petition to self-haul their recycling and organic waste.
- Owners/property managers must ensure that their tenants have access to recycling and organic waste cart service through Recology Davis. Tenants must sort out their recyclables and organics waste from the trash.
- Property owners/property managers must ensure that they have subscribed to a recycling and organics recycling service level that is sufficient to allow all recyclables and organics to be separated from the trash. Trash collection service through Recology Davis includes unlimited recycling service at no additional cost (the cost is included in trash service fees). Additional recycling carts are available upon request. Trash service also includes one organics cart, additional organics carts are available for a fee. Depending on the amount of organic waste a tenant generates, they may need additional recycling or organics carts or more frequent service.
- Owners/property managers can petition to self-haul their recycling and organics, share carts with a neighbor, or request an exemption due to lack of physical space. More information on self-haul waivers.
Property owners/managers must annually provide information to employees, contractors and tenants on waste diversion requirements and how to properly sort recyclables and organic waste into the correct bins. The City has fliers, videos and other resources that can assist with this.
- These materials can be provided to residential tenants to meet the education requirement.
- These fliers can be provided to employees and contractors to meet the education requirement:
  - Waste sorting information:
    - Waste Sorting Flier for Businesses (PDF)
    - Multi-Lingual Waste Sorting Poster for Restaurants (PDF)
  - SB 1383 Information:
Property owners/managers must provide information to new tenants about their requirements to sort waste properly within 14 days of occupation of the premises. The City has fliers, videos and other resources that can assist with this.

Carts

image of a single-family recycling cart lid Recology Davis provides trash, recycling, and organics containers to customers for weekly waste collection. SB 1383 regulations require any new container purchased by a waste hauler to meet certain requirements:

Cart colors: Trash bins must be grey or black, recycling bins must be blue, and organics bins must be green. Either the lid and/or the body of the waste bin must be the correct color. Recology is updating their waste containers as they need replacement.
Cart labels. Waste bins must be clearly labeled to show which materials are allowed and prohibited in the container. All new carts and bins have updated labeling with pictures and a list of what can and cannot go inside.

image of an organics cart with a green lid

When will my tenant's recycling and organics carts be changed out?

The current carts will likely be replaced when they are broken and/or in need of repair. The regulations require that all carts be color and label complaint by January 2036, so that gives the City plenty of time to update all the carts through normal attrition.

More information on the organic waste collection requirements of SB 1383: https://www.calrecycle.ca.gov/organics/slcp/collection

Resources Available

Downloadable posters/bin labels are available on our website.

CalRecycle has developed fliers, posters, signs and stickers that can be downloaded and printed: https://www.calrecycle.ca.gov/Recycle/Commercial/Organics/PRToolkit/

Information for Schools

UC Davis

The UC Davis Office of Environmental Stewardship and Sustainability Waste Reduction & Recycling Program is in charge of recycling on campus. Check out their website for information on recycling on UC Davis campus.

Davis Joint Unified School District

Image of lids placing plastic bottles into a recycling bin Davis RISE (Recycling Is Simply Elementary) program is in charge of recycling at Davis Joint Unified Schools. In addition to their excellent recycling and organics composting programs, many Davis Joint Unified Schools collect inkjet cartridges and cell phones for recycling. Check out the RISE website for more information.

Resources for Schools

Resource Area for Teaching (RAFT) is a non-profit organization that serves teachers and community groups by taking discarded materials from businesses and offering them to teachers for use in the classroom. Items such as CD’s, plastic bottle caps and cut-out wood pieces are used in math, science and art activities. Go to their website www.raft.net for more information.

Does your school generate hazardous waste?

Do you have computer monitors, fluorescent light bulbs, paint, pesticides and batteries? You may be applicable for the Conditionally Exempt Small Quantity Generator Program. Businesses (including schools) can dispose of their hazardous waste though Yolo County’s Business Hazardous Waste Program at the Yolo County Central Landfill.

Please note: Schools may NOT bring their batteries to the battery collection sites around town, nor can they bring their hazardous waste to Yolo County’s household hazardous waste drop-off days at the landfill. These programs are operated by Yolo County and are for residential generated batteries ONLY. Schools may use the Yolo County Landfill Program to dispose of their hazardous waste, if they eligible. Please see the County website for details.

For Rental Properties: Move-Out Tips

June and August are typically busy, messy times for residential rental properties in Davis. Some property managers request extra 30 to 40 yard dumpsters from Recology Davis to haul away the extra waste that is generated from tenants moving out and new tenants moving in. Much of the stuff that is thrown in these dumpsters is either reusable or recyclable. We have a few tips to help tame that turnover mess and reuse and recycle as much as possible!

Free Summer Move-Out Kit

To encourage the responsible management of unwanted items as residents are moving out, the City has developed a toolkit for property managers with downloadable graphics, social media posts, fliers and more. Here are the tools that we have developed for property managers:

Printable posters: If you manage a multi-family property, these posters can be placed around your property (by the mailboxes, laundry room, club room, etc.) to encourage residents to handle their unwanted items responsibly. Download the poster here
Shareable graphics for social media, newsletters, and other electronic communication: We are running a full advertising campaign using these graphics and we’re sharing them with you! You can download these graphics and social media posts from our website.
Flier for your residents: We have a flier that you can give to your residents that are moving. These fliers also detail how to properly dispose of hazardous wastes (fluorescent bulbs, electronics and more). Download the flier here.
Printable signs for dumpsters: If you have ordered a large dumpster from Recology Davis to deal with turnover waste, we have some signage that might help you! Our signage is customizable and allows you to add your property name, so that it’s clear that the dumpster is only for residents at your property. It also identifies what is and what is not allowed to go in the dumpster. Download the signs here.
Website: share our move-out webpage with your residents for tips on how to reuse, recycling and safely dispose of unwanted items when moving.
Lawn signs: We have lawns signs for multi-family and apartment communities to post around their property to encourage residents to handle their unwanted items responsibly. You can see what the lawn signs look like here. These signs are available on a first-come first-served basis to properties with 5 or more units only (limit of 4 signs per property). Please email PWWeb@CityofDavis.org to request a lawn sign. If you received lawn signs from us last year—please use the ones you have rather than request new ones.

Other Useful Downloads for Turnover:

No Cardboard in Dumpster Sign (PDF)
Donation Station Signs (PDF)

Bulky Waste Voucher

Another way your residential tenants may be able to get rid of unwanted items as they move is to use their Bulky Waste Voucher. The voucher is sent out annually to all people living in Davis and allows them to take one free load of bulky waste to the Yolo County Central Landfill for free. For details, please visit the Recology Davis website.

Other tips to reduce waste during turnover

Place signs around waste bins and trash enclosures reminding your tenants NOT to throw furniture in the ordinary trash bins. If you have a large 30-40 yard dumpster, you may want to direct them to place broken furniture in that dumpster instead.
If you have a large 30-40 yard dumpster, place signs requesting that your tenants place their regular household garbage in the ordinary trash bins and ONLY place broken furniture and mattresses in the large dumpsters. The 30-40 yard dumpsters can often sit for a few weeks before they are emptied, so it household waste is tossed inside it can get very smelly and messy.
If you manage a multi-family property you can consider hosting a community garage sale. Help your tenants to set up a community garage sale a few weeks before you are expecting a large turnover. This way your tenants can get rid of all the stuff they don’t want anymore, make some money off of it, and keep good, usable stuff out of the trash! People are much more likely to come to a garage sale if there are several people selling their stuff from the same location—it saves them the time of driving around to difference garage sales.
Instead of a community garage sale (or after the sale ends) you can consider collecting all of your tenants unwanted, usable items into one place and coordinate with a local non-profit group that can come to your property and collect the items for reuse.
You can designate a “reuse area” at your property and ask your tenants to leave reusable items there instead of throwing them in the dumpsters. This area can become a swapping station for tenants to take and leave times as they wish. Some apartments do this year round with a “free table” in their community room where tenants can take and leave small household items and clothing.

The best thing that you can do reduce mess during turnover is to talk to your tenants about reducing waste, donating unwanted items, and recycling. If you take the time to talk to your tenants, they are much more likely to try to donate their unwanted items and recycle their cardboard. Hauling away all the move-out mess as trash is expensive—save some money and get your residents involved in reusing and recycling!

Carryout Bag Law

image showing carryout bag choices

At ALL Retail Stores and Restaurants in Davis:

Single-use plastic carryout bags may not be distributed to customers at the point of sale.
Stores MUST charge a minimum fee of 10 cents ($0.10) per bag for paper and reusable carryout bags provided to a customer at the point of sale.
Restaurants are NOT required to charge a fee for paper or reusable bags provided for take-out food.
All paper carryout bags must be made from a minimum 40% postconsumer recycled material.
All reusable carryout bags must meet certain criteria for durability.

Single-Use Carryout Bag Ordinance Fact Sheet (PDF)
Single-Use Carryout Bag Ordinance Fact Sheet - Spanish (PDF)

Customers have choices available when shopping:

bring your own bag (reusable cloth bag, paper bag, or plastic bag)
purchase a paper bag for 10 cents
purchase a reusable bag
carry your items out of the store without a bag

Information about the City of Davis Carry-Out Bag Ordinance

The Davis Carry-Out Bag Ordinance applies to commercial establishments selling perishable or nonperishable goods directly to the customer, this includes all retail, restaurants, and take-out food (fast-food) businesses.
The ordinance does not apply to nonprofit charitable reuse stores (thrift stores).
Businesses may not provide single-use plastic carry-out bags to customers (plastic carry-out bags are banned). Customers may bring their own reusable bags or purchase bags from businesses.
Retail stores may provide customers with a recycled paper bag or reusable bag, but only if the store charges a minimum price of 10 cents per bag.
A business may exempt customers paying for goods with WIC, CalFresh, SNAP or other food stamp cards from bag charges.
Businesses retain money collected from bag charges. The 10 cent paper bag pass-through is exempt from sales tax.
Protective bags (without handles) may be provided at no charge for use to segregate and transport items to the cashier (e.g. bags for meat, produce, prescriptions, greeting cards, or bulk items).
- These bags may fall under the State Pre-Checkout Bag Law for certain stores
Paper bags must meet certain criteria:
- Paper carryout bag must be 40 percent post-consumer recycled content minimum.
- An eight pound-rated or smaller paper carryout bag must be 20 percent post-consumer recycled content minimum.
- The bags recycled content percentage must be printed on the paper carryout bag. (example: “Made from 40% post-consumer recycled materials”).
- The paper carryout bag must be recyclable and compostable (no plastic or cloth handles or other components).
Reusable bags must meet certain criteria:
- Must be machine washable or easily cleaned or disinfected.
- Does not contain lead, cadmium, or any other heavy metal in toxic amounts, as defined by applicable State and Federal standards and regulations for packaging or reusable bags.
- If made of plastic, is a minimum of at least 2.25 mils (thousandths of an inch) thick.
- Has a minimum lifetime of 125 uses, which for purposes of this subdivision, means the capability of carrying a minimum of 22 pounds 125 times over a distance of at least 175 feet.
California law under SB 1053 will change some of these requirements in 2026 for some stores.

State Law

California law under SB 1046 (Eggman, Chapter 991, Statutes of 2022) places restrictions on the types of pre-checkout bags that most grocery stores, retail stores with a pharmacy, convenience stores, food marts and liquor stores may provide to customers.

Pre-checkout bags are provided to a customer before checkout to:
- Contain unwrapped items like bulk foods or loose produce
- Protect a purchased item from damage or contamination
Stores may only provide customers with pre-checkout bags that are:
- Recycled paper bags or
- Compostable bags

SB 1053 (Blakespear, Chapter 453, Statutes of 2024) places new restrictions on the types of bags distributed at the point of sale by most grocery stores, retail stores with a pharmacy, convenience stores, food marts and liquor stores.

Beginning January 1, 2026, stores will only be allowed to distribute recycled carryout paper bags (no more reusable plastic bags) to customers for a minimum charge of ten cents ($0.10) per bag at:
- Checkout counters
- Self-checkout kiosks
- In-store pickup
- Curbside delivery
- Home delivery
Beginning January 1, 2028, recycled paper bags distributed at stores must contain at least 50% postconsumer recycled materials.

More information on California bag laws: https://calrecycle.ca.gov/plastics/bagrequirements/

Food Packaging Ordinance

Image of a Polystyrene take-out container with a no symbol over it

In order to further reduce waste, the Davis City Council approved the Environmentally Acceptable Food Packaging Ordinance to eliminate the use of polystyrene foam (a.k.a. Styrofoam) and other non-recyclable, non-compostable, single-use food packaging in 2017.

Environmentally Acceptable Food Packaging Fact Sheet (PDF)
Environmentally Acceptable Food Packaging Fact Sheet - Spanish (PDF)

Key points from the ordinance include the following:

Food providers in Davis cannot serve prepared food or drink in polystyrene foam or other non-recyclable, non-compostable disposable products.
Food providers in Davis must serve prepared food or drink with either reusable, recyclable or compostable products.
Promoters and participants of special events and customers renting City Facilities are prohibited from providing prepared food in any disposable food service ware that contains or utilizes polystyrene foam or other plastic foam.
This ordinance applies to any store, restaurant, delicatessen, catering vehicle, school, non-profit or any other organization, group or individual which regularly provides food for public consumption on or off its premises.
This ordinance includes plates, cups, bowls, take-out food clamshells and other products used to serve food or beverages.

This ordinance would ensure that all food and beverages prepared in Davis would be served with reusable, recyclable or compostable products.

Background

Image of paper cup insulated with styrofoam

The Food Packaging ordinance eliminates all non-divertible disposable serving ware —including expanded polystyrene. With this ordinance, all serving ware used in Davis will either be reusable, recyclable or compostable, making it easier for the City to achieve its waste reduction goals.

Hot dog bag Polystyrene is a synthetic resin that is used primarily as lightweight rigid foams and films formed into many different products. In addition to being non-recyclable, Polystyrene has other negative environmental effects. Despite its lightweight characteristics, polystyrene foam impacts the solid waste stream and environment disproportionately due to the non-biodegradable attributes that makes them persist in the environment even after they have broken down. The foam litter gets into storm drains and waterways and pollutes the water, which can be harmful to wildlife. Animals mistakenly eat the plastic foam thinking it is food. This can cause an animal to choke or clog its digestive systems, preventing proper absorption of nutrients which can lead to death by starvation. Polystyrene foam can be blown out of landfills by the wind and can easily be blown from garbage sources into storm drains prior to collection, adding to the litter problem and potential water and wildlife impacts. Some of the most common found plastics on the beaches and in creeks are polystyrene foam food packaging. Polystyrene also poses human health risks. The Styrene chemical used in polystyrene is thought to be a chemical that may cause cancer and central nervous system problems.

Frequently Asked Questions

What does the ordinance require?

The ordinance prohibits all food-serving businesses, non-profit groups, City contractors, users of City facilities and coordinators of City special events from serving food and beverages with polystyrene foam or other non-recyclable, non-compostable food packaging.

What is polystyrene foam?

Polystyrene foam (also known as expanded polystyrene, or EPS) is a thermoplastic, closed-cell, lightweight, rigid foam plastic. It is commonly used in food packaging to make cups, plates, clam-shells and other food service ware. Although this material is often called “Styrofoam” this is not technically correct. Sytrofoam^TM is a trademarked brand name belonging to Dow Chemical and refers to a completely different type of product.

What food packaging products/ serving ware are NOT allowed under this ordinance?

Any product that is neither reusable, recyclable nor compostable. Examples of these products include polystyrene foam, plastic foam, plastic wrap, plastic bags, and paper-foil packaging (like hot dog sleeves).

What food packaging products/ serving ware can be used under this ordinance?

Any product that is either reusable, recyclable or compostable can be used.

What are reusable food packaging products/ serving ware?

Reusable food packaging/ serving ware are products that will be used more than once in its same form by the customer, food vendor or other reuse program. Reusable food service ware includes: food or beverage containers, packages or trays, such as, but not limited to, soft drink bottles and milk containers that are designed to be returned to the distributor by the customer that is provided take-out containers. Reusable also includes durable containers, packages or trays used on-premises, returnable containers brought back to the food vendor and those intended to be taken home by the consumer for reuse. This includes all containers, bowls, plates, trays, cartons, cups, and other items that are designed for prolonged use, including but not limited to plastic, ceramic, glass, porcelain, and metal food service ware.

What are recyclable food packaging products/ serving ware?

Recyclable food packaging/ serving ware are products that are accepted for recycling through Recology Davis (formerly Davis Waste Removal) collection services. This includes aluminum foil, rigid plastics (non-foam and non-film plastics), food and beverage container glass, aluminum and steel cans, foil plates, and more. More information on recycling in Davis.

What are compostable food packaging products/ serving ware?

Compostable food packaging/ serving ware are products that are accepted for composting through Recology Davis collection services. This includes paper plates, paper cups, paper cartons, wooden chopsticks, cardboard pizza boxes, biodegradable plastics and compostable plastics. Compostable food packaging/ serving ware includes, but is not limited, to products that meet ASTM standards for compostability. More information about what is accepted in Davis.

What businesses are affected by this ordinance?

The ordinance applies to entities that provide prepared food, including:

Restaurants: applies to serving ware for both to-go orders and left-over food from dine-in food orders
Schools, hospitals, cafeterias and non-profits that serve food that is prepared in the City
To-go coffee shops
Mini-marts that serve beverages
Fast food restaurants

What about unprepared food packaging?

Unprepared foods packaged within the City of Davis is exempt from this ordinance. For example, raw uncooked meat, poultry, fish or eggs that are packaged with polystyrene foam would not be restricted under this ordinance.

What about food packaged outside of Davis?

Any food packaged outside of the City of Davis is not affected by the ordinance; however, the City does encourage all food providers to use recyclable or compostable products.

How will the ordinance be enforced?

Enforcement will be largely complaint based, with fines issued for violations.

Beverage Straw and Foodware Accessories & Condiments Laws

Image of a beverage straw

Beverage Straw Law

The City of Davis continues to work towards its zero waste goal by diverting as much waste as possible from the landfill via waste reduction, recycling and composting. As part of this effort, the City supports the Statewide Single-Use Plastic Straw Ban at Full Service Restaurants (AB 1884). This statewide ban replaces the City’s 2017 ordinance which eliminated the distribution of single-use beverage straws in our community. The City’s past ordinance and the new state law aim to raise awareness of the simple decisions we can all make to reduce waste and allow customers to make the choice of whether or not they want a straw for their beverage.

Key points from the Statewide Single-Use Plastic Straw Ban:

Unless a customer specifically makes a request to be provided with a straw, full-service restaurants are prohibited from automatically providing single-use plastic straws with beverages. This applies ONLY to single-use plastic straw and does not include straws made from non-plastic materials such as paper, pasta, sugar cane, wood, or bamboo.
For the purpose of this regulation, a full-service restaurant is defined as food facility where food may be consumed on the premises, and where all of the following actions are taken by an employee of the establishment:
- The consumer is escorted or assigned to an assigned eating area. The employee may choose the assigned eating area or may seat the consumer according to the consumer’s need for accommodation or other request.
- The consumer’s food and beverage orders are taken after the consumer has been seated at the assigned seating area.
- The food and beverage orders are delivered directly to the consumer.
- Any requested items associated with the consumer’s food or beverage order are brought to the consumer.
- The check is delivered directly to the consumer at the assigned eating area.

California Department of Public Health Factsheet on the Beverage Straw Law (PDF) (Spanish version)

Foodware Accessories & Condiments Law

Assembly Bill 1276, the Statewide Single-Use Foodware Accessories and Condiments Law, was signed into law in October 2021 and took affect January 2022. This law aims to reduce waste from retail food facilities by requiring customers to ask for foodware accessories and condiments instead of being automatically provided to them.

Requirements for Businesses

The State law has these requirements for the retail food industry:

Only provide single-use foodware accessories and condiments to consumers upon request.
Single-use foodware accessories and condiments shall not be bundled or packaged together. Customers must be able to only take or receive the type of single-use foodware accessory or condiment desired.
A food facility may ask a drive-through consumer if they want a single-use foodware accessory if it’s needed to consume the food, prevent spills or safely transport food.
Food facilities may have unwrapped single-use foodware available to consumers via self-service dispensers that dispense one item at a time.
Food facilities may have condiments available to consumers via refillable self-service dispensers. Bulk dispensers for condiments are encouraged over single-use condiment packages.
If a food facility uses a third-party food delivery platform:
- The third-party food delivery platform shall provide consumers with the option to request single-use foodware accessories or condiments.
- The food facility shall customize its menu with a list of available single-use foodware accessories and standard condiments and only those selected by the consumer shall be provided.

Condiments are relishes, spices, sauces or seasoning that are used on food after preparation. This includes:

Ketchup, mustard and mayonnaise
Soy sauce
Hot sauce and salsa
Salt and pepper
Sugar and sugar substitutes

Single-use foodware accessories are all of the following single-use items provided for ready-to-eat food:

Utensils, (forks, knives, spoons and sporks)
Chopsticks
Condiment cups and packets
Straws
Stirrers, splash sticks and cocktail sticks

The law applies to all retail food facilities except for the following:

Correctional institutions
Licensed health care facilities
Residential care facilities
Public and private school cafeterias

Resources

Hazardous Waste Disposal

Business Hazardous Waste Disposal Information
DTSC: Universal Waste Information

B usiness hazardous waste information (PDF)
B usiness hazardous waste information - Spanish (PDF)

Does your business have hazardous waste?

Do you have leftover paint, pesticides, cleaning products, automotive fluids or other chemicals? These items are illegal to throw in the trash and must be disposed of properly to protect human health and the environment. Businesses that generate small amounts of hazardous waste may be eligible to participate in Yolo County’s Business Hazardous Waste Program at the Yolo County Central Landfill.

Please note: Businesses may NOT bring their hazardous waste to Yolo County’s household hazardous waste drop-off days at the landfill. These programs are operated by Yolo County and are for residential generated batteries ONLY. Businesses may use the Yolo County Business Hazardous Waste Program to dispose of their hazardous waste.

Does your business have electronics, fluorescent bulbs and tubes, batteries, and other mercury-containing devices)?

By State law, these items, known as Universal Waste, are illegal to throw away in the trash.

Businesses can recycle their their electronics at the Yolo County Central Landfill, fees apply. Visit the Yolo landfill website for details.

Businesses can dispose of their fluorescent bulbs, batteries, and other mercury-containing devices through the Business Hazardous Waste Program at the Yolo County Central Landfill, though a private company that is licensed to handle universal waste, or via a mail-back program.

Businesses may NOT bring their batteries to the battery collection sites around Davis, nor can they bring their hazardous waste or universal waste to Yolo County’s household hazardous waste drop-off days at the landfill. These programs are operated by Yolo County and are for residential generated wastes ONLY.

More information on Universal waste

Fluorescent bulbs and tubes contain mercury that can pollute the environment and contaminate groundwater. Broken tubes and bulbs in a trash can or dumpster can create clouds of mercury vapor that can linger around the area for hours, exposing anyone nearby to the harmful chemical. Information about what to do if a fluorescent bulb breaks.

Some universal wastes, like mercury fever thermometers and other devices that contain liquid mercury, are hazardous because they contain enough mercury to pose a health risk. Mercury containing items include: mercury thermostats, mercury switches. mercury thermometers and mercury-added novelties (including practical joke items, figurines, jewelry, toys, games, greeting cards that play music, ornaments, yard statues and figures, candles, holiday decorations, and shoes with lights). In 2003, the California Mercury Reduction Act banned sale of mercury-added novelties in this state, but some people still have them in their homes. More information about items that may contain mercury.

Food Donation and Edible Food Recovery

To reduce unnecessary food waste and help address food insecurity, the Short-Lived Climate Pollutants Act (SB 1383) requires certain businesses to recover edible food that would otherwise have been sent to landfills. They must establish contracts with food recovery organizations/services that will accept their edible food and keep records of all edible food recovery. Food recovery organizations and services that work with mandated edible food generators must maintain and submit records of edible food recovery.

Jurisdictions in Yolo County are working together to provide a countywide food recovery network. More information on these efforts.

Food recovery organizations that collect food from Tier 1 Commercial Food Generators in Davis:

Yolo Food Bank, 233 Harter Ave., Woodland, CA 95776
information@yolofoodbank.org | 530-668-0690
www.YoloFoodBank.org
Accepts: perishable and shelf-stable food
Short Term Emergency Aid Committee (STEAC)
1712 Picasso Avenue, Suite D, Davis, CA 95618
steac@steac.org | 530-758-8435
www.STEAC.org
Accepts: perishable and shelf-stable food

CalRecycle webpage on Edible Food Recovery: https://www.calrecycle.ca.gov/organics/slcp/foodrecovery

What is edible food? Edible food is food intended for people to eat, including food not sold because of appearance, age, freshness, grade, surplus, etc. Edible food includes, but is not limited to, prepared foods, packaged foods and produce. All edible food must meet the food safety requirements of the California Retail Food Code.

Who Is Required to Recover Edible Food?

State law under SLCP requires certain businesses that are defined as either a “Tier 1” or “Tier 2” edible food generators to recover edible food. Please see the chart below for a description of the types of businesses that fall under the Tier 1 and Tier 2 categories.

Tier 1 Edible Food Generators

Grocery store – a store that is 10,000 square feet or more in size that is 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.
Supermarket - a full-line, self-service retail store with gross annual sales $2,000,000 or more that sells a line of dry grocery, canned goods, or nonfood items and some perishable items
Food service provider - 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
Food distributor - a company that distributes food to entities including, but not limited to, supermarkets and grocery stores
Wholesale food vendor - a business engaged in the wholesale distribution of food, where food is received, shipped, stored, or prepared for distribution to a retailer, warehouse, distributor, or other destination

Tier 2 Edible Food Generators

Restaurant with 250 or more seats, or a total facility size equal to or greater than 5,000 square feet
Hotel with an on-site food facility and 200 or more rooms
Health facility with an on-site food facility and 100 or more beds
Large venue - 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
Large event - 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
A state agency with a cafeteria with 250 or more seats or a total cafeteria facility size equal to or greater than 5,000 square feet
A local education agency with an on-site food facility

SB 1383 requires Tier 1 and Tier 2 edible food generators to do the following:

Recover excess edible food.
- Tier 1 and Tier 2 edible food generators shall not intentionally spoil edible food that is capable of being recovered by a food recovery organization or service.
- Edible food generators are allowed to give away excess food to employees, take it home for personal use, give it away to customers, etc.
- Edible food generators must recover (for human consumption) the maximum amount of edible food that would otherwise be disposed of. This can be accomplished by donating or paying for the food to be recovered by a food recovery organization or service, which includes, but is not limited to food banks, food pantries, soup kitchens, for-profit food recovery services and other non-profits that distribute food to people in need.
- A large venue or large event operator that does not provide food services, but allows for food to be provided, shall require food facilities operating at the large venue or large event to comply with the SB 1383 edible food recovery requirements.
Establish contracts or written agreements. Tier 1 and Tier 2 generators must establish contracts or written agreements with food recovery organizations and services. Food recovery organizations and services vary in the amount and types of food they can receive, so edible food generators may need to establish contracts or written agreements with multiple food recovery organizations and services to be in compliance. CalRecycle has developed a Model Food Recovery Agreement that can be used as an example. These contracts can include the establishment of a regular edible food delivery or collection schedule, identifying allowable edible foods for recovery, and cost-sharing options.
Maintain Recordkeeping. Tier 1 and Tier 2 edible food generators must maintain records of their food recovery activities. This recordkeeping includes the following:
- A list of each food recovery service or organization that collects or receives its edible food under a contract or written agreement
- A copy of contracts or written agreements between the edible food generator and a food recovery service or organization
- For each food recovery organization or service that the Tier 1 and Tier 2 edible food generators has a contract or written agreement with, records must be kept of:
  - The name, address and contact information of the service or organization
  - The types of food that will be collected by or self-hauled to the service organization
  - The established frequency that food will be collected or self-hauled
  - The quantity of food collected or self-hauled to a service or organization for food recovery. The quantity shall be measured in pounds recovered per month
Jurisdictions are required to monitor compliance by performing annual inspections to review the following records:
- Contract or written agreement information for food recovery organizations and services
- Schedules for food recovery deliveries or collections
- Quantity of food recovered in pounds per month
- Types of food each food recovery organization will receive or collect

More information is available on CalRecycle’s website.

Information for Food Recovery Organizations and Food Recovery Services

The SB 1383 regulations make a distinction between a Food Recovery Organization and a Food Recovery Service. These definitions are important because the requirements for these entities is slightly different under the regulations.

Food recovery organization: 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 including, but not limited to, a food bank, a nonprofit charitable organization, or a non-profit charitable temporary food facility.

Food recovery service: 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.

If a food recovery organization or service accepts food from a Tier 1 or Tier 2 edible food generator, they will need to do the following:

Establish and maintain a contract or written agreement Tier 1 and Tier 2 edible food generators are required to have written agreements or contracts with food recovery organizations or services. CalRecycle has developed a Model Food Recovery Agreement that can be used as an example. The contracts or written agreements can include:
- Establishing a regular food recovery delivery or collection schedule
- Identifying allowable foods for recovery
- Cost-sharing options (food recovery organizations and services do not need to accept recovered food for free, they can decide to charge for their collection/recovery services)
Keep records. Food recovery organizations or services that have a contract or written agreement to collect or receive edible food directly from Tier 1 or Tier 2 edible food generators are required to keep records.

Recordkeeping requirements for Food Recovery Organizations

The name, address, and contact information for each Tier 1 or Tier 2 edible food generator that the organization receives edible food from
The quantity in pounds of edible food received from each Tier 1 or Tier 2 edible food generator per month
The name, address, and contact information for each food recovery service that the organization receives edible food from for food recovery

Recordkeeping requirements for Food Recovery Services

The name, address, and contact information for each Tier 1 or Tier 2 edible food generator that the service collects edible food from
The quantity in pounds of edible food collected from each Tier 1 or Tier 2 edible food generator per month
The quantity in pounds of edible food transported to each food recovery organization per month
The name, address, and contact information for each food recovery organization that the service transports edible food to for food recovery

Report data. Food recovery organizations and services must report the total pounds recovered from Tier 1 and Tier 2 edible food generators in the previous calendar year to the jurisdiction where their primary address is physically located. The jurisdiction will in turn report to the State each year.

More information for food recovery organizations is available on CalRecycle’s website: https://www.calrecycle.ca.gov/organics/slcp/foodrecovery/organizations

Resources Available

Yolo County's food recovery webpage.
CalRecycle Model Food Recovery Agreement
Safe Surplus Food Toolkit (guidance for environmental health departments)
Safe Surplus Food Donation Toolkit (guidance for food facilities)
Food Donation Resources from the Public Health Alliance of Southern California
Safe Surplus Food Donation Guide
SB 1383 Education and Outreach Materials
Grants and Funding Opportunities
CalRecycle Food Waste Prevention and Rescue Grants Brochure
California Food Bank Locator Tool
CalRecycle Food Waste Prevention and Rescue Grant Program and Brochure
For more information on safe surplus food donation and food safety, please visit the California Conference of Directors of Environmental Health website.
Yolo County Environmental Health: Food Program Information
Yolo County Environmental Health Food Recovery Inspection Checklist
Countywide Edible Food Recovery Poster for Tier 1 Generators

More information on the Statewide Mandatory Organic Waste Collection

Resources and Links

SB 1383 Information

SB 1383 Training and Educational Resources

For all businesses:

For property managers:

Free Recycling Bins, Labels and Other Supplies

Davis businesses can request free waste bins, labels and other supplies online while supplies last.

Free Waste Audits

Recology Davis offers free waste audits for Davis businesses. During a waste audit, Recology staff will look at current waste generation and sorting practices and offer suggestions about compliance with waste diversion laws and how to increase waste diversion. Contact Recology Davis at 530-756-4646 or RecologyDavis@Recology.com to set up an appointment.

Contact Information

For all scheduling, service or pick-up questions, contact Recology Davis 530-756-4646
For general solid waste and recycling questions and questions about compliance with waste diversion regulations, contact the City of Davis Public Works Utilities and Operations Department 530-757-5686 PWWeb@CityofDavis.org.
For Billing Information, contact the City of Davis Finance Department 530-757-5651 FinanceWeb@CityofDavis.org

Contact Information

Davis businesses can request free recycling bins, organic waste bins, cardboard recycling signs and bin labels here.

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Davis businesses can request free recycling bins,
organic waste bins, cardboard recycling signs and bin labels here.