Organic Waste Recycling

What is Organic Waste?

Organic waste in municipal solid waste generally includes the following. 

  • Food scraps, including all solid, semi-solid, and liquid food such as fruit, vegetables, cheese, meat, bones, poultry, seafood, bread, rice, pasta, tea bags, coffee filters, and oils.
  • Food-soiled paper is the uncoated paper that is soiled by food waste such as napkins, paper towels, paper cups, fast food wrappers, take-out boxes, egg cartons, used pizza boxes, wax-coated cardboard, and other paper and compostable food packaging.
  • Yard trimmings include grass clippings, leaves, flowers, hedge clippings, and weeds.  Non-hazardous wood waste includes tree branches, tree trunks, and untreated lumber.

This does not mean that all organic waste programs, including the City of Laguna Niguel Residential Organic Waste Program, can accept all of the items listed above. Some of these materials, despite being organic, are not easy to decompose at a regular composting or anaerobic digestion facility. Please consult brochures and educational materials provided by the City or the franchised waste hauler to verify the organic materials that can or cannot be put in your organic waste bins.

Residential Organic Waste Program

The City of Laguna Niguel, together with CR&R Environmental Services, launched an Organics Recycling Program on July 1st, 2019. This program will co-collect food scraps and yard waste in your green cart. The organic material collected will be taken to CR&R’s Regional Organics Anaerobic Recovery (ROAR) Facility in Perris, CA to be converted into renewable natural gas and anaerobic compost.

Kitchen Food Scrap containers are available for purchase by contacting CR&R Environmental Services at (877) 728-0446.

Helpful Information About Residential Organics Program 

Tips for your Kitchen Food Scrap Container Kitchen Food Scrap Container Opens in new window

  • Empty your container after every meal
  • Sprinkle baking soda on top of your food scraps
  • Line your container with a compostable bag
  • Place pieces of torn newspaper or paper bag on the bottom of the container to absorb liquids
  • Drain excess liquids before placing food scraps in the container
  • Please note the container is dishwasher safe

Tips for your Green Organics Cart

  • Place yard waste in the very bottom of the cart first to absorb liquids
  • Alternate layers of yard waste and food scraps
  • Keep the cart in a covered or shaded area out of direct sunlight

Residential Organics Recycling Introduction Video

Commercial and Multi-Family Organic Waste Program

Senate Bill (SB) 1383 requires commercial businesses and multi-family properties to recycle organic material, including yard trimmings, food scraps, and food-soiled paper. All multi-family properties and food-generating businesses have access to a three-container system: recycling, food scrap recycling, and trash. SB 1383 requires proper sorting of materials, including examples of the following. 

  • Recycling: cardboard, paper, newspaper, aluminum cans, tin cans, glass bottles, glass jars, plastic drink bottles, detergent containers, and milk containers. 
  • Food scrap recycling: food preparation scraps, table scraps, spoiled food, and food-soiled paper. Examples of food items that may be included: meat, fish, dairy, fruits, vegetables, bread, pasta, and coffee grounds.
  • Trash/landfill: mixed products (plastic/metal combined), waxed paper, plastic-coated products, diapers, ceramic, pet waste, polystyrene, palm fronds, flimsy/flexible plastic, and plastic film.

In addition to subscribing to a three-container system, commercial businesses and multi-family properties are required by SB 1383 to annually educate their staff, tenants, and residents about SB 1383 and proper sorting. The City compiled resources into an educational toolkit for commercial and multi-family property owners and managers, and it can be found below.

To Comply, Your Business Can:

  • Donate food to a food bank or other food recovery organization
  • Abound Food Care
  • Second Harvest of Orange County

  • Self-haul to a recycling or composting facility that accepts food waste like
    • West Valley Materials Recovery (909) 899-5501; and 
    • Burrtec - Robert A Nelson Facility (951) 786-0655
  • Subscribe to an organics collection program provided by CR&R Inc. and contact one of the City's two dedicated Sustainability Coordinators with CR&R at LagunaNiguel-Recycles@crrmail.com. 

The businesses with 4 CY of organic waste would be expected to start organics recycling on or after January 1, 2017, and so forth.

CR&R began offering food waste recycling services for Laguna Niguel food establishments in early 2010 as part of an OC Waste and Recycling grant-funded pilot commercial food waste recycling program from April 2010 - October 2011. Laguna Niguel was chosen among eight other Orange County cities to participate in the food waste composting program. The Laguna Niguel food businesses that participated in this pilot program included Henry's Market Place, Fred's Mexican Cafe, and Mimi's Cafe. The total food waste tonnage diverted from these four businesses totaled 304.23 tons.

CR&R can assist with determining appropriate waste service levels for implementing the organics recycling program.