Ordinances and Laws
SB 1383 establishes targets to achieve 75% reduction in the statewide disposal of organic waste from 2014 levels by 2025. There is also a requirement for a 20% improvement in edible food recovery by 2025.
California Assembly Bill (AB) 1826, Mandatory Commercial Organics Recycling, requires jurisdictions to have a commercial organics recycling program in place. The law applies to businesses and multi-family residential dwellings that consist of five (5) or more units. Jurisdictions are required to include information on compliance with this law in their annual reports to CalRecycle.
Effective July 1, 2012, California Assembly Bill (AB) 341 requires all businesses and public entities that generate four (4) or more cubic yards of garbage per week and multi-family dwellings with five (5) or more units to recycle. The purpose of the law is to reduce garbage from landfills and to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
The California Integrated Waste Management Act of 1989 (AB 939) requires each jurisdiction to divert 50% of its solid waste from being disposed in landfills. SB 1016 builds on AB 939 compliance requirements by implementing a simplified measure of the City's recycling performance. Under this measurement system, a city needs to annually dispose of an amount equal to or less than its "50 percent equivalent per capita disposal target" calculated by CalRecycle.
AB 827 requires businesses subject to AB 1826 and AB 341 to provide customers with recycling and/or organics collection bins or containers to collect materials that are from products purchased on the premises.
As of September 2004, AB 2176 requires operators and organizers of large events and venues to develop and implement waste reduction plans that include recycling strategies, and to report on the results of their efforts to the designated local agency/city.
On January 18, 2011, the City Council adopted Ordinance 561, establishing provisions for the regulation and citation of individuals who remove recyclable materials from curbside receptacles without the permission of the residents, businesses, or authorized refuse collector.
Since April 1, 2012, food vendors in Foster City have been prohibited from using polystyrene-based disposable food service ware. The City Council adopted the County of San Mateo's ordinance by reference, meaning that all of the provisions of the County's ordinance apply in Foster City and the ordinance is enforced by the County.
Since April 22, 2013, retail establishments in Foster City have been prohibited from distributing free single use carryout bags. Paper bags with a minimum recycled content or reusable bags (plastic or other materials) may be sold for a minimum charge of $0.10. Single use plastic bags may not be distributed.
Foster City is required by State Law to divert 50% of all of its waste from landfill. To meet this goal, Foster City has adopted the California Green Building Code, which requires that applicable construction and demolition projects divert a minimum of 65% of the debris generated by the project.
