For businesses and multi-family properties of five units or more, the City of Costa Mesa administers a non-exclusive Waste Hauler Franchise system.  

• Property owners/managers can select one of the City of Costa Mesa Franchise Waste Haulers for all solid waste services.
• The City of Costa Mesa does not have any involvement in the rates or contract terms which haulers and customers negotiate. Those seeking details regarding services such as bulky item pickup should contact their waste hauler.

Costa Mesa Franchise Waste Haulers:

Single family residential service and multi-family properties of three units or less are managed by the Costa Mesa Sanitary District.

SB 1383

In September 2016, Governor Brown signed into law SB 1383, establishing methane emissions reduction targets in a statewide effort to reduce emissions of short-lived climate pollutants (SLCP) in various sectors of California's economy. SB 1383 establishes targets to achieve a 50% reduction in the level of the statewide disposal of organic waste from the 2014 level by 2020 and a 75% reduction by 2025. It also requires a 20% recovery of edible food for human consumption. These regulations apply to residential, commercial and multifamily properties. For more information, contact your waste hauler.

Please visit the Organic Waste Recycling page for more information.

AB  827

Effective July 1, 2020, Assembly Bill 827 (AB 827) mandates food establishments to provide customers with disposal containers for three types of materials – food scraps (organics), recyclables, and trash – generated from products purchased and consumed onsite.                      

Which businesses are subject to the law?

• All commercial food service establishments that provide food for purchase and immediate consumption on site must comply with AB 827. 

What is Required by this Law?

• Businesses must provide customers with recycling and organics collection bins adjacent to each in-house trash bin (restroom bins are excluded). 
• Bins must be in clear view and easily accessible.
• Bins must be properly labelled to indicate which materials can be placed inside. 
1. Common organic materials include plate scrapings (leftover food) and food-soiled paper. 
2. Common recyclable materials include clean and dry paper and cardboard, empty and dry aluminum cans and plastic beverage bottles.
3. Common trash materials include plastic single-use utensils, plastic straws, condiment packets, and soft drink cups.

What if a business sells food that is consumed off-site?

• If all materials are consumed off-site and the business does not already provide a trash container for customers, then organic recycling collection bins are not needed.

Exemptions?

• Full-service restaurants are exempt; they are not required to provide customers with organics and recycling collection bins. However, businesses must provide properly labelled bins next to trash bins for employees to separate all post-consumer materials in the back-of-house areas. Full-service restaurants are defined as:
• Customers are escorted or assigned to an assigned eating area.
• Customers' food and beverage orders are taken after being seated.
• The food and beverage orders as well as any other requested items are delivered directly to the customers.
• The check is delivered directly to the customer at the assigned eating area.