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:

Holiday Schedule and Christmas Tree Pickup

Christmas: Provided the holiday lands on a weekday, trash and recycling collection will be delayed one day beginning December 25.

Christmas Tree Pickup: Multi-family dwelling occupants are encouraged to contact their property manager or contracted waste hauler for details regarding Christmas tree pickup. Flocked trees can be placed in the trash container while non-flocked trees in pieces 3' of smaller can be placed in organics containers.

New Years: Provided the holiday lands on a weekday, trash and recycling collection will be delayed one day beginning January 1.

Organics Recycling Tips & Tricks

• Know the program for your city by contacting your specific waste hauler - there may be variations to your specific organic recycling program.
• Keep your food scraps in the fridge or freezer and empty it directly into the organics cart on your service day.
• Layering dry coffee grounds at the base or throughout an organics bin can help absorb and mitigate odors. 
• Citrus zest and peels are non-toxic options for natural air fresheners and can go directly into the organics bin. 
• Line your organics container with a piece of paper or paper napkin to absorb any liquids and food waste.
• Place a layer of green waste (yard clippings, leaves, etc.) in the organics bin before adding your food waste inside.
• Consider buying a charcoal filter for your organics bin to mitigate odors. 

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. 

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.

Multifamily Residents and Multifamily Complexes

Multifamily complexes of five units or more are required to either:

• To subscribe to and participate in their jurisdiction’s organics curbside collection service OR
• Self-haul organic waste to a specified composting facility, community composting program, or other collection activity or program.

The following activities shall be conducted by the multifamily complex property owner or the manager:

• Provide organic waste collection services for BOTH employees and tenants.
• Supply and allow access to an adequate number, size, and location of containers with the correct labels or container colors.
• Annually educate employees and tenants on how to properly sort organic waste into the correct bins
• Provide information to new tenants within 14 days of occupation of the premises.