Staff Report with attachments
PREPARED BY: Marina Chislett
Environmental Program Specialist
Reviewed by: Town Manager, Assistant Town Manager, Town Attorney, Finance Director, and Director
of Parks and Public Works
110 E. Main Street Los Gatos, CA 95030 ● (408) 354-6832
www.losgatosca.gov
TOWN OF LOS GATOS
COUNCIL AGENDA REPORT
MEETING DATE: 11/02/2021 ITEM NO: 13
DATE: October 27, 2021
TO: Mayor and Town Council
FROM: Laurel Prevetti, Town Manager
SUBJECT: Introduction and First Reading of an Ordinance Amending the Los Gatos
Town Code Chapter 11 Regarding Garbage, Refuse, and Weeds to Include
Organic Waste Disposal Reduction and Amending Sections Conflicting with
Ordinance Definitions and Requirements.
RECOMMENDATION:
Accept public comment then move for the introduction and first reading of an Ordinance
(Attachment 1), by title only, amending the Los Gatos Town Code Chapter 11 regarding
Garbage, Refuse, and Weeds to include Organic Waste Disposal Reduction and amending
sections of the existing Code (Exhibit A) conflicting with Ordinance definitions and
requirements.
BACKGROUND:
In September 2016, Governor Jerry Brown signed into law Senate Bill 1383 (SB 1383), with
regulations finalized in November 2020. The purpose of this bill is to establish methane
emissions reduction targets in a statewide effort to reduce emissions of short-lived climate
pollutants (SLCP). SB 1383 is the most significant waste reduction mandate to be adopted in
California in the last 30 years.
SB 1383 established targets to achieve a 50 percent reduction in the level of statewide disposal
of organic waste from 2014 levels by 2020 and a 75 percent reduction by 2025. Additionally, a
food recovery target was established, including a target that no less than 20 percent of current
disposed of edible food is recovered for human consumption by 2025. SB 1383 grants the
California Department of Resources Recycling and Recovery (CalRecycle) the regulatory
authority required to achieve the organic waste disposal reduction targets. To reach this goal,
CalRecycle implemented initiatives to reduce the amount of solid waste sent to
PAGE 2 OF 5 SUBJECT: Introduces Amendments to the Town Code to Include Organic Waste Disposal Reduction and Modifying Sections Conflicting with Ordinance Definitions and Requirements DATE: October 27, 2021
BACKGROUND (continued):
landfills and promote recycling in California, including organic waste recycling. The law focuses
on residential and commercial trash generators, with both performance targets and penalties
levied against the jurisdiction for non-compliance.
For the Town of Los Gatos, solid waste collections are managed by the West Valley Solid Waste
Management Authority (WVSWMA) where Councilmember Mary Badame has represented the
Town since January 2020. SB 1383 has been discussed with the WVSWMA in the course of that
agency’s regular business. On May 4, 2021, the WVSWMA Executive Director, Marva Sheehan,
provided an SB 1383 implementation update to the Town Council. On October 5, 2021, Senate
Bill 619 (SB 619) was signed into law granting jurisdictions an extension for compliance of SB
1383, with written intent to comply no later than May 1, 2022. SB 619 does not change the
required implementation date of January 1, 2022.
DISCUSSION:
Enactment of SB 1383 requires extensive collaboration between the Town of Los Gatos and the
WVSWMA to achieve compliance. Town staff are working diligently with the WVSWMA on SB
1383 progress and program implementation. The Town’s current implementation compliance
requirements include the adoption of new organic waste disposal reduction requirements as
presented in the draft Organic Waste Disposal Reduction Ordinance in Attachment 1. The new
ordinance includes single-family, commercial, and multi-family requirements; waiver
requirements; edible food generator and edible food recovery requirements; hauler
requirements; and inspections and enforcement. Below are summaries of the Ordinance
sections with the incorporated SB 1383 regulations.
Single-family, commercial, and multi-family requirements proposed in Sections 11.50.15 and
11.50.20:
• Generators of discarded materials shall participate in the franchised haulers
collection services;
• Containers for discarded waste must adequately provide collection for
separation of discarded materials through size, service rate, and designated
container colors (e.g., solid waste containers must have a black body or lid,
recycling containers must have a blue body or lid, and organic containers must
have a green body or lid);
• Generators shall not place prohibited container contaminants in collection
containers (e.g., generators shall not place materials designated for the solid
waste container into either the recyclable or organic materials container);
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DISCUSSION (continued):
• Commercial businesses and multi-family residential dwellings shall provide
education information to occupants regarding the new regulations; and
• Commercial business shall provide containers for the collection of recyclable and
organic materials in all indoor and outdoor areas that solid waste is collected.
Waiver requirements proposed in Section 11.50.25:
• The Town or WVSWMA may waive a commercial business or multi-family
residential dwellings obligation to the Ordinance if the generator generates
below a certain amount of discarded materials, or the premises lacks adequate
space for the collection containers required for compliance.
Edible food generator and food recovery requirements proposed in Sections 11.50.030 and
11.50.035:
All Santa Clara County jurisdictions have worked together to create uniform edible food
generator sections in the draft Ordinance. It is beneficial to maintain these County-wide
uniform sections as food generators and food recovery services tend to operate
throughout the County and benefit from that scale.
• Recover edible food that would otherwise be disposed;
• Arrange agreement with a food recovery organization or food recovery services
to collect and accept edible food;
• Keep records of the recovery organization and services that are used and the
quantity of edible food saved from the landfill; and
• Submit food recovery reports to the designated enforcement entity.
Hauler requirements proposed in Section 11.50.040:
SB 1383 hauler requirements have been incorporated in the current franchise
agreement between West Valley Collection & Recycling and the WVSWMA.
• Hauler shall transport recyclable, organic, and solid waste materials to facilities
approved by the WVSWMA through the franchise agreement; and
• Hauler shall comply with education, equipment, signage, container labeling,
container color, contamination monitoring, reporting, and other requirements
contained within its franchise agreement.
Inspection and enforcement requirements proposed in Sections 11.50.060 and 11.50.065:
Due to the nature of franchise agreements and countywide programs, the act of
inspections and enforcement within the Ordinance vary by enforcement entity (Town,
WVSWMA, exclusive haulers, and the administrators of the countywide edible food
generator and recovery program).
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DISCUSSION (continued):
• To confirm compliance and enforcement of the regulations, the enforcement
entity is authorized to conduct inspection and investigations of any collection of
discarded materials collected from entities regulated by the applicable laws;
• Regulated entities shall provide or arrange for access during inspections and
route reviews. This section does not allow the enforcement entity to enter the
interior of a private residential property for inspection;
• Violation of the Ordinance shall constitute grounds for issuance of a notice of
violation and assessment of a fine; and
• Penalty amounts and appeals process carried out by the Town will follow Los
Gatos Municipal Code chapter 1.30.
Miscellaneous: SB 1383 Organic Waste Procurement Requirements (Administrative Policy):
Although not a part of the recommended ordinance, SB 1383 requires each jurisdiction
to procure recovered organic waste products including compost, renewable gas, and/or
electricity from biomass conversion at a formulaic quantity set by the State.
Jurisdictions are also responsible for procurement of recycled-content paper consistent
with Public Contract Code (§18993.3). All procurement requirements require ongoing
tracking of quantity, materials purchased, and an explanation if no feasible options were
available, to be reported to CalRecycle annually.
The procurement target for the Town of Los Gatos is 2,479 tons of organic waste.
Town staff has explored the possibility of reaching procurement targets with the
purchase, use, and giveaway of certified compost and mulch. This could achieve an
estimated 3% of the procurement target at a significant cost to the Town, an approach
that appears ineffective and therefore infeasible. Staff is working closely with
WVSWMA, Silicon Valley Clean Energy, as well as other municipalities and organizations
in identifying organic waste procurement compliance options, with the potentiality of
achieving compliance through a regional effort. Future approaches to compliance will
be incorporated into Town procedures and policies.
CONCLUSION:
Staff recommends that the Town Council introduce the first reading of an ordinance amending
the Los Gatos Town Code Chapter 11 regarding Garbage, Refuse, and Weeds to include Organic
Waste Disposal Reduction and amending sections that conflict with Ordinance definitions and
requirements.
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COORDINATION:
This report was coordinated with the WVSWMA.
FISCAL IMPACT:
The overall implementation of SB 1383 will include increased costs for the waste hauler and
administrative services as well as increased Town staff time. These costs will be recovered
through increased solid waste collection rates. Rates in the current fiscal year increased to
$40.11 from $35.16 for the most common, 35-gallon residential cart rate, largely due to SB
1383 impacts. This is a 14% rate increase as opposed to the typical annual increase range of 4%
- 8%. Organic waste procurement requirement costs are still to be determined as staffs
continues to explore options for compliance.
ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT:
This is not a project defined under CEQA, and no further action is required.
Attachments:
1. Draft Ordinance with Exhibit A - Amendment to Chapter 11 – Garbage, Refuse and Weeds.
This Page Intentionally Left Blank
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DRAFT ORDINANCE NO. _____
AN ORDINANCE OF THE TOWN COUNCIL OF THE TOWN OF LOS GATOS TO AMEND
CHAPTER 11 RELATING TO REFUSE, AND WEEDS TO INCLUDE ORGANIC WASTE
DISPOSAL REDUCTON AND AMENDING SECTIONS CONFLICTING WITH ORDINANCE
DEFINITIONS AND REQUIREMENTS.
WHEREAS, in September 2016, Governor Jerry Brown signed into law Senate Bill
1383 (SB 1383), establishing methane emissions reduction targets in a statewide effort
to reduce emissions of short-lived climate pollutants (SLCP); and
WHEREAS, SB 1383 established targets to achieve 50 percent reduction in the level
of statewide disposal of organic waste from 2014 levels by 2020 and a 75 percent reduction
by 2025; and
WHEREAS, an additional food recovery target was established of no less than 20
percent of current disposed of edible food is to be recovered for human consumption by
2025; and
WHEREAS, SB 1383 grants California Department of Resources and Recovery
(CalRecycle) regulatory authority required to achieve the organic waste disposal
reduction targets; and
WHEREAS, the law focuses on residential and commercial trash generators, with
both performance targets and penalties levied against the jurisdiction for non-
compliance; and
WHEREAS, CalRecycle has implemented initiatives to reduce the amount of solid
waste sent to landfills and promote recycling in California, including Organic Waste; and
WHEREAS, existing language within Chapter 11 of the Town Code requires
updating to correspond with current best practices.
NOW, THEREFORE, THE PEOPLE OF THE TOWN OF LOS GATOS AND THE TOWN COUNCIL
DO HEREBY ORDAIN AS FOLLOWS:
Chapter 11 of the Town Code shall be modified to reflect the changes identified in attachment
1; and
The following code sections shall be added to Chapter 11 of the Town Code:
ATTACHMENT 1
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SECTION I
The Council finds and declares that statewide targets have been established to reduce Short-
Lived Climate Pollutants (SLCP). The Council further finds that there will be performance
targets focused on residential and commercial trash generators, and penalties will be levied
against the jurisdiction for non-compliance. The Council further finds that California
Department of Resources & Recovery (CalRecycle) has been granted the regulatory authority to
achieve the organic waste disposal reduction targets. Accordingly, the Council finds that an
Organic Waste Disposal Reduction ordinance is warranted to comply with SB 1383
requirements.
SECTION II
Chapter 11 of the Los Gatos Town Code is hereby amended to add Article V related to Organic
Waste Disposal Reduction. Article V of Chapter 11 is as follows:
ARTICLE V. – ORGANIC WASTE DISPOSAL REDUCTION
Sec. 11.50.010. – Definitions.
For the purposes of this chapter, the following words and phrases shall have the
meanings respectively ascribed to them by this section:
“California Code of Regulations” or “CCR” means the State of California Code of Regulations.
CCR references in this chapter are preceded with a number that refers to the relevant Title of
the CCR (e.g., “14 CCR” refers to Title 14 of CCR).
“CalRecycle” means the California's Department of Resources Recycling and Recovery, which is
the Department designated with responsibility for developing, implementing, and enforcing SB
1383 Regulations on cities, counties, special districts, and other regulated entities.
“Commercial business” or “commercial” means a firm, partnership, proprietorship, joint-stock
company, corporation, or association, whether for-profit or nonprofit, strip mall, industrial
facility, or a multi-family residential dwelling with five or more units, or as otherwise defined in
14 CCR Section 18982(a)(6); with the exception that multi-family is excluded from this
definition. A multi-family residential dwelling that consists of fewer than five (5) units is not a
commercial business for purposes of implementing this chapter.
“Commercial edible food generator” includes a Tier one or a tier two commercial edible food
generator as defined in of this chapter or as otherwise defined in 14 CCR Section 18982(a)(73)
and (a)(74). For the purposes of this definition, food recovery organizations and food recovery
services are not commercial edible food generators pursuant to 14 CCR Section 18982(a)(7).
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“Community composting” means any activity that composts green material, agricultural
material, food material, and vegetative food material, alone or in combination, and the total
amount of feedstock and compost on-site at any one time does not exceed 100 cubic yards and
750 square feet, as specified in 14 CCR Section 17855(a)(4); or, as otherwise defined by 14 CCR
Section 18982(a)(8).
“Compliance review” means a review of records by the Town to determine compliance with this
article.
“Compost” has the same meaning as in 14 CCR Section 17896.2(a)(4), which stated, as of the
effective date of this chapter, that “compost” means the product resulting from the controlled
biological decomposition of organic solid wastes that are source separated from the municipal
solid waste stream, or which are separated at a centralized facility.
“Compostable plastic” or “compostable plastic means plastic materials that meet the ASTM
D6400 standard for compostability, or as otherwise described in 14 CCR Section
18984.1(a)(1)(A) or 18984.2(a)(1)(C).
“Container contamination” or “contaminated container” means a container, regardless of color,
that contains prohibited container contaminants, or as otherwise defined in 14 CCR Section
18982(a)(55).
“County” means the County of Santa Clara, California.
“County agency enforcement official” means an authorized designee of the County of Santa
Clara in the Public Health Department or other departments who is/are partially or whole
responsible for enforcing the chapter.
“Customer” means the person who receives the exclusive hauler’s services and to whom the
exclusive hauler submits its billing invoice to and collects payment from for collection services
provided to a premises. The customer may be either the occupant, owner, or property manager
of the premises, as allowed under the Town code.
“C&D” means construction and demolition debris.
“Designee” means an entity that the Town contracts with or otherwise arranges to carry out
any of the Town’s responsibilities of this chapter as authorized in 14 CCR Section 18981.2. A
designee may be a government entity, a hauler, a private entity, or a combination of those
entities.
“Disposal” or “dispose” (or any variation thereof) means the final disposition of solid waste, or
processing residue at a disposal facility.
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“Edible food” means food intended for human consumption, or as otherwise defined in 14 CCR
Section 18982(a)(18). For the purposes of this chapter or as otherwise defined in 14 CCR
Section 18982(a)(18), “edible food” is not solid waste if it is recovered and not discarded.
Nothing in this chapter or in 14 CCR, Division 7, Chapter 12 requires or authorizes the recovery
of edible food that does not meet the food safety requirements of the California Retail Food
Code.
“Enforcement action" means an action of the Town or regional agency to address non-
compliance with this chapter including, but not limited to, issuing administrative citations, fines,
penalties, or using other remedies.
“Enforcement entity” means an appointed designee for the enforcement of this chapter. A
designee may be the Town enforcement official, regional agency’s enforcement official, county
enforcement official, or other designee.
“Exclusive hauler” means the collection contractor that has been granted the exclusive rights to
collect recyclable materials, organic materials, solid waste, and C&D in the Town through the
agreement entered into by the collection contractor and the regional agency.
“Food distributor” means a company that distributes food to entities including, but not limited
to, supermarkets and grocery stores, or as otherwise defined in 14 CCR Section 18982(a)(22).
“Food facility” has the same meaning as in Section 113789 of the Health and Safety Code.
“Food recovery” means actions to collect and distribute food for human consumption that
otherwise would be disposed, or as otherwise defined in 14 CCR Section 18982(a)(24).
“Food recovery organization” means 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. “Food recovery organization” includes,
but is not limited to:
(1) A food bank as defined in Section 113783 of the Health and Safety Code;
(2) A nonprofit charitable organization as defined in Section 113841 of the Health and
Safety code; and,
(3) A nonprofit charitable temporary food facility as defined in Section 113842 of the
Health and Safety Code.
A food recovery organization is not a commercial edible food generator for the purposes
of this chapter and implementation of 14 CCR, Division 7, Chapter 12 pursuant to 14 CCR
Section 18982(a)(7). If the definition in 14 CCR Section 18982(a)(25) for food recovery
organization differs from this definition, the definition in 14 CCR Section 18982(a)(25) shall
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apply to this chapter.
“Food recovery service” means 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, or as otherwise defined in 14 CCR Section 18982(a)(26). A food recovery service is not
a commercial edible food generator.
“Food scraps” means those discarded materials that will decompose and/or putrefy including:
(i) all kitchen and table food waste; (ii) animal or vegetable waste that is generated during or
results from the storage, preparation, cooking or handling of food stuffs; (iii) discarded paper
(including paper containers and cartons) that is contaminated with food scraps and
compostables; (iv) fruit waste, grain waste, dairy waste, meat, and fish waste; and, (v)
vegetable trimmings, houseplant trimmings and other compostable organic waste common to
the occupancy of Residential dwellings. Food scraps are a subset of organic waste. Food scraps
excludes fats, oils, and grease when such materials are source separated from other food
scraps.
“Food service provider” means 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, or as otherwise defined in 14 CCR Section
18982(a)(27).
“Food-soiled paper” is compostable paper material that has come in contact with food or liquid,
such as, but not limited to, compostable paper plates, paper coffee cups, napkins, pizza boxes,
and milk cartons.
“Food waste” includes food scraps and food-soiled paper, and includes compostable plastics,
unless Town, its designee, regional agency, or exclusive hauler excludes compostable plastics in
the organic materials containers.
“Generator” means any person whose act first causes discarded materials to become subject to
regulation under this chapter of the Town code or under federal, State, or local laws or
regulations.
"Green waste" means tree trimmings, grass cuttings, dead plants, leaves, branches and dead
trees (not more than three (3) inches in diameter), garden and tree fruits and vegetables, and
similar materials generated and Source Separated from other materials at the Premises.
“Grocery store” means a store 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, or as otherwise defined in 14 CCR Section 18982(a)(30).
“Hauler route” means the designated itinerary or sequence of stops for each segment of the
Town’s collection service area, or as otherwise defined in 14 CCR Section 18982(a)(31.5).
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“Health Facility” has the same meaning as in Section 1250 of the Health and Safety Code.
“High diversion organic waste processing facility” means a facility that is in compliance with the
reporting requirements of 14 CCR Section 18815.5(d) and meets or exceeds an annual average
mixed waste organic content Recovery rate of 50 percent between January 1, 2022 and
December 31, 2024, and 75 percent after January 1, 2025, as calculated pursuant to 14 CCR
Section 18815.5(e) for organic waste received from the “mixed waste organic collection
stream” as defined in 14 CCR Section 17402(a)(11.5); or, as otherwise defined in 14 CCR Section
18982(a)(33).
“Hotel” has the same meaning as in Section 17210 of the Business and Professions Code.
“Inspection” means a site visit where a Town, its designee, or regional agency reviews records,
containers, and an entity’s collection, handling, recycling, or landfill disposal of organic waste or
edible food handling to determine if the entity is complying with requirements set forth in this
chapter, or as otherwise defined in 14 CCR Section 18982(a)(35).
“Large event” means 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. If the definition in 14 CCR Section
18982(a)(38) differs from this definition, the definition in 14 CCR Section 18982(a)(38) shall
apply to this chapter.
“Large venue” means 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. If the definition in 14 CCR Section 18982(a)(39) differs from this definition, the
definition in 14 CCR Section 18982(a)(39) shall apply to this chapter.
“Local education agency” means a school district, charter school, or county office of education
that is not subject to the control of Town or county regulations related to solid waste, or as
otherwise defined in 14 CCR Section 18982(a)(40).
“Multi-family residential dwelling” or “multi-family” means of, from, or pertaining to residential
premises with five (5) or more dwelling units. Multi-family premises do not include hotels,
motels, or other transient occupancy facilities, which are considered commercial businesses.
Residential premises with fewer than five (5) dwelling units shall be considered single-family.
“MWELO” refers to the Model Water Efficient Landscape Ordinance (MWELO), 23 CCR, Division
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2, Chapter 2.7.
“Non-compostable paper” includes, but is not limited to, paper that is coated in a plastic
material that will not breakdown in the composting process, or as otherwise defined in 14 CCR
Section 18982(a)(41).
“Non-local entity” means an entity that is an organic waste generator but is not subject to the
control of a jurisdiction’s regulations related to solid waste. These entities may include, but are
not limited to, special districts, federal facilities, prisons, facilities operated by the state parks
system, public universities, including community colleges, county fairgrounds, and state
agencies.
“Notice of violation (NOV)” means a notice that a violation has occurred that includes a
compliance date to avoid an action to seek penalties, or as otherwise defined in 14 CCR Section
18982(a)(45) or further explained in 14 CCR Section 18995.4.
“Organic materials” means green waste, food waste, lumber, and wood waste.
“Organic materials container” has the same meaning as in 14 CCR Section 18982.2(a)(29) and
shall be used for the purpose of storage and collection of source separated organic materials.
“Organic waste” means solid wastes containing material originated from living organisms and
their metabolic waste products, including but not limited to food, green material, landscape
and pruning waste, green waste, organic textiles and carpets, lumber, wood, paper products,
printing and writing paper, manure, biosolids, digestate, and sludges or as otherwise defined in
14 CCR Section 18982(a)(46). Biosolids and digestate are as defined by 14 CCR Section 18982(a).
“Organic waste generator” means a person or entity that is responsible for the initial creation
of Organic Waste, or as otherwise defined in 14 CCR Section 18982(a)(48).
“Paper products” include, but are not limited to, paper janitorial supplies, cartons, wrapping,
packaging, file folders, hanging files, corrugated boxes, tissue, and toweling, or as otherwise
defined in 14 CCR Section 18982(a)(51).
“Printing and writing papers” include, but are not limited to, copy, xerographic, watermark,
cotton fiber, offset, forms, computer printout paper, white wove envelopes, manila envelopes,
book paper, note pads, writing tablets, newsprint, and other uncoated writing papers, posters,
index cards, calendars, brochures, reports, magazines, and publications, or as otherwise
defined in 14 CCR Section 18982(a)(54).
“Process” or “processing” (or any variation thereof) means the controlled separation, recovery,
volume reduction, conversion, or recycling of source separated recyclable materials or source
separated organic materials including, but not limited to, organized, manual, automated, or
mechanical sorting, the use of vehicles for spreading of waste for the purpose of recovery,
and/or includes the use of conveyor belts, sorting lines, or volume reduction equipment, or as
otherwise defined in 14 CCR Section 17402(a)(20).
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“Prohibited container contaminants” means the following: (i) discarded materials placed in the
recyclable materials container that are not identified as acceptable source separated recyclable
materials for the Town’s recyclable materials container; (ii) discarded materials placed in the
organic materials container that are not identified as acceptable source separated organic
materials for the Town’s organic materials container; (iii) discarded materials placed in the solid
waste container that are acceptable source separated recyclable materials and/or source
separated organic materials to be placed in Town’s organic materials container and/or
recyclable materials container; and, (iv) excluded waste placed in any container.
“Recovered organic waste products” means products made from California, landfill-diverted
recovered organic waste processed in a permitted or otherwise authorized facility, or as
otherwise defined in 14 CCR Section 18982(a)(60).
“Recovery” means any activity or process described in 14 CCR Section 18983.1(b), or as
otherwise defined in 14 CCR Section 18982(a)(49).
“Recyclable materials” means materials authorized by exclusive hauler.
“Recyclable materials container” has the same meaning as in 14 CCR Section 18982.2(a)(5) and
shall be used for the purpose of storage and collection of source separated recyclable materials.
“Recycled-content paper” means paper products and printing and writing paper that consists of
at least 30 percent, by fiber weight, postconsumer fiber, or as otherwise defined in 14 CCR
Section 18982(a)(61).
“Regional agency” means the West Valley Solid Waste Management Authority.
“Regional agency enforcement official” means a designated enforcement official from the
regional agency or other regional or county agency, designated by the Town with responsibility
for enforcing the chapter in conjunction or consultation with Town enforcement official.
“Remote monitoring” means the use of the internet of things (IoT) and/or wireless electronic
devices to visualize the contents of recyclable materials containers, organic materials
containers, and solid waste materials containers for purposes of identifying the quantity of
materials in containers (level of fill) and/or presence of prohibited container contaminants.
“Renewable gas” means gas derived from organic waste that has been diverted from a
California landfill and processed at an in-vessel digestion facility that is permitted or otherwise
authorized by 14 CCR to recycle organic waste, or as otherwise defined in 14 CCR Section
18982(a)(62).
“Restaurant” means an establishment primarily engaged in the retail sale of food and drinks for
on-premises or immediate consumption, or as otherwise defined in 14 CCR Section
18982(a)(64).
“Route review” means a visual inspection of containers along a hauler route for the purpose of
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determining container contamination, and may include mechanical Inspection methods such as
the use of cameras, or as otherwise defined in 14 CCR Section 18982(a)(65).
“SB 1383” means Senate Bill 1383 of 2016 approved by the Governor on September 19, 2016,
which added Sections 39730.5, 39730.6, 39730.7, and 39730.8 to the Health and Safety Code,
and added Chapter 13.1 (commencing with Section 42652) to Part 3 of Division 30 of the Public
Resources Code, establishing methane emissions reduction targets in a Statewide effort to
reduce emissions of short-lived climate pollutants as amended, supplemented, superseded, and
replaced from time to time.
“SB 1383 regulations” or “SB 1383 regulatory” means or refers to, for the purposes of this
chapter, the short-lived climate pollutants: organic waste reduction regulations developed by
CalRecycle that created 14 CCR, Division 7, Chapter 12 and amended portions of regulations of
14 CCR and 27 CCR.
“Self-hauler” means a person, who hauls solid waste, organic waste or recyclable material they
have generated to another person. Self-hauler also includes a person who back-hauls waste, or
as otherwise defined in 14 CCR Section 18982(a)(66). Back-haul means generating and
transporting organic waste to a destination owned and operated by the generator using the
generator’s own employees and equipment, or as otherwise defined in 14 CCR Section
18982(a)(66)(A). Self-hauler also includes a landscaper.
“Share table” has the same meaning as in Section 114079 of the Health and Safety Code.
“Single-family” means of, from, or pertaining to any residential premises with fewer than five
(5) units.
“Solid waste materials container” has the same meaning as in 14 CCR Section 18982.2(a)(28)
and shall be used for the purpose of storage and collection of solid waste.
“Source separated” means materials, including commingled recyclable materials, that have
been separated or kept separate from the solid waste stream, at the point of generation, for
the purpose of additional sorting or processing those materials for recycling or reuse in order to
return them to the economic mainstream in the form of raw material for new, reused, or
reconstituted products, which meet the quality standards necessary to be used in the
marketplace, or as otherwise defined in 14 CCR Section 17402.5(b)(4). For the purposes of the
chapter, source separated shall include separation of materials by the generator, property
owner, property owner’s employee, property manager, or property manager’s employee into
different containers for the purpose of collection such that source separated materials are
separated from solid waste for the purposes of collection and processing.
“Source separated organic materials” means source separated organic materials that can be
placed in an organic materials container that is specifically intended for the separate collection
of organic waste.
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“Source separated recyclable materials” means source separated recyclables materials that can
be placed in a recyclable materials containers that is specifically intended for the separate
collection of recyclable materials. Source separated recyclable materials.
“State” means the State of California.
“Supermarket” means a full-line, self-service retail store with gross annual sales of two million
dollars ($2,000,000), or more, and which sells a line of dry grocery, canned goods, or nonfood
items and some perishable items, or as otherwise defined in 14 CCR Section 18982(a)(71).
“Tier one commercial edible food” means a commercial edible food generator that is one of the
following, as defined in this chapter:
(1) Supermarket.
(2) Grocery store with a total facility size equal to or greater than 10,000 sq. ft..
(3) Food service provider.
(4) Food distributor.
(5) Wholesale food vendor.
If the definition in 14 CCR Section 18982(a)(73) of tier one commercial edible food
generator differs from this definition, the definition in 14 CCR Section 18982(a)(73) shall apply
to this chapter.
“Tier two commercial edible food generator” means the following:
(1) Restaurant with 250 or more seats, or a total facility size equal to or greater than
5,000 square feet.
(2) Hotel with an on-site food facility and 200 or more rooms.
(3) Health facility with an on-site food facility and 100 or more beds.
(4) Large venue.
(5) Large event.
(6) State agency with a cafeteria with 250 or more seats or total cafeteria facility size
equal to or greater than 5,000 square feet.
(7) A local education agency facility with an on-site food facility.
If the definition in 14 CCR Section 18982(a)(74) of tier two commercial edible food
generator differs from this definition, the definition in 14 CCR Section 18982(a)(74) shall apply
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to this chapter.
“Town” means the Town of Los Gatos, California, a political subdivision of the State of
California, and its duly authorized representatives.
“Town Enforcement Official” means the Town manager, or other executive in charge or their
authorized Designee(s) who is/are partially or whole responsible for enforcing the ordinance.
“West Valley Clean Water Authority” means the stormwater pollution prevention authority for
the cities of Campbell, Monte Sereno, Saratoga, and the Town of Los Gatos.
“Wholesale food vendor” means a business or establishment engaged in the merchant
wholesale distribution of food, where food (including fruits and vegetables) is received,
shipped, stored, prepared for distribution to a retailer, warehouse, distributor, or other
Sec. 11.50.015. - Single-family requirements.
(a) Owner, occupant, or property manager of single-family premises, except those that that
meet the self-hauler requirements in this chapter shall subscribe to the regional agency’s
discarded materials collection services for all recyclable materials, organic materials, and solid
waste generated as described below in Section (b). Town, its designee, or regional agency shall
have the right to review the number and size of a recyclable materials containers, organic
materials containers, and solid waste containers to evaluate adequacy of capacity provided for
each type of collection service for proper separation of discarded materials and containment of
materials; and, owner, occupant, or property manager of single-family premises shall adjust its
service level for its collection services as requested by the Town, its designee, or regional
agency. Owner, occupant, or property manager may additionally manage their discarded
materials by preventing or reducing their discarded materials, by managing organic waste on
site, and/or using a community composting site pursuant to 14 CCR Section 18984.9(c).
(b) Generators shall participate in the regional agency’s discarded materials collection service(s)
by placing designated materials in designated containers as described below, and shall not
place prohibited container contaminants in collection containers.
(c) Generators shall place source separated organic materials, including food waste, in the
organic materials container; source separated recyclable materials in the recyclable materials
container; and solid waste in the solid waste container. Generators shall not place materials
designated for the solid waste container into the recyclable materials container or organic
materials container.
Sec. 11.50.020. – Commercial and multi-family requirements.
(a) Commercial businesses and multi-family residential dwellings shall comply with the
following requirements:
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(1) Subscribe to regional agency’s discarded materials collection services and comply
with requirements of those services as described in this chapter, except commercial
businesses and multi-family residential dwellings that meet the self-hauler
requirements in this chapter. Town, its designee, or regional agency shall have the
right to review the number and size of a commercial business’s or multi-family
residential dwellings’ discarded materials containers and frequency of collection to
evaluate adequacy of capacity provided for each type of collection service for proper
separation of discarded materials and containment of materials; and, owner,
occupant, or property manager of commercial businesses and multi-family
residential dwellings shall adjust their service level for their collection services as
requested by the Town, its designee, or regional agency.
(2) Except commercial businesses and multi-family residential dwellings that meet the
self-hauler requirements in this chapter, participate in the regional agency’s
discarded materials collection service(s) by placing designated materials in
designated containers. Commercial and multi-family generators shall place source
separated organic materials, including food waste, in the organic materials
container; source separated recyclable materials in the recyclable materials
container; and solid waste in the solid waste containers generator shall not place
materials designated for the solid waste container into the organic materials
container or recyclable materials container.
(3) Supply and allow access to adequate number, size, and location of collection
containers with sufficient labels or colors (conforming with Sections b(1)(i) and
b(1)(ii) for employees, exclusive haulers, tenants, and customers, consistent with
regional agency’s discarded materials collection service or, if self-hauling, in a
manner to support its compliance with its self-haul program, in accordance with this
chapter.
(4) Annually provide information to employees, exclusive haulers, tenants, and
customers about organic waste recovery requirements and proper sorting of source
separated materials.
(5) Provide education information before or within fourteen (14) days of occupation of
the premises to new tenants that describes requirements to keep source separated
materials and separate from solid waste and the location of containers and the rules
governing their use at each property.
(6) Provide or arrange access for Town, its designee, or regional agency to their
properties during all Inspections conducted in accordance with this chapter to
confirm compliance with the requirements of this chapter.
(7) Accommodate and cooperate with Town’s, its designee’s, or regional agency’s
remote monitoring program for Inspection of the contents of containers for
prohibited container contaminants, which may be implemented at a later date, to
evaluate generator’s compliance with this chapter. The remote monitoring program
shall involve installation of remote monitoring equipment on or in the discarded
materials containers.
(8) At commercial business’s or multi-family residential dwelling’s option and subject to
any approval required from the Town, its designee, or regional agency, implement a
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remote monitoring program for Inspection of the contents of its discarded materials
containers for the purpose of monitoring the contents of containers to determine
appropriate levels of service and to identify prohibited container contaminants.
Generators may install remote monitoring devices on or in the discarded materials
containers subject to written notification to or approval by the Town, its designee,
or regional agency.
(9) If a commercial business or multi-family residential dwelling wants to self-haul, meet
the self-hauler requirements in this chapter.
(b) Commercial businesses shall also comply with the following requirements:
(1) Provide containers for the collection of source separated materials in all indoor and
outdoor areas where containers for solid waste are provided for customers, for
materials generated by that commercial business. Such containers do not need to be
provided in restrooms. If a commercial business does not generate any of the materials
that would be collected in one type of container, then the commercial business does not
have to provide that particular container in all areas where solid waste containers are
provided for customers. Pursuant to 14 CCR Section 18984.9(b), the containers provided
by the commercial business shall have either:
(i) A body or lid that conforms with the container colors provided through the
collection service provided by regional agency, with either lids conforming to the
color requirements or bodies conforming to the color requirements or both lids
and bodies conforming to color requirements. A commercial business is not
required to replace functional containers, including containers purchased prior
to January 1, 2022, that do not comply with the requirements of the subsection
prior to the end of the useful life of those containers, or prior to January 1, 2036,
whichever comes first.
(ii) Existing containers shall be clearly marked with educational signage indicating
the appropriate discarded material types to be placed in each container in
accordance with requirements of the regional agency’s collection program.
Commencing January 1, 2022, new containers shall have container labels that
include language or graphic images, or both, indicating the primary material
accepted and the primary materials prohibited in that container, or containers
with imprinted text or graphic images that indicate the primary materials
accepted and primary materials prohibited in the container pursuant 14 CCR
Sections 18984.8 and 18984.9.
(2) To the extent practical through education, training, Inspection, and/or other
measures, shall prohibit employees from placing discarded materials in a container not
designated for those materials per the regional agency’s separated source and solid
waste collection service or, if self-hauling, in a manner to support its compliance with its
self-haul program, in accordance with this chapter.
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(3) Periodically inspect separated source and solid waste containers for contamination
and inform employees if containers are contaminated and of the requirements to keep
contaminants out of those containers pursuant to 14 CCR Section 18984.9(b)(3).
(4) For commercial businesses that are tier one or tier two commercial edible food
generators, comply with food recovery requirements in this chapter.
(c) Nothing in this Section prohibits a generator from preventing or reducing waste generation,
managing organic waste on site, or using a community composting site pursuant to 14 CCR
Section 18984.9(c).
Sec. 11.50.025. – Waivers for residential and commercial generators.
(a) De minimis waivers. The Town or regional agency may waive a commercial business’ or
multi-family residential dwellings’ obligation to comply with some or all of the source separated
material requirements of this chapter if the commercial business or multi-family residential
dwellings provides documentation that it generates below a certain amount of recyclable
materials and organic materials as described below. Commercial Businesses or multi-family
residential dwellings requesting a de minimis waiver shall:
(1) Submit an application to the Town, regional agency, or exclusive hauler specifying
the services that they are requesting a waiver from and provide documentation as
noted below.
(2) Provide documentation that either:
(A) The commercial business’ or multi-family residential dwellings’ total solid
waste collection service is two cubic yards or more per week and organic waste
subject to collection in a recyclable materials container and/or organic materials
container comprises less than 20 gallons per week per applicable container of
the Commercial business’s or multi-family residential dwellings’ total waste; or,
(B) The commercial business’ or multi-family residential dwellings’ total solid
waste collection service is less than two cubic yards per week and organic waste
subject to collection in a recyclable materials container and/or organic materials
comprises less than 10 gallons per week per applicable container of the
commercial business’s or multi-family residential dwellings’ total waste.
(3) Notify Town or regional agency if circumstances change such that commercial
business’s or multi-family residential dwelling’s organic waste exceeds threshold
required for waiver, in which case waiver will be rescinded.
(4) Provide written verification of eligibility for de minimis waiver every 5 years, if Town
or regional agency has approved de minimis waiver.
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(b) Physical space waivers. Town or regional agency may waive a commercial business’s or
multi-family residential dwelling’s or property owner’s obligations to comply with some or all
of the Recyclable materials and/or organic waste collection service requirements if the Town
has evidence from its own staff, the regional agency’s exclusive hauler, licensed architect, or
licensed engineer demonstrating that the premises lacks adequate space for the collection
containers required for compliance with the organic waste collection requirements of this
article.
A commercial business or multi-family residential dwelling owner or property owner may
request a physical space waiver through the following process:
(1) Submit an application form specifying the type(s) of collection services for which
they are requesting a compliance waiver.
(2) Provide documentation that the premises lacks adequate space for recyclable
materials containers and/or organic materials containers including documentation from
its exclusive hauler, licensed architect, or licensed engineer.
(3) Provide written verification to Town or regional agency that it is still eligible for
physical space waiver every five years, if Town has approved application for a physical
space waiver.
(a) The Department of Public Works will review and approve of waivers by Town or regional
agency.
Sec. 11.50.030. – Commercial edible food generators requirements.
(a) Tier one commercial edible food generators must comply with the requirements of this
Section 7 commencing January 1, 2022, and tier two commercial edible food generators must
comply commencing January 1, 2024 pursuant to 14 CCR Section 18991.3.
(b) Large venue or large event operators not providing food services, but allowing for food to be
provided by others, shall require food facilities operating at the large venue or large event to
comply with the requirements of this Section, commencing January 1, 2024.
(c) Commercial edible food generators shall comply with the following requirements:
(1) Arrange to recover the maximum amount of edible food that would otherwise be
disposed.
(2) Contract with, or enter into a written agreement with food recovery organizations or
food recovery services for: (i) the collection of edible food for food recovery; or, (ii)
acceptance of the edible food that the commercial edible food generator self-hauls to
the food recovery organization for food recovery.
(3) Shall not intentionally spoil edible food that is capable of being recovered by a food
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recovery organization or a food recovery service.
(4) Allow the enforcement entity to access the premises and review records pursuant to
14 CCR Section 18991.4.
(5) Keep records that include the following information, or as otherwise specified in 14
CCR Section 18991.4:
(A) A list of each food recovery service or organization that collects or receives its
edible food pursuant to a contract or written agreement established under 14
CCR Section 18991.3(b).
(B) A copy of all contracts or written agreements established under 14 CCR
Section 18991.3(b).
(C) A record of the following information for each of those food recovery services
or food recovery organizations:
(i) The name, address and contact information of the food recovery
service or food recovery organization.
(ii) The types of food that will be collected by or self-hauled to the food
recovery service or food recovery organization.
(iii) The established frequency that food will be collected or self-hauled.
(iv) The quantity of food, measured in pounds recovered per month,
collected or self-hauled to a food recovery service or food recovery
organization for food recovery.
(d) Tier one commercial edible food generators shall submit food recovery reports, as defined
below, to the enforcement entity according to the following schedule:
(1) On or before August 1, 2022, tier one commercial edible food generators shall
submit a food recovery report for the period of January 1, 2022 through June 30, 2022.
(2) On or before May 1, 2023, and on or before May 1st each year thereafter, tier one
commercial edible food generators shall submit a food recovery report for the period
covering the entire previous calendar year.
(e) Tier two commercial edible food generators shall submit food recovery reports, as defined
below, to the enforcement entity according to the following schedule:
(1) On or before May 1, 2025, and on or before May 1st each year thereafter, tier two
commercial edible food generators shall submit a food recovery report for the period
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covering the entire previous calendar year.
(f) Food recovery reports submitted by tier one and tier two commercial edible food generators
shall include the following information:
(1) The name and address of the commercial edible food generator;
(2) The name of the person responsible for the commercial edible food generator’s
edible food recovery program;
(3) A list of all contracted food recovery services or food recovery organizations that
collect edible food from the commercial edible food generator;
(4) The total number of pounds of edible food, per year, donated through a contracted
food recovery organization or food recovery service.
(g) Nothing in this chapter shall be construed to limit or conflict with the protections provided
by the California Good Samaritan Food Donation Act of 2017, the Federal Good Samaritan Act,
or share table and school food donation guidance pursuant to Senate Bill 557 of 2017
(approved by the Governor of the State of California on September 25, 2017, which added
Article 13 [commencing with Section 49580] to Chapter 9 of Part 27 of Division 4 of Title 2 of
the Education Code, and to amend Section 114079 of the Health and Safety Code, relating to
food safety, as amended, supplemented, superseded and replaced from time to time).
Sec. 11.50.035. – Requirements for food recovery organizations and services.
(a) Food recovery services and food recovery organizations collecting or receiving edible food
directly from commercial edible food generators, via a contract or written agreement
established under 14 CCR Section 18991.3(b), shall maintain the following records, or as
otherwise specified by 14 CCR Section 18991.5(a)(1):
(1) The name, address, and contact information for each commercial edible food
generator from which the service collects edible food.
(2) The quantity in pounds of edible food collected from each commercial edible food
generator per month.
(3) The quantity in pounds of edible food transported to each food recovery
organization per month.
(4) The name, address, and contact information for each food recovery organization that
the food recovery service transports edible food to for food recovery.
(b) Food recovery organizations and food recovery services shall inform Generators about
California and Federal Good Samaritan Food Donation Act protection in written
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communications, such as in their contract or agreement established under 14 CCR Section
18991.3(b).
(c) Food recovery organizations and food recovery services that have their primary address
physically located in the Town and contract with or have written agreements with one or more
tier one or tier two commercial edible food generators pursuant to 14 CCR Section 18991.3(b)
shall submit food recovery reports, as defined below, to the enforcement entity according to
the following schedule:
(1) On or before August 1, 2022, food recovery organizations and food recovery services
shall submit a food recovery report for the period of January 1, 2022 through June 30,
2022;
(2) On or before May 1, 2023, and on or before May 1st each year thereafter, food
recovery organizations and food recovery services shall submit a food recovery report
for the period covering the entire previous calendar year.
(d) Food recovery reports submitted by food recovery services or organizations shall include the
following information:
(1) Total pounds of edible food recovered in the previous calendar year from tier one
and tier two edible food generators they have established a contract or written
agreement with pursuant to 14 CCR Section 18991.3(b).
(2) Total pounds of edible food recovered in the previous calendar year from the tier
one and tier two commercial edible food generators they have established a contract or
written agreement with within Santa Clara County.
(e) In order to support edible food recovery capacity planning assessments or other studies
conducted by the county, Town, its designee, or regional agency, food recovery services and
food recovery organizations operating in the Town shall provide information and consultation
to the Town or regional agency, upon request, regarding existing, or proposed new or
expanded, food recovery capacity that could be accessed by the Town and its commercial
edible food generators. A food recovery service or food recovery organization contacted by the
enforcement entity shall respond to such request for information within 60 days, unless
another timeframe is otherwise specified by the Town or regional agency.
Sec. 11.50.040. – Hauler and facility operator requirements.
(a) Requirements for haulers:
(1) The exclusive hauler providing single-family, multi-family residential dwellings, and
commercial recyclable materials, organic waste, C&D, and solid waste collection services
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to generators within the Town’s boundaries shall meet the following requirements and
standards:
(A) Transport:
(i) source separated recyclable materials to a facility that recovers
recyclable materials;
(ii) transport source separated organic materials to a facility, operation,
activity, or property that recovers organic waste as defined in 14 CCR, Division 7,
Chapter 12, Article 2; and
(iii) solid waste to a disposal facility; and all facilities shall be approved by
the regional agency through the exclusive hauler’s collection agreement with the
regional agency.
(2) The exclusive hauler authorized to collect source separated materials and solid waste
shall comply with education, equipment, signage, container labeling, container color,
contamination monitoring, reporting, and other requirements contained within its
franchise agreement entered into by the exclusive hauler and the regional agency.
(b) Requirements for facility operators and community composting operations.
(1) Owners of facilities, operations, and activities that recover organic waste, including,
but not limited to, compost facilities, in-vessel digestion facilities, and publicly-owned
treatment works shall, upon Town or regional agency request, provide information regarding
available and potential new or expanded capacity at their facilities, operations, and activities,
including information about throughput and permitted capacity necessary for planning
purposes. Entities contacted by the Town or regional agency shall respond within 60 days.
Sec. 11.50.045. – Self-hauler requirements.
(a) Self-haulers shall source separate all materials in a manner consistent with 14 CCR Sections
18984.1 and 18984.2, or shall haul organic waste that is mixed with Solid Waste to a high
diversion organic waste processing facility as specified in 14 CCR Section 18984.3.
(b) Self-haulers shall haul their source separated materials to facilities that recover those
materials. Alternatively, self-haulers may haul organic waste that is mixed with solid waste to a
high diversion organic waste processing facility.
(c) Self-haulers that are owners or property managers of commercial businesses and multi-
family residential dwellings shall keep a record of the amount of recyclable materials and
organic waste delivered to each solid waste facility, operation, activity, or property that
processes or recovers recyclable materials and/or organic waste.; this record shall be subject to
Inspection by the Town, its designee, or regional agency. The records shall include the following
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information:
(1) Delivery receipts and weight tickets from the entity accepting the recyclable
materials, organic waste, or solid waste.
(2) The amount of discarded material in cubic yards or tons transported by the
generator to each entity.
(3) If the discarded material is transported to an entity that does not have scales on-site,
or employs scales incapable of weighing the self-hauler’s vehicle in a manner that allows
it to determine the weight of materials received, the self-hauler is not required to
record the weight of material but shall keep a record of the entities that received the
recyclable materials, organic waste, or solid waste.
(d) Self-haulers that are owners or property managers of commercial businesses and multi-
family self-haulers shall provide information collected in 11.50.45(c) to Town, its designee, or
regional agency, if requested.
(e) A single-family generator that self-hauls recyclable materials, organic waste, or solid waste is
not required to record or report information in 11.50.45(c) and (d).
Sec 11.50.050. – Model Water Efficient Landscaping Ordinance Requirements
(a) Property owners or their building or landscape designers, including anyone requiring a
building or planning permit, plan check, or landscape design review from the Town, who are
constructing a new (Single-Family, Multi-Family, public, institutional, or Commercial) project
with a landscape area greater than 500 square feet, or rehabilitating an existing landscape with
a total landscape area greater than 2,500 square feet, shall comply with Sections 492.6(a)(3)(B)
(C), (D), and (G) of the MWELO
(b) If, after the adoption of this ordinance, the California Department of Water Resources, or its
successor agency, amends 23 CCR, Division 2, Chapter 2.7, Sections 492.6(a)(3)(B) (C), (D), and
(G) of the MWWELO September 15, 2015 requirements in a manner that requires Cities to
incorporate the requirements of an updated MWELO in a local ordinance, and the amended
requirements include provisions more stringent than those required in this Section, the revised
requirements of 23 CCR, Division 2, Chapter 2.7 shall be enforced.
Sec. 11.50.055. – Non-local entities and local education agency requirements.
(a) Non-local entities and local education agencies shall comply with requirements 14 CCR
Chapter 12, Article 5 to prevent and reduce the generation of organic waste.
(b) Local education agencies with on-site food facility shall comply with food recovery
requirements of this chapter.
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Sec. 11.50.060. – Inspections and investigations by Town.
(a) The enforcement entity is authorized to conduct Inspections and investigations, at random
or otherwise, of any collection container, collection vehicle loads, or transfer, processing, or
disposal facility for discarded materials collected from generators, or source separated
materials to confirm compliance with this chapter by single-family generators, commercial
businesses, multi-family residential dwellings, property owners, commercial edible food
generators, haulers, self-haulers, food recovery services, and food recovery organizations, and
other entities regulated hereunder subject to applicable laws. This section does not allow the
enforcement entity to enter the interior of a private residential property for Inspection. For the
purposes of inspecting Commercial Business and multi-family residential dwellings containers
for compliance of this chapter, Town may conduct container inspections for prohibited
container contaminants using remote monitoring, and commercial businesses and multi-family
residential dwellings shall accommodate and cooperate, if applicable, with the remote
monitoring pursuant to this chapter.
(b) Regulated entity shall provide or arrange for access during all Inspections (with the
exception of residential property interiors) and shall cooperate with the enforcement entity’s
employee during such Inspections and investigations. Such inspections and investigations may
include confirmation of proper placement of materials in containers, edible food recovery
activities, records, or any other requirement of this chapter described herein. Failure to provide
or arrange for: (i) access to an entity’s premises; (ii) installation and operation of remote
monitoring equipment; or (ii) access to records for any Inspection or investigation is a violation
of this chapter and may result in penalties described.
(c) Any records obtained during Inspections, remote monitoring, and other reviews shall be
subject to the requirements and applicable disclosure exemptions of the Public Records Act as
set forth in Government Code Section 6250 et seq.
(d) The enforcement entity shall receive written complaints from persons regarding an entity
that may be potentially non-compliant with this chapter, including receipt of anonymous
complaints.
Sec. 11.50.065. – Enforcement.
(a) Violation of any provision of this chapter shall constitute grounds for issuance of a notice of
violation and assessment of a fine. Other remedies allowed by law may be used, including civil
action or prosecution as misdemeanor or infraction. The responsible entity for enforcement
may pursue civil actions in the California courts to seek recovery of unpaid administrative
citations. The enforcement entity may choose to delay court action until such time as a
sufficiently large number of violations, or cumulative size of violations exist such that court
action is a reasonable use of entity’s resources.
(b) Responsible entity for enforcement:
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(1) Enforcement entity’s pursuant to this chapter may be undertaken by the Town
enforcement official, regional agency enforcement official, county agency enforcement
official, exclusive hauler, or combination thereof, as defined in this chapter.
(A) The enforcement entity will interpret this chapter; determine the
applicability of waivers, if violation(s) have occurred; implement enforcement
actions; and, determine if compliance standards are met.
(B) The enforcement entity’s procedures on imposition of administrative fines
are hereby incorporated in their entirety, as modified from time to time, and
shall govern the administrative citations issued to enforce this chapter and any
rule or regulation adopted pursuant to this chapter, except as otherwise
indicated in this chapter.
(c) Process for enforcement:
(1) The enforcement entity will monitor compliance with the chapter randomly and
through compliance reviews, route reviews, investigation of complaints, and an
inspection program (that may include remote monitoring). This chapter establishes
Town’s right to conduct inspections and investigations.
(2) The enforcement entity may issue an official notification to notify regulated entities
of its obligations under this chapter.
(3) For incidences of prohibited container contaminants found in containers, the
enforcement entity will issue a notice of violation to any generator found to have
prohibited container contaminants in a container. Such notice will be provided via a cart
tag or other communication immediately upon identification of the prohibited
container. If the enforcement entity observes prohibited container contaminants in a
generator’s containers on more than three (3) consecutive occasion(s), the enforcement
entity or exclusive hauler may assess contamination processing fees or contamination
penalties on the generator.
(4) With the exception of violations of generator contamination of container contents
addressed under 6.04.290(c)(3), the enforcement entity shall issue a notice of violation
requiring compliance within 60 days of issuance of the notice.
(5) Absent compliance by the respondent within the deadline set forth in the notice of
violation, the enforcement entity shall commence an action to impose penalties, via an
administrative citation and fine, pursuant to the Town’s municipal code, chapter 1.30
administrative citations.
Notices shall be sent to “owner” at the official address of the owner maintained by the
tax collector for the Town or if no such address is available, to the owner at the address
of the dwelling or commercial property or to the party responsible for paying for the
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collection services, depending upon available information.
(d) Penalty amounts for types of violation. The penalty levels follow Town municipal code,
chapter 1.30.025 amount of penalties.
(e) Factors considered in determining penalty amount. The following factors shall be used to
determine the amount of the penalty for each violation within the appropriate penalty amount
range:
(1) The nature, circumstances, and severity of the violation(s).
(2) The violator’s ability to pay.
(3) The willfulness of the violator's misconduct.
(4) Whether the violator took measures to avoid or mitigate violations of this chapter.
(5) Evidence of any economic benefit resulting from the violation(s).
(6) The deterrent effect of the penalty on the violator.
(7) Whether the violation(s) were due to conditions outside the control of the violator.
(f) Compliance deadline extension considerations. The enforcement entity may extend the
compliance deadlines set forth in a notice of violation if it finds that there are extenuating
circumstances beyond the control of the respondent that make compliance within the
deadlines impracticable, including the following:
(1) Acts of God such as earthquakes, wildfires, flooding, and other emergencies or
natural disasters;
(2) Delays in obtaining discretionary permits or other government agency approvals; or,
(3) Deficiencies in organic waste recycling infrastructure or edible food recovery
capacity and the Town is under a corrective action plan with CalRecycle pursuant to 14
CCR Section 18996.2 due to those deficiencies.
(g) Appeals process. Persons receiving an administrative citation containing a penalty for an
uncorrected violation may request a hearing to appeal the citation. A hearing will be held only if
it is consistent with Town’s procedures in the Town municipal code, chapter 1.30.
(h) Education period for non-compliance. Beginning January 1, 2022 and through December 31,
2023, the enforcement entity will conduct inspections, remote monitoring, route reviews or
waste evaluations, and compliance reviews, depending upon the type of regulated entity, to
determine compliance, and if the enforcement entity determines that organic waste generator,
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Draft Ordinance - Organic Waste Disposal Reduction November 2, 2021
self-hauler, hauler, tier one commercial edible food generator, food recovery organization, food
recovery service, or other entity is not in compliance, it shall provide educational materials to
the entity describing its obligations under this chapter and a notice that compliance is required
by January 1, 2022 and that violations may be subject to administrative civil penalties starting
on January 1, 2024.
(j) Civil penalties for non-compliance. Beginning January 1, 2024, if the enforcement entity
determines that an organic waste generator, self-hauler, hauler, tier one or tier two commercial
edible food generator, food recovery organization, food recovery service, or other entity is not
in compliance with this chapter, it shall document the noncompliance or violation, issue a
notice of violation, and take enforcement action pursuant to this chapter, as needed.
11.50.070. – Effective date.
This chapter shall be effective commencing on January 1, 2022.
SECTION III
If any section, subsection, sentence, clause, phrase, or portion of this ordinance is for
any reason held to be unconstitutional or otherwise invalid by the decision of any court of
competent jurisdiction, such decision shall not affect the validity of the remaining portions of
this ordinance. The Town Council of the Town of Los Gatos hereby declares that it would have
adopted the remainder of this ordinance, including each section, subsection, sentence, clause,
phrase, or portion irrespective of the invalidity of any other article, section, subsection,
sentence, clause, phrase, or portion.
SECTION IV
This Ordinance was introduced at a regular meeting of the Town Council of the Town of
Los Gatos on the 2nd day of November 2021 and adopted by the following vote as an ordinance
of the Town of Los Gatos at a regular meeting of the Town Council of the Town of Los Gatos on
the 16th day of 2021. This ordinance takes effect 30 days after it is adopted. In lieu of
publication of the full text of the ordinance within fifteen (15) days after its passage a summary
of the ordinance may be published at least five (5) days prior to and fifteen (15) days after
adoption by the Town Council and a certified copy shall be posted in the office of the Town
Clerk, pursuant to GC 36933(c)(1).
Attachment.
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Draft Ordinance - Organic Waste Disposal Reduction November 2, 2021
COUNCIL MEMBERS:
AYES:
NAYS:
ABSENT:
ABSTAIN:
SIGNED:
MAYOR OF THE TOWN OF LOS GATOS
LOS GATOS, CALIFORNIA
DATE: __________________
ATTEST:
TOWN CLERK OF THE TOWN OF LOS GATOS
LOS GATOS, CALIFORNIA
DATE: __________________
This Page Intentionally Left Blank
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Amendment to Chapter 11 – Garbage, Refuse & Weeds November 2, 2021
EXHIBIT A
AMENDMENT TO CHAPTER 11 – GARBAGE, REFUSE AND WEEDS
Chapter 11 –DISCARDED MATERIALS, EXCLUDED WASTEAND WEEDS[1]
Footnotes:
--- (1) ---
Cross reference— Animals and fowl, Ch. 4; buildings and building regulations, Ch. 6; fire
protection, Ch. 9; food and food establishments, Ch. 10; health and sanitation, Ch. 13; licenses
and miscellaneous business regulations, Ch. 14; nuisances, Ch. 17; planning, Ch. 20; sewers and
sewage disposal, Ch. 22; streets and sidewalks, Ch. 23; removal of discarded waste upon
completion of construction of sidewalks, driveways, curbs and gutters, § 23.40.035; subdivision
regulations, Ch. 24; utilities, Ch. 27; zoning regulations, Ch. 29.
ARTICLE I. - IN GENERAL
Sec. 11.10.010. - Definitions.
For the purposes of this chapter, the following words and phrases shall have the
meanings respectively ascribed to them by this chapter:
“Dead animals” means those animals that die naturally, from disease, or are accidentally killed,
but shall not mean condemned animals or parts of animals from slaughterhouses or similar
places.
“Discarded materials” means recyclable materials, organic materials, and solid waste discarded
by a generator for the purpose of collection and/or Self-Hauling, excluding excluded waste.
“Excluded waste” means hazardous substance, hazardous waste, infectious waste, designated
waste, volatile, corrosive, medical waste, infectious, regulated radioactive waste, and toxic
substances or material that facility operator(s), which receive materials from the Town and its
generators, reasonably believe(s) would, as a result of or upon acceptance, transfer, processing,
or disposal, be a violation of local, State, or Federal law, regulation, or ordinance, including:
land use restrictions or conditions, waste that cannot be disposed of in Class III landfills or
accepted at the facility by permit conditions, waste that in Town’s, its designee’s, or regional
agency’s reasonable opinion would present a significant risk to human health or the
environment, cause a nuisance or otherwise create or expose the Town, its designee, or
regional agency’s to potential liability; but not including de minimis volumes or concentrations
of waste of a type and amount normally found in single-family or multi-family solid waste after
implementation of programs for the safe collection, processing, recycling, treatment, and
disposal of batteries and paint in compliance with Sections 41500 and 41802 of the California
Public Resources Code. Excluded waste does not include used motor oil and filters, and
household batteries when such materials are defined as allowable materials for collection
through the Town’s collection programs and the generator or customer has properly placed the
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Amendment to Chapter 11 – Garbage, Refuse & Weeds November 2, 2021
EXHIBIT A
materials for collection pursuant to instructions provided by Town, regional agency, or
exclusive hauler for collection services.
(Ord. No. 1812, § I(14-30), 2-20-90)
Cross reference— Definitions and rules of construction generally, § 1.10.015.
Sec. 11.10.015. - Determinations.
Pursuant to Government Code section 66757, the Town hereby makes the following
determinations:
(1) The following aspects of solid waste handling are of local concern: frequency of
collection, means of collection and transportation, level of services, charges and fees,
and nature, location, and extent of providing solid waste handling services.(2)The public
health, safety and well-being require that solid waste handling services be provided by a
wholly exclusive franchise. The terms of franchise shall be set forth in a franchise
agreement approved by resolution of the Town Council.
(2) The public health, safety and well-being require that solid waste handling services be
provided by a wholly exclusive franchise. The terms of franchise shall be set forth in a
franchise agreement approved by resolution of the Town Council.
(Code 1968, § 14-2)
Sec. 11.10.020. - Collection and disposal of discarded materialsby private persons.
(a) No person, except as provided in section 11.10.015, shall collect or gather or cause to be
collected or gathered, discarded materialswithin the Town, or carry, convey or
transport, or cause to be carried, conveyed or transported, discarded materials through
any of the streets, alleys or public places of the Town.
(b) This section shall not apply to the following:
(1) Persons carrying, conveying or transporting discarded materials owned by them to
an authorized disposal site.
(2) Persons collecting or gathering, or carrying, conveying or transporting, discarded
materials to be salvaged.
(3) Persons collecting or gathering, or carrying, conveying or transporting, discarded
materials to an authorized disposal site upon an irregular or occasional basis.
(4) Gardeners or tree surgeons collecting or gathering, or carrying, conveying or
transporting, tree branches, yard trimmings, grass clippings, weeds and leaves from
premises where such gardeners or tree surgeons have performed services resulting
in such discarded materials, to an authorized disposal site.
(Code 1968, § 14-3)
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Amendment to Chapter 11 – Garbage, Refuse & Weeds November 2, 2021
EXHIBIT A
Sec. 11.10.025. - Disposal by Town, compliance with solid waste management plan required.
(a) Except as otherwise expressly provided in this chapter, it shall be unlawful for any
person to dispose of discarded materials, except through the service provided by the
Town, its agents, servants, or employees, or by persons who shall contract with the
Town to gather and collect and to dispose of such discarded materials.
(b) Any person who collects and disposes of discarded materials in the Town shall do so in
compliance with the solid waste management plan approved by resolution of the Town
Council.
(Code 1968, § 14-4)
Sec. 11.10.030. - Contracting for collection services by Town; authority to levy charge for
collection services.
The Town may agree to pay and may pay to its agents, servants or employees, or to
other persons who shall contract to gather and collect and dispose of discarded materials such
compensation as may be determined by the Town Council. The Town may authorize and permit
its agent, servants or employees or such other persons to charge and collect for such service
from the owners of such discarded materials, such sum as may be determined by the Town
Council, and it shall be unlawful for any greater charge to be made for such service.
(Code 1968, § 14-5)
Sec. 11.10.035. - Discarded Materials receptacles—Required.
No person shall deposit, keep or accumulate, or cause to be deposited, kept or
accumulated, any discarded materials in or about any lot or parcel of land, or any public or
private drive, alley or street, or any house, store, restaurant or other place in the Town, unless
the same is enclosed in a receptacle of the type described in this article.
(Code 1968, § 14-6)
(Code 1968, § 14-7)
Sec. 11.10.045. - Accumulations of combustible materials prohibited in certain areas;
exception.
No person shall keep any combustible materials in any office, commercial, industrial or
large multiple housing area (eight (8) units or more) of the Town for a period longer than
twenty-four (24) hours, without placing such materials in a metal container satisfactory to the
Fire Chief.
(Code 1968, § 14-9)
Sec. 11.10.050. - Burying, burning prohibited.
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EXHIBIT A
No person shall bury in or burn upon any lot, piece or parcel of land, or in or upon any
street, way or alley within the Town any materials. No person shall burn upon any lot, piece or
parcel of land within the Town any materials.
(Code 1968, § 14-10)
Sec. 11.10.055. - Dumping of discarded materials restricted to authorized disposal site.
No person shall dump any discarded materials upon any lot, piece or parcel of land not
owned by such person or upon any public street, way, alley or place within the Town.
(Code 1968, § 14-11)
Sec. 11.10.060. - Leaving of dead animals, etc., on streets, public places, private lands, etc.
No person shall put the carcass of any dead animal or the offal from any dead animal,
whether slaughtered or not, or the offal from any slaughterhouse, pen, corral or butchershop in
any creek, pond, street, alley, highway or public grounds; or shall leave the same to decompose
or decay upon the person's private land upon the surface of the ground; or shall allow any
animal owned by the person which shall have died from any cause to remain upon any street,
alley or highway, or upon any public or private grounds, to decay and create an offensive smell;
or shall attempt to destroy such animal or offal by fire within the Town.
(Code 1968, § 14-12)
ARTICLE III. - RECYCLABLE MATERIALS
Sec. 11.30.010. - Definition.
Recyclable materials means materials authorized by exclusive hauler.
(Ord. No. 1812, § I(14-30), 2-20-90)