The factors most important to note for commercial customers include:

1. No change to volumetric (per bin) rates.
2. No change to secondary charges such as inside service or elevation.
3. The 10% fixed charge not eligible for diversion discount has been removed.
4. The total volumetric fixed charge, not eligible for a diversion discount incentive, is 25%. Previously it was 10%.
5. The total volumetric charge eligible for a discount has been raised from 75% to 100% to encourage more recycling and composting.

• You can see how potential service changes may affect your diversion rate discount by using the Commercial Diversion Percentage calculator.

• Refuse collection rates had remained essentially flat for the previous three years.The increase will help pay for:
• 1.    Increased landfill disposal costs.
  2.    New 5-year labor agreement.
  3.    New wing on transfer station to receive compostable material.
  4.    New programs such as trash sorting and processing, abandoned waste collection, increased service of public litter cans to help keep the City clean.

• Commercial customers can call (415) 330-1300 to: speak with one of our commercial specialists, sign up for one of our commercial rate workshops, or arrange a meeting at their property to discuss service options.

• One key is to make sure your employees, contractors, and customers know what can be recycled and composted and to encourage them to put their discards in the appropriate bins.
• Recology can provide free waste audits, training, and signage.
• Another important practice is to make sure your janitorial service understands that keeping recycling, composting, and trash materials separate saves your building money and is important to you.

• Establish recycling and composting stations in break rooms and public areas with high foot traffic. Post clear signage to show people what items can be recycled and what should be composted. Very little goes in the trash bin.
• Creating more opportunities to recycle, using color-coded bins – blue for recycling, green for composting, and black for landfill – and posting signs and labels featuring pictures of specific materials can be very effective in showing people how to sort their discards correctly.

• We post all of these resources and more at www.Recology.com. We encourage people to download, print, post, and share these tools.

• Empty gable-top paper milk cartons
• Empty soup and juice boxes
• Empty paper coffee cups and lids
• Clean, dry plastic bags that are bagged in one clear bag

• • Clean paper and envelopes
  • Newspapers
  • ALL bottles (glass and plastic)
  • Glass jars
  • Hard plastics, such as plastic cups and plastic boxes that once contained pre-washed salads
  • Plastic tubs
  • Clear plastic clamshell containers, such as those delis and some restaurants use for take-out foods
  • Cardboard. Please break down cardboard boxes and place them in the recycling (blue) bin.

• • Coffee grounds
  • Food-soiled paper, such as coffee filters and tea bags
  • Food scraps, including cooked meats, fish bones, vegetable and fruit peelings
  • Dead flowers and plants.

As little as possible. Examples of non-recyclable materials include:

• • Cat feces (They contain ammonia.)
  • Potato chip bags (They are metal on the inside, printed with bright inks, and coated with multiple layers of polyethylene.)
  • Latex and rubber gloves
  • Dirty disposable diapers
  • Used, empty toothpaste tubes.

• The most immediate reference is the stickers on the lids of the bins.Clear signage above bins are also great reference documents. Building managers and owners can review and download stickers and signs at www.Recology.com.  People who want to double-check which bin they should utilize when recycling or composting specific materials can also get quick answers on their smart phone. For an easy-to-use search tool go to SFRecycles.org.

• Recology will collect large or bulky items from commercial properties for a fee. This service is called “Bulky Item Recycling.” Program guidelines are listed on www.BulkyItemRecycling.com. Book an appointment online or call our Customer Service Department at (415) 330-1300.