Oakland property owners and community managers: simplify recycling & organics compliance while boosting resident satisfaction. National Doorstep’s valet trash & recycling service aligns with the City of Oakland program requirements and California state mandates (AB 341 / AB 1826 / SB 1383) to reduce contamination and enhance NOI — all with a turnkey program.
In Oakland, weekly trash, recycling, and compost (organics) service is mandatory for all properties — including multifamily — under Oakland Municipal Code (OMC) Chapter 8.28. Multifamily communities must right-size service and provide resident access and education. The City partners with Alameda County’s StopWaste to implement state SB 1383 organics rules.
- NOI & Property Value Lift: Visible sustainability amenities support retention and reviews.
- Resident Convenience & Cleanliness: Doorstep recycling & organics pickup reduces overflow and contamination.
- Right-Sizing & Access: Meet minimum weekly capacity and ensure equal access to recycle/compost per OMC 8.28.
- Local & State Alignment: Compatible with Oakland Recycles — Laws & Rules · StopWaste — Oakland Requirements · OMC Chapter 8.28 (Full Text).
At a Glance: Oakland, CA
- Jurisdiction: City of Oakland (Alameda County, California)
- Mandate Type: Mandatory Recycling + Mandatory Organics (weekly trash/recycle/compost service required by OMC Ch. 8.28; SB 1383 implemented locally)
- Applicability Threshold (Multifamily):
- Recycling & Organics: Required at multifamily 5+ units (StopWaste MRO/SB 1383 implementation).
- Trash Minimum: Weekly capacity ≥ 20 gallons × number of dwelling units (OMC §8.28.140.B.2).
- Access & Education: Provide equal resident access to recycle/compost and ongoing education.
- References: Oakland Recycles — Laws · StopWaste — Oakland · OMC §8.28.140 · Full Chapter 8.28 Index
Property Manager Compliance Checklist
| Task | Action / Requirement | Resources / Links |
|---|---|---|
| ☑ Weekly Service (All Streams) | Subscribe to weekly trash, recycle, and compost service sized to generation. | Oakland Recycles — Laws |
| ☑ Right-Sizing (Trash Minimum) | Provide weekly trash capacity ≥ 20 gal × units; ensure lids close and no overflow. | OMC §8.28.140.B.2 |
| ☑ Equal Access | Residents must have reasonable access to recycle/compost and bulky item collection. | OMC §8.28.140.D |
| ☑ Education & Sorting | Annual education; bin-side signage; ensure proper sorting into the correct container. | StopWaste — Oakland (SB 1383) |
| ☑ Self-Haul (If Applicable) | Use approved self-haul only; keep weight tickets/logs; maintain weekly frequency. | Business Self-Haul (PDF) |
| ☑ Avoid Improper Placement | Do not place solid waste except as provided by OMC (no dumping/overflow). | OMC §8.28.150 |
| ☑ Be Aware of Enforcement | Violations & remedies are defined in §8.28.280 and related enforcement code. | OMC §8.28.280 |
Full Text — Core Multifamily Section (OMC §8.28.140)
§ 8.28.140. Required provision of approved containers and minimum service and container capacity; container placement; residential occupants’ access to services.
A. All mixed material, and organic material created or produced in the City shall be deposited in a container or containers approved by the Director, equipped with suitable handles and a tight-fitting cover, and watertight. Every person in possession, charge, or control of any single-family dwelling, multi-family dwelling or commercial premises shall provide a sufficient number of such containers of sufficient capacity to hold all mixed materials, recyclable materials, and organic materials which are created, produced, or accumulated on such premises between the time of successive collections by the collector or removal under self-haul permit, to meet the minimum SFD and MFD service and container capacity requirements of this section, and to meet county and/or state requirements for organic materials capacity and/or recyclable materials capacity.
B. The minimum service and container capacity requirements are as follows:
1. Single-family dwellings: For each residential unit, mixed material container capacity of at least 20 gallons.
2. Multi-family dwelling: mixed material container and collection frequency such that the weekly capacity is equal to the number of dwelling units in the multi-family dwelling multiplied by 20 gallons.
C. Such containers shall be kept in a suitable location upon such premises, readily accessible to the collector, if backyard service is provided. Every person subscribing to curbside collection shall place the container(s) at curbside or streetside on their collection day in a manner that does not block any driveway, sidewalk or street. Containers placed at curbside or streetside shall be timely returned to their normal storage area after the collector has emptied the container(s). By written permission of the Director, a location for such container or containers upon public property may be arranged.
D. Owners of SFD and MFD premises shall ensure that the occupants of such premises have reasonable access to the services provided by the MM&O and RR collectors, including the collection of mixed materials, organic materials, recyclable materials, and bulky goods.
(Ord. No. 13314, §1, 6-22-2015) — Source
Other Key Sections (Text Excerpts & Links)
- §8.28.100 — Weekly subscription to solid waste/organics service (see self-haul + business/residential forms and guidance). Business Self-Haul (refers to §8.28.100) · Chapter Index
- §8.28.150 — Prohibition on improper placement of solid waste. Full Text
- §8.28.090 — Recycling surcharge fee (Public Resources Code §41901). Full Text
- §8.28.240 — Special assessment payment prior to tax roll placement (City-subscribed service recovery). Full Text
- §8.28.280 — Violations, enforcement & remedies. Full Text
SB 1383 Implementation & Edible Food Recovery
Oakland implements California’s SB 1383 through Chapter 8.28 and partnerships with StopWaste. Depending on your site (e.g., mixed-use with large food generators), edible food recovery requirements may apply. Confirm generator tier and recovery obligations with StopWaste guidance.
Appendix — Full Chapter 8.28 (Complete Section Index)
Use the links below to navigate to the full text of each section in OMC Chapter 8.28:
- Chapter 8.28 — Table of Contents (Full Text Navigation)
- §8.28.010 — Definitions
- §8.28.020 — Maximum rates procedures
- §8.28.030 — Collection of recyclable materials
- §8.28.090 — Recycling surcharge fee
- §8.28.100 — Weekly subscription/service (see self-haul refs)
- §8.28.140 — Required containers & minimum capacity
- §8.28.150 — Prohibition on improper placement
- §8.28.240 — Special assessment payment
- §8.28.280 — Violations, enforcement & remedies
Oakland Recycling & Organics — Compliance Summary
- ☑ Jurisdiction Type: City of Oakland (Alameda County)
- ☑ Mandate Type: Mandatory Recycling + Organics (weekly service required by OMC Ch. 8.28; SB 1383 implemented locally)
- ☑ Applicability Thresholds: MF 5+ units (StopWaste MRO/SB 1383); trash minimum of 20 gal × units weekly (OMC §8.28.140.B.2)
- ☑ Best Practices: Co-located, color-compliant containers; annual resident education; contamination controls; documented monthly audits.
- ☑ Local References: Oakland Recycles Laws & Rules; OMC Chapter 8.28; StopWaste SB 1383 requirements.
Source highlights: OMC §8.28.140 containers/capacity; §8.28.150 placement; §8.28.090 fees; §8.28.240 special assessment; §8.28.280 enforcement; Oakland Recycles “Mandatory Weekly Trash, Recycle, and Compost”; StopWaste Oakland SB 1383 implementation.
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