Did Your Property Fail a Waste Audit? We're Here to Help.

Receiving a Notice of Noncompliance from SF Environment or Recology can feel overwhelming. The good news? Bay Area Bin Support is on San Francisco's approved list of Zero Waste Facilitators - and we know exactly what it takes to get your property back into compliance.

What the Law Requires

Under San Francisco's Refuse Separation Compliance Ordinance, Large Reuse Generators who fail a waste audit are required to:

• Engage a certified Zero Waste Facilitator for a minimum of 24 consecutive months.
• Submit a compliance plan and documentation of their Zero Waste Facilitator within 60 days of receiving a City Compliance Order.
• Complete a Refuse Separation Compliance Operations Plan (RSCOP) and provide a 6-month RSCOP progress update (a newer requirement)

Non-compliance: Can result in fines of up to $1,000 per day. The clock starts ticking the moment you receive your Order - so the sooner you act, the better.

Learn more directly from SF Environment: Refuse Separation Law for Large Refuse Generators | Refuse Separation Law FAQ (Property Owners and Managers)

Why Bay Area Bin Support?

As a City-approved Zero Waste Facilitator, our team has completed the training required by the San Francisco Department of the Environment. We know the audit standards, the contamination thresholds, and the documentation the City expects. We don't just check boxes - we solve the underlying problems that caused the audit failure in the first place.

Who We Serve.

We provide Zero Waste Facilitator services for a wide range of property types in San Francisco, including:

• Multifamily Residential - market rate and affordable housing
• Commercial & Mixed-Use Properties
• Retail
• Hospitality
• Education
• Government

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Zero Waste Facilitation. The BABS Way.

We don't just "check" bins; we manage your waste stream with surgical precision:

• Onsite Sorting Support and Decontamination: Our team - including a lead and trained sorters - is onsite to sort all materials generated at your property: trash, recycling, and compost. We don't just observe; we get our hands dirty so your bins stay clean.
• Contamination Source Identification: We identify the primary sources of contamination at your property so the problems get solved at the root, not just managed week to week.
• RSCOP Assistance: We guide you through completing the required Refuse Separation Compliance Operations Plan and the newly introduced 6-month progress update - documents that many property managers find confusing and time-consuming.
• Right-Sizing Your Service: As part of our diversion strategy, we evaluate whether your current hauler service level makes sense for your property and help make adjustments that support compliance and reduce costs.
• Temporary Bin Placement: We provide temporary bins as needed to support the sorting process and improve material separation during the compliance period.‍
• Resident & Tenant Education: We offer onsite education for residents, tenants, and staff to create lasting behavior change - not just short term fixes.
• Reporting: We provide documentation and reporting to help you stay on track with City requirements throughout your 24-month facilitation period.

Frequently Asked Questions

How serious are the penalties for non-compliance with the SF Refuse Separation Ordinance? Very serious. SF Environment can assess fines up to $1,000 per day for properties that fail to comply with a Compliance Order. Beyond fines, failing a follow-up audit triggers another Order and resets the clock -meaning your property could face an extended facilitation requirement. Acting quickly and thoroughly the first time is always the recommended path.

What happens if my property fails the follow-up audit after 24 months? SF Environment will issue another Compliance Order requiring additional remediation - and your facilitation obligation continues. The best outcome is passing the follow-up audit cleanly, which is why we focus on identifying and eliminating the root causes of contamination, not just sorting around them.

Can you help communicate with my residents and tenants about proper sorting? Yes. While our team handles the physical onsite sorting, we also provide you with detailed reporting that identifies exactly where contamination is coming from - which trash room, which bins, which materials. This give you the specific, targeted information you need to communicate directly with the residents or tenants who need guidance, rather than sending blanket notices that often go ignored.

How quickly can you mobilize? We understand that timing is critical when you've received a Compliance Order. Bay Area Bin Support moves fast. We can typically conduct an initial site visit within 1-2 days of your first contact, have a scope of services prepared shortly after, and have our team onsite within days of your agreement - well within the 60-day window the City requires. If you've just received a Notice of Noncompliance, don't wait. Reach out today.

For more information, visit SF Environment's official resources:

https://www.sfenvironment.org/refuse-separation-law-large-refuse-generators

https://www.sfenvironment.org/zerowastefacilitator-faq?repaired