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Waste Management reviews Ridgecrest organics, recycling rules and contamination concerns
Summary
Waste Management staff briefed Ridgecrest residents and property managers on an organics and recycling program required by state regulation 827, described common contamination problems, and outlined education, monitoring and fee policies for multifamily properties.
Waste Management representatives told Ridgecrest residents and property managers on Oct. 26 that businesses must provide front‑of‑house recycling with proper signage under a regulation cited in the meeting as “827,” and they reviewed what may go in organics, recycling and trash containers.
The presentation explained why plastic bags and other contaminants cause processing problems, summarized how collected recycling is processed at the company’s Sun Valley material recovery facility (MRF), and described planned steps — more education, “continuous monitoring” using truck/photography technology, and targeted notices — to reduce contamination. Waste Management staff also discussed lock codes, overage and lock fees, and options for multifamily properties to obtain extra carts.
The briefing is part of a wider rollout the company is implementing after the state-level organics requirement took effect, and Ridgecrest representatives and property managers used the forum to raise practical concerns about tenant turnover, enforcement and costs.
Waste Management staff listed acceptable organics as “food waste, yard waste, paper, soiled napkins,” and said not to include loose plastic bags, plastic silverware, foam containers or hazardous waste. The presenter said recycling should include “plastic bottles and containers, aluminum cans, glass bottles and containers, milk cartons, [and] juice cartons,” and emphasized that plastic bags are the main contaminant because they jam MRF machinery. “The bags get stuck and then we have to manually shut everything down, cut them out,” the Waste Management customer service representative said.
Company staff described how recycling from the Ridgecrest area is taken to a nearby sorting yard and then to the Sun Valley MRF for automated sorting and removal of contaminants. To reduce truck‑route contamination and speed customer notifications, the company plans to expand what it called “continuous monitoring,” using truck cameras and photos to flag likely contamination and notify customers sooner. The representative said that the program initially raised diversion from roughly 13% to about 30% after adding an organics container, but that contamination levels can be as high as about 40% in some routes and need work to improve.
On multifamily properties, Waste Management staff and property managers discussed common challenges: tenant turnover, dumpsters used by nonresidents, and the practicalities of locking enclosures. The company said it offers code‑lock solutions that can be shared with authorized staff, and said drivers carry a separate key when necessary; a lock or swap fee may apply in some cases. The presenter said extra recycling and organics carts are available at no charge for recurring needs, while one‑time trips to the transfer station or special pickups are treated as overflow services.
Education and outreach are central to the company’s approach. Staff described a welcome/service guide sent when customers set up accounts, quarterly newsletters, community events, online resources at wm.com and a customer service line for case‑by‑case follow up. The representative offered to attend property‑level town halls and meetings to walk through proper sorting and answer tenant questions.
Residents and property managers raised concerns about how notices are issued, whether minor residue would trigger a contamination notice, the cost impact on tenants, and whether the city or county would adjust program costs. Waste Management said its process emphasizes outreach first, then notices and, if necessary, fees when contamination requires disposal as trash. The presenter said the company would work directly with property managers on individual instances and try to avoid punitive steps for minor, first‑time incidents.
The meeting did not record any formal city actions, votes or ordinances. Attendees were encouraged to contact Waste Management customer service for specific account issues and to request an on‑site presentation for tenants.
Less critical details discussed included how to find collection days online, the option to request extra carts, and practical tips such as flattening cardboard and not overfilling carts. Attendees asked about county program timelines; company staff said counties are working on separate plans that follow a different process and timeline.
