Waste Management for State Agencies

CalEPA BuildingAs a part of California’s continued commitment to reduce the amount of solid waste entering landfills, state agencies and facilities are required to meet waste diversion goals. State agencies are also required to buy postconsumer recycled content products when making purchases in 11 different categories. Buying recycled is critical as it helps create market demand for recycled materials.

This site assists state government waste reduction/recycling coordinators and procurement officers in their efforts to reduce, reuse, recycle, and buy recycled.

To access the State Agency Annual Report (also referred to as SARC) or the State Agency Buy Recycled Campaign (SABRC) Report please refer to the information in the boxes below.

To access additional resources and information regarding state agency recycling programs or recycled content purchases, scroll down. 

State agencies submit two annual reports to CalRecycle:

Waste Management Annual Report

This report summarizes yearly progress in implementing waste diversion programs and reducing waste disposal.

Due Annually on May 1*

State Agency Buy Recycled Campaign (SABRC) Annual Report

This report summarizes yearly progress in purchasing postconsumer recycled-content products.

Due Annually on October 31*

Program News and Updates...

State Agency Waste Management:

  • The Waste Management Annual Report (SARC) is due by May 1* each year.
  • NEW: Annual Report training webinars. The Annual Report was revised starting with the 2022 reporting cycle. The two webinars below cover the same material.
    • March 7, 2023, State Agency Annual Report (SARC) updates and training webinar YouTube (1:13:49) | Transcript
    • March 16, 2023, State Agency Annual Report (SARC) updates and training webinar YouTube (1:19:27) | Transcript
  • AB 2812 (Gordon, Chapter 530, Statutes of 2016), each state agency is required to provide adequate receptacles, signage, education, and staffing, and arrange for recycling services consistent with existing recycling requirements for each office building of the state agency or large state facility. At least once per year, each covered state agency and large state facility is required to review the adequacy and condition of receptacles for recyclable material and of associated signage, education, and staffing. Additionally, each state agency is required to include in its annual report a summary of its compliance with the act.
  • AB 1826 – (Mandatory Organics Recycling) Is your Agency in Compliance? CalRecycle has developed a number of tools to assist State Agencies with identification, education, and outreach campaigns for California’s Mandatory Commercial Organics Recycling law.

State Agency Buy Recycled Campaign (SABRC)

  • SABRC Reports are due by October 31st* each year.
  • Starting January 1, 2020, the percent of required SABRC reportable purchases is increasing from 50 percent to 75 percent (except for product categories paint, antifreeze, and tires, which remains at the 50 percent requirement). The Minimum Postconsumer Content Requirement for each product category remains unchanged. (Public Contract Code Section 12203).
  • Management Memo No. 15-06, State Buildings and Grounds Maintenance and Operation, issued by DGS, requires “a minimum 3-inch layer of mulch shall be applied on all exposed soil surfaces of planting areas” and other drought-related orders.

*Please note that California law, Government Code Section 6707, provides that if the annual report due date falls on a weekend or holiday, then it is not due until the next business day.

State Agency Waste Management

Sacramento state capitol building

State Agency Resources

Agency specific information, education and outreach materials, historical resources.

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Pouring food scraps into a compost pile

Resources for Non-Local Entities and SB 1383 Implementation

SB 1383 resources for non-local entities and state agencies including requirements, waivers, and frequently asked questions.

Trash for recycling separated into bins

Managing Different Waste Types

How state agencies can  manage various types of wastes.

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Person putting banana peel in recycling bio bin in the kitchen

AB 1826 Implementation

Education and outreach materials and direction for implementing commercial organics recycling.

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State Agency Buy Recycled Campaign (SABRC)

Office recycle bin

Program Requirements

SABRC program requirements for state agencies.

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Blank recycle notebook

Buy Recycled

Resources for buying recycled-content products, and state programs related to purchasing recycled-content products.

Tissue paper rolls

SABRC Product Categories

Understand the 16 reportable product categories.

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warehouse employee with clipboard

Environmentally Preferred Purchasing

Learn more about purchasing recycled-content products and other environmentally preferable products.

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People at a desk in a meeting

SABRC Resources

Information for implementing a successful SABRC program.

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For more information contact: Recycling Coordinator, SARC@calrecycle.ca.gov, or Buy Recycled Campaign, SABRC@calrecycle.ca.gov.