Organics management for businesses

Many businesses in Washington must arrange for organic materials collection, as required by a 2022 Organics Management Law expanding organics management and collection in the state.

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Business Organics Management Areas

By July 1 each year we are required under RCW 70A.205.545 to determine and post on our website areas in Washington where businesses must arrange organics management services to reduce their organic material waste. These Business Organics Management Area or BOMA determinations are valid for the following calendar year beginning January 1.

View interactive map

This map identifies the expanded organics collection areas that are in effect for the 2024 calendar year. Areas in blue indicate the active collection areas.

A BOMA represents those parts of the state where we have determined both qualifying conditions exist:

Businesses have access to year-round curbside food waste and organic materials collection, and these materials are delivered to an organics management facility such as a compost facility or anaerobic digester for processing
Capacity exists at these facilities to accept increased volumes of organic materials from businesses

To make this determination, we consulted with local governments, haulers, and compost facilities. We also solicited public comment on a preliminary draft of the BOMA map through our E-comments portal. The map reflects what we learned through this process.

Requesting exclusion

To request exclusion, a jurisdiction must submit their request in writing to us at organics@ecy.wa.gov. The request must include the following:

A description of specific geographic areas.
How one or both conditions listed above are not met in the area.
If a jurisdiction is making their exclusion request based on factors such as cost, they must demonstrate that it is not economically feasible for affected businesses to meet the requirements in 70A.205.545A.
If the exclusion request is based on affected businesses not being able to meet the requirements for other reasons, the jurisdiction must explain in detail why businesses are unable to comply.

BOMA exclusion focus sheet

Outreach materials

Organics collection requirements timeline for businesses

Only businesses located in a BOMA and dispose of a certain volume of organic materials and solid waste will be impacted. You can see if a particular business is in a BOMA by using the address search bar in the top left corner of the BOMA map.

Below is a list of the types of businesses in a BOMA that will be impacted and when:

Jan. 1, 2024 – Businesses generating at least eight cubic yards of organic material waste per week must arrange for organic materials management service.

Jan. 1, 2025 – Businesses generating at least four cubic yards of organic material waste per week must arrange for organic materials management service.

Jan. 1, 2026 – Businesses generating at least four cubic yards of solid waste per week must arrange for organic materials management service.

These requirements also apply to businesses arranging for gardening and landscape work. Following the schedule above, they must ensure that an organics management facility will process the organic materials taken off site.

Frequently asked questions

The term “business” in the 2022 Organics Management Law is defined as a for-profit (private or public) or nonprofit entity including, but not limited to, a partnership or corporation that is organized as a for-profit or nonprofit entity.

Businesses include restaurants, hotels, retail stores, grocery stores, food processors, distribution centers, event stadiums, museums, recreational facilities, correctional facilities, government buildings, and assisted living facilities. This definition also includes nonprofit organizations, such as schools, animal shelters, places of worship, and hospitals.

“Business,” under this definition does not include multifamily residential buildings, such as apartments, condominiums, and townhomes.

Organic materials are defined as "any solid waste that is a biological substance of plant or animal origin capable of microbial degradation.” This includes manure, yard debris, food waste, food processing waste, wood waste, and garden waste.

More specifically, food waste includes waste from fruits, vegetables, meats, dairy products, fish, shellfish, nuts, seeds, grains, and similar materials that result from the storage, preparation, cooking, handling, selling, or serving of food for human consumption.

To be in compliance, a business cannot dispose of organic material above the required threshold.

Your business must arrange for collection if, in January 2024, it generates eight cubic yards of organic material. In January 2025 businesses that generate four cubic yards of organic material must arrange for collection. By January 2026, businesses that generate four cubic yards of solid waste must arrange for organics collection.

Businesses may also be exempt from organics collection requirements in the following conditions:

Organic materials are managed onsite.
Organic materials from growing food or fiber are used offsite by a business for growing food or fiber.
Organic materials are sold or donated to another business for offsite use.
Organic materials are generated from a natural disaster.
Organic materials are self-hauled to an organic materials management facility.

Businesses are primarily responsible for determining if the requirements apply to them. To do this they will need help from their haulers, local governments, and others to learn about the law, if it applies to them, and how to comply.

We will provide resources to help identify what businesses may be impacted by the law and options to comply.

In 2024, only a small subset of all businesses will be impacted. As they are identified, technical assistance can be initially focused on helping them. This will include providing information on options other than organics collection to meet the requirements in the law. These other options include implementing food waste prevention systems and participating in food rescue programs.

Jurisdictional health departments may enforce the requirement that businesses must arrange for organics materials management services if they are located in the BOMA map,

The jurisdiction must issue two written notices prior to issuing penalties, and they must not charge businesses a fee associated with the administration and enforcement of these requirements.

Contact information

Olivia Carros
Organics and Food Center specialist
olivia.carros@ecy.wa.gov
360-995-3980