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Agency Update
Agency Update - Winter 2026
Updated Mar 16, 2026
StopWaste Pilots Solar Panel Collection Event In partnership with the California Product Stewardship Council, StopWaste hosted a free, one-day residential solar panel collection event at the Fremont Recycling & Transfer Station for Alameda County residents. Event staff collected 171 solar panels, and of those, 47 panels were tested and confirmed suitable for reuse, while 124 panels were designated for recycling. Funded by CalRecycle, this initiative helps keep hazardous materials from being disposed of improperly and supports market development for used solar panels. Launched in 2025, the
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Agency Update
Agency Update - Winter 2018
Updated Jan 25, 2018
New Tools Make Commercial Recycling Easier
The Mandatory Recycling Program recently released two new tools for businesses and multifamily homes to create customized signage and posters. These are the first in a suite of tools being created to improve outreach and can be found on RecyclingRulesAC.org as support materials for businesses and multifamily homes.
Sign Maker Our newly updated and easy-to-use Sign Maker tool makes it easy toNews
Reusable Bag Law for Eating Establishments Begins November 1
Updated Jan 16, 2025
Beginning November 1, eating establishments in Alameda County can no longer offer customers single-use plastic bags. Eating establishments can offer recycled content paper bags for free, but must charge customers at least 10 cents for reusable bags (includes thicker plastic bags).
Agency Update
Agency Update - Fall 2017
Updated Oct 18, 2017
Reusable Bags - Not Just for Groceries Anymore StopWaste is helping customers better understand the expanded reusable bag law, and encouraging people to bring their own reusable bags to all retail stores. A recently launched social media campaign is informing residents of the new requirements which began on May 1 for all retail stores in Alameda County, and will begin for eating establishments on November 1. Follow us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram and help us spread the word. View information for shoppers Edible East Bay Shares Tips to Stop Food Waste Too much celery? Late harvest peaches
Agency Update
Agency Update - Summer 2017
Updated Jul 19, 2017
SWEET is Back This Fall Applications for the StopWaste Environmental Educator Training (SWEET) are online now. This six week train-the-trainer program digs deep into the innovative practice of sheet mulching, use of compost and mulch, and provides valuable community educator skills. SWEET graduates are invited to participate in future program content modules, including Food Waste Reduction, Home Composting and Edible Gardening. Program graduates leave with skills to provide technical assistance, as well as promote and lead workshops.The training is open to the public and appropriate for city
News
Expanded Reusable Bag Law Begins May 1
Updated Jan 16, 2025
The reusable bag law has been expanded to include all stores and restaurants in the county, starting May 1, 2017 for retail stores and November 1, 2017 for restaurants and food trucks.
Agency Update
Agency Update - Spring 2017
Updated Apr 12, 2017
Business Efficiency Awards Congratulations to the 2017 StopWaste Business Efficiency Award Winners: Beneficial State Bank, Oakland - Excellence in Recycling & Composting Evergreen Nursery, San Leandro - Excellence in Waste Prevention & Closing the Loop Guckenheimer - Excellence in Reducing Wasted Food in Alameda County Niles Pie Company, Union City - Excellence in Waste Prevention & Reuse Rahma Mediterranean Market, Dublin - Excellence in Recycling & Composting Winners were recognized for their efforts and accomplishments at the March 22 Authority Board Meeting. Read more about the winners New
Success Story
Guckenheimer Wins 2017 StopWaste Award for Food Waste Prevention
Updated Mar 10, 2026
Guckenheimer received a 2017 Business Efficiency Award for Excellence in Reducing Wasted Food in Alameda County from StopWaste. Guckenheimer is an on-site food service management company with locations throughout the country. In 2016, all 13 corporate cafeterias and restaurants Guckenheimer manages in Alameda County joined StopWaste’s Smart Kitchen Initiative for one year, committing to tracking pre-consumer food waste and surplus edible food and implementing strategies for food waste prevention and food donation. Over the course of the year, the 13 sites combined reduced pre-consumer food
News
StopWaste awarded Governor’s Environmental and Economic Leadership Award
Updated Jan 16, 2025
The State of California Environmental Protection Agency (CalEPA) has awarded StopWaste one of its 2016 Governor’s Environmental and Economic Leadership (GEELA) Awards for its multi-step school program.
Agency Update
Agency Update - Winter 2017
Updated Jan 5, 2017
Looks Who's 40! 40th Anniversary (Does this make us middle-aged?) Forward thinking, energetic, and not looking a day over 25! StopWaste closed the year by celebrating our 40th Anniversary as an agency with a mission to divert waste from Alameda County. Founded in 1976 as the Alameda County Waste Management Authority, StopWaste has been reducing waste by working with our Member Agencies and community partners, enacting standards and ordinances, providing technical support, and outreach to the public. Read more StopWaste history A Big Year for Bags It was a big year for reusable bag ordinances
News
WMA Board Adopts Expanded Reusable Bag Ordinance for Alameda County
Updated Jan 16, 2025
The Alameda County Waste Management Authority approved an expanded reusable bag ordinance for Alameda County. The expanded ordinance will apply to all stores and restaurants in the county, and will go into effect on May 1, 2017 for retail stores and November 1, 2017 for restaurants.