Utilizing Smart GIS Solutions to Drive California Recycling Mandates

Posted on by Chigo Ibeh

Smart Tools for California Recycling Reporting and Enforcement

In California, environmental responsibility is more than just a community value—it’s the law. With the passing of AB 341, AB 1826, and SB 1383, the state has implemented some of the most progressive and comprehensive recycling mandates in the nation. These laws require jurisdictions to ramp up recycling, organics diversion, and food waste reduction programs in an effort to combat climate change and reduce landfill waste.

Understanding California Recycling Laws: AB 341, AB 1826, and SB 1383

  • AB 341 sets the foundation by mandating commercial recycling for businesses and multi-family dwellings.

  • AB 1826 builds upon this by requiring organics recycling for businesses generating a specified amount of organic waste.

  • SB 1383, the most ambitious of the three, aims to reduce organic waste disposal by 75% by 2025 and recover at least 20% of edible food that would otherwise be sent to landfills.

California Recycling Mandate

To meet these mandates, local governments need more than just policy—they need powerful tools to manage, track, and report compliance across their communities. That’s where Blue Raster stepped in to support the County of San Mateo, California.

Building a Smart California Recycling Compliance System

Blue Raster partnered with the County of San Mateo’s Office of Sustainability to design and implement a customized digital solution that brings together the power of ArcGIS Online, Experience Builder, and Survey123.

To help San Mateo County track compliance across its unincorporated areas, Blue Raster developed a powerful, centralized GIS application using ArcGIS Experience Builder. Designed in collaboration with County staff, the solution connects directly to the County’s parcel data and organizes information on approximately 250 businesses and multi-family complexes, along with 2,500 residential accounts and five different haulers.

The application gives County staff the ability to visualize inspection data on interactive maps, monitor enforcement activities, and understand service coverage at a glance. The user-friendly dashboard allows staff to visualize inspections, track enforcement actions, and map hauler service routes bringing together all the moving pieces of the County’s compliance program in one intuitive platform.

California Recycling Compliance Dashboard

Integrating Smart Forms and Streamlined Reporting

To manage the intake of waivers and exemption requests, Blue Raster implemented ArcGIS Survey123 forms that are easy to use in the field and on the web. These digital forms ensure that data is submitted in a consistent format and feeds directly into the main application for review, helping staff stay on top of updates without relying on disconnected spreadsheets or manual entry.

Behind the scenes, we created a cleaned and standardized dataset hosted in ArcGIS Online, supported by a carefully designed database schema. This structure allows the County to maintain and update its data efficiently, while also supporting calendar-year reporting requirements to CalRecycle. By aligning the system with California recycling reporting timelines, the County is now well-positioned to submit complete and accurate compliance reports each year.

How San Mateo County Tracks California Recycling Compliance with GIS

This solution is already making a difference. The County can now track and visualize inspections in real time, quickly identify non-compliant accounts, and make better decisions with integrated data and mapping tools. Staff have access to up-to-date information across all haulers and property types, enabling more proactive outreach and enforcement.

By reducing manual processes and centralizing compliance data, the County has improved both operational efficiency and data reliability—critical steps toward achieving California’s ambitious recycling goals.

Our Commitment to Using GIS for Good

Blue Raster uses the power of GIS to drive positive change, supporting sustainability initiatives and environmental compliance efforts across the country. We partner with government agencies, nonprofits, and private organizations to build innovative, data-driven solutions that address challenges like waste reduction, climate resilience, conservation, and resource management. Whether it’s tracking compliance with recycling mandates or mapping the impacts of climate change, our geospatial tools help clients make smarter decisions, meet regulatory goals, and create lasting impact for communities and the planet. At Blue Raster, we believe in using GIS for good—to inform, inspire, and advance a more sustainable future

Get empowered with GIS. Partner with Blue Raster to unlock the full potential of your data. Contact us today!

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