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  1. Home
  2. Managing and Transforming Waste Streams – A Tool for Communities
  3. Contract Language
  4. Contracting Best Practices

Contracting Best Practices: Equal Capacity Commercial Bin Size and Frequency

Related Content

  • All Contracting Best Practices
  • All Procurement Process Best Practices

For commercial accounts, require that the amount of recycling and/or composting services are at least equal to the disposal service provided in terms of container size and frequency of collection. Ideally, service levels should match need, so the recycling and composting service is sized for the level of materials generated. However, providing at least equal capacity is a first step.

Advantages

  • Easy way to ensure diversion access: Equal capacity clauses ensure that a minimum level of recycling and/or composting services are provided in a way that is simple for the local government to monitor.

Disadvantages

  • Equal capacity is not enough: Zero waste businesses will need more recycling and composting service than "equal capacity" provides. Aligning bin sizes and rates can also provide incentives to customize service and incentivize recycling and composting.

Managing and Transforming Waste Streams – A Tool for Communities

  • About the Tool
    • How to Use the Tool
    • Terms & Definitions
    • Filter Descriptions and Qualitative Rankings
    • Featured Cities and Counties
  • The Planning Tool
  • Featured Examples and Resources
    • Browse by Topic
    • Examples and Resources (#1-50)
    • Examples and Resources (#51-100)
  • Contract Language
    • Case Studies
      • Austin, TX
      • Berkeley, CA
      • Boulder, CO
      • Fresno, CA
      • Napa, CA
      • Renton, WA
      • San Diego International Airport
      • San Francisco, CA
      • San Francisco International Airport
      • San Jose, CA
      • Seattle, WA
    • Full Contracts and Agreements
      • Berkeley, CA
      • Renton, WA
    • Contracting Best Practices
      • Align Costs to Rates
      • Commercial Bins
      • Direct Materials to Markets
      • Disposal Payments
      • Education and Outreach
      • Incentives and Penalties
      • Increase Diversion
      • Innovations Clause
      • Market Organic Materials
      • Multi-Family Customers
      • Purchasing Preferences
      • Separate Compensation from Rates
      • Source Separation
    • Procurement Best Practices
      • Collaborative Negotiation vs. New Procurement
      • Local Government Billing or Lockbox
      • Mandatory Recycling and Composting
      • Minimum Zero Waste Standards
      • Process Integrity Guidelines
      • Publicly Owned Facilities
      • Separate Contracts
      • Separate Technical and Price Evaluation
      • Start Early
    • Sample Contract and Franchise Agreement Clauses
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Last updated on March 14, 2025
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