Food Waste Recycling Program - Residential 

Organic waste, including food waste, is the largest material type that is landfilled in California each year.  When organic materials decompose, methane is released. In 2016, former Governor Brown signed legislation (SB 1383) that targets a reduction of short-lived climate pollutants, including methane.  The law directs the state's Department of Resources Recycling and Recovery (CalRecycle) to adopt regulations and requirements to achieve a 75 percent reduction in organic waste disposal by 2025.  The final regulations stipulate that residential, multifamily, and commercial units must divert organic waste from landfills.

On July 1, 2021, your existing green waste cart became your organics cart.  You are encouraged to recycle your kitchen food scraps with your yard trimmings and other green waste.  Your collection day has not changed.  Simply place your food scraps in your organics cart and place the cart by the curb with your trash and recycling carts on your normal collection day.  An introductory flyer was included in CR&R's July billing.  If you do not currently have a green waste cart, you will be notified by CR&R and a organics cart will be delivered to you in the size that you choose.

Multi-family and other housing units with shared trash and recycling bins will have a new cart or bin located in community trash enclosures to collect food waste.

What Goes in the Green Waste Cart

 

Tips for Using Your Green Cart

  • Start with yard trimmings such as leaves, grass clippings, and/or newspaper at the bottom of your cart to prevent food scraps from being trapped.
  • Alternate layering of food scraps and yard trimmings to help keep your cart cleaner.
  • Compostable bags are optional and available at online or at local retailers. Non-compostable bags are not acceptable.

Preventing Odors From Your Organics Cart

  • Store your cart in the shade during warm weather.
  • If possible, keep your food scraps in the freezer until collection day.
  • Place a layer of yard materials, or newspaper at the bottom of your cart before adding food scraps.
  • Food Waste Recycling Steps

Frequently Asked Questions

When can I start placing food waste in the green organics cart?

The food waste recycling program began on July 1, 2021.  You may now place food waste into your green cart.

What may I place in the organics cart?

Food Scraps including all solid, semi-solid, and liquid food such as fruit vegetables, cheese, meat, bones, poultry, seafood, bread, rice, tea bags, coffee and coffee filters.

Yard trimmings including grass clippings, leaves, flowers, hedge clippings, and weeds. Non-hazardous wood waste includes tree branches, tree trunks, and untreated lumber.

NO pet waste, palm fronds, plastic, glass, or metal

How do I collect my food waste?

Place a food waste container on your countertop to collect food scraps as you cook or throughout the day. You can buy a food scrap bucket or use a bowl or paper bag. Compostable bags may be used but are not required. Empty your countertop container into your green organics cart as often as you like.

How often will the organics cart be picked up?

Your organics cart will be picked up weekly on your regular collection day.

Can pet waste go in the organics cart?

No. Pet waste goes in the trash cart.

What if I don’t currently have a green waste cart?

CR&R will be delivering 35-gallon green organics carts in fall, 2021. You may request a 65-gallon or 95-gallon depending on your needs.

What else can I do to reduce food waste in the landfill?

Shop smart. Plan your meals, use grocery lists, and avoid impulse buys.

Manage your leftovers. Freeze leftovers or eat for lunch the next day. Once a week create a “use it up” meal from all of your leftovers that are about to go stale or be unusable.

Use it all. Use vegetable and meat scraps to make healthy homemade stocks. Soft fruit can be used in smoothies. Or simply freeze food to be used later.

First in, first out.  In many cases food gets spoiled because it gets pushed to the back of the refrigerator or pantry shelf. Remember to rotate older foods to the front and use them first.

Donate. Give what you don’t or can’t use to your local food pantry or your neighbors.

Compost it. Start a compost system at home or give your food waste to a neighbor who has a compost pile.

 

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2022 Business Survey


Social Media Accounts:

Please select all social media outlets that your business currently utilizes.

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2023 Community Services Commission

Notice

The City of Lake Forest is accepting applications to serve on the Community Services Commission. Applications must be submitted online using this form and must be received by 5 p.m. on Wednesday, January 11, 2023.

The Community Services Commission advises the City Council on matters pertaining to the acquisition, development, and maintenance of public parks and recreational facilities. The Commission also advises the City Council on matters relating to recreational programs and provides advice to the Community Services Department.

This Commission meets the Wednesday after the first City Council meeting of each month, at 6:30 p.m. Commission members pledge upon appointment to represent the overall public good and not that of an exclusive group or interest and will sign an Ethics Policy upon appointment to the Commission. The City assigns a staff liaison to work with the Commission and facilitate communication between the Commission and the City Council.

In addition to attending the regular monthly Commission meetings, Commissioners are expected to periodically attend and participate in City programs and activities. Commissioners receive a salary of $59 per meeting, not to exceed $118 per month.

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Please limit your responses to 100 words each for Questions 7-10.

Tell us about your relationships to Current Council Members or Employees. Please limit your responses to 50 words each for Questions 11-13.

Tell us about your understanding of government: Please limit your comments to 100 words each for Questions 14 & 15.

Tell us about your vision for the City: Please limit your comments to 200 words each for Questions 16-18.

Attachments

The following attachments are part of the reference materials for the application:

Applicant Verification

I attest to the following: 1. I am a legal resident of the City of Lake Forest. 2. I am registered to vote in the City of Lake Forest. 3. I am able to attend Community Services Commission meetings that are regularly scheduled on the Wednesday following the first Tuesday of each month at 6:30 p.m. 4. I have submitted a Statement of Economic Interest, in accordance with the Political Reform Act. 5. I understand this application is a Public Record and may be made available to members of the public upon request, with personal contact information redacted. The information provided in this application is true and accurate.

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2023 Planning Commission Application

Notice

The City of Lake Forest is accepting applications to serve on the Planning Commission. Applications must be submitted online using this form and must be received by 5 p.m. on Wednesday, January 11, 2023.

The City's Planning Commission is a decision-making body tasked with reviewing matters related to planning and development in the City. The Planning Commission consists of five members which are appointed by the City- Council with Commissioners serving four-year terms. Typical projects reviewed by the Planning Commission include applications for new development, proposed changes in zoning or the text of the Municipal Code, as well as review proposed subdivisions of land. The Planning Commission is also responsible for making recommendations to the City Council as to whether a project or action would be consistent with the General Plan.

The Commission meets on the same week in which the City Council holds their first meeting of the month on Thursdays and meetings commence at 6:30 p.m. In addition to attending the regular monthly Commission meetings, Commissioners are expected to periodically attend and participate in City programs and activities.

Commissioners receive a salary of $118 per meeting, not to exceed $236 per month.

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Please limit your responses to 100 words each for Questions 7-10.

Tell us about your relationships to Current Council Members or Employees. Please limit your responses to 50 words each for Questions 11-13.

Tell us about your understanding of government: Please limit your comments to 100 words each for Questions 14 & 15.

Tell us about your vision for the City: Please limit your comments to 200 words each for Questions 16-18.

Attachments

The following attachments are part of the reference materials for the application:

Applicant Verification

I attest to the following: 1. I am a legal resident of the City of Lake Forest. 2. I am registered to vote in the City of Lake Forest. 3. I am able to attend Planning Commission meetings that are regularly scheduled on the same week in which the City Council holds their first meeting of the month on Thursdays and meetings commence at 6:30 p.m. 4. I have submitted a Statement of Economic Interest, in accordance with the Political Reform Act. 5. I understand this application is a Public Record and may be made available to members of the public upon request, with personal contact information redacted. The information provided in this application is true and accurate.

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2023 Traffic and Parking Commission

Notice

The City of Lake Forest is accepting applications to serve on the Traffic and Parking Commission. Applications must be submitted online using this form and must be received by 5 p.m. on Friday, March 24, 2023. There is currently one seat available on the commission.

The Traffic and Parking Commission advises the City Council on issues relating to parking and the safe and efficient movement of traffic, including vehicles, bicycles, pedestrians, and other modes of transportation upon the circulation network of the City. The Commission will provide recommendations related to traffic and parking including, but not limited to traffic and parking related field studies, requests for traffic control devices, requests for permit parking and street sweeping parking restrictions, and other related matters.

This Commission meets the Monday prior to the first City Council meeting of each month, at 6:30 p.m. Commission members pledge upon appointment to represent the overall public good and not that of an exclusive group or interest and will sign an Ethics Policy upon appointment to the Commission. The City assigns a staff liaison to work with the Commission and facilitate communication between the Commission and the City Council. In addition to attending the regular monthly Commission meetings, Commissioners are expected to periodically attend and participate in City programs and activities.

Commissioners receive a salary of $118 per meeting, not to exceed $236 per month.

Address
One file only.
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Allowed types: gif, jpg, jpeg, png, bmp, eps, tif, pict, psd, txt, rtf, html, odf, pdf, doc, docx, ppt, pptx, xls, xlsx, xml, avi, mov, mp3, mp4, ogg, wav, bz2, dmg, gz, jar, rar, sit, svg, tar, zip.

Please limit your responses to 100 words each for Questions 7-10.

Tell us about your relationships to Current Council Members or Employees. Please limit your responses to 50 words each for Questions 11-13.

Tell us about your understanding of government: Please limit your comments to 100 words each for Questions 14 & 15.

Tell us about your vision for the City: Please limit your comments to 200 words each for Questions 16-18.

Attachments

The following attachments are part of the reference materials for the application:

Applicant Verification

I attest to the following: 1. I am a legal resident of the City of Lake Forest. 2. I am registered to vote in the City of Lake Forest. 3. I am able to attend Traffic and Parking Commission meetings that are regularly scheduled the Monday prior to the first City Council meeting each month ar 6:30 p.m. 4. I have submitted a Statement of Economic Interest, in accordance with the Political Reform Act. 5. I understand this application is a Public Record and may be made available to members of the public upon request, with personal contact information redacted. The information provided in this application is true and accurate.

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This form is for businesses that are physically located at a Lake Forest address.

 

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Applicable if you are a commercial or a home-based business.

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Applicable if you are leasing or own commercial property.

PLEASE DO NOT COMPLETE THIS SECTION IF YOU ARE A HOME-BASED BUSINESS.

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Please complete the following emergency contact information if your business wishes to participate in the Orange County Sheriff's Department "Business Watch Program". You will be contacted and provided with additional information and receive a "Business Watch" decal.

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More Information on Lake Forest Business Watch:

Business Watch | Lake Forest, CA

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Lake Forest Chamber of Commerce Membership

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Expand the Forest

Expand the Forest Beautification Program

Public Works Department | 100 Civic Center Dr. | Lake Forest, Ca 92630 | (949) 461 - 3493


Applicant Information

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Note: Due to the health and wellbeing of the selected trees, plantings will occur only from October 1st though December 1st and March 1st through June 1st. Staff will contact you during this time frame. Dedication plaques are not allowed. 


Location

 

Disclaimer: If a planting date cannot be arranged, the tree(s) will be planted by the end of the planting period. 

 


Type of Tree


Dedication

The City Council Certificate: The dedication and sponsor(s) information will appear on the City Council signed certificate mailed to you after the tree planting has occurred.

(Example: In loving memory of John Doe, a great friend and co-worker) 


Payment

The cost of the Expand the Forest Program is $93.00/15 gallon tree. 

If Paying by Check, Mail to:

City of Lake Forest
Expand the Forest Program
100 Civic Center Dr.
Lake Forest, CA 92630

If Paying with Cash, Bring to:

City of Lake Forest
100 Civic Center Dr.
Lake Forest, CA 92630

If Paying by Credit Card

Credit card payments are accepted through eLakeForest.com with a 3.29% service fee. Register for a new account through eLakeForest.com.

 

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Responsible Pet Ownership

Vet / Clinic:
20780 Lake Forest Dr., Lake Forest, CA 92630, (949) 600-8310
23162 El Toro Frontage Road, Lake Forest, CA 92630 (949) 837-5222
29040 Portola Parkway, Lake Forest, CA 92630 (949) 380-1255
24301 Muirlands Blvd Ste P, Lake Forest, CA 92630, (949) 837-7660
22377 El Toro Road, Lake Forest, CA 92630, (949) 855-9744
3 Rancho Circle, Lake Forest, CA 92630, (949) 581-7979

Owner Information

City: Lake Forest

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