What StopWaste does

StopWaste is a public government agency founded in 1976 (originally as the Waste Management Authority) and headquartered in Oakland, California, that serves residents, businesses, schools, and local governments throughout Alameda County with waste reduction, recycling, composting, household hazardous waste disposal, and energy efficiency programs. The agency operates under statutory authority created through Measure D and the Alameda County charter and is governed by three boards overseeing waste reduction, recycling, and energy efficiency. Its core digital product is the RE:Source Guide, an online search tool covering 400+ item types that directs users to appropriate recycling, reuse, repair, and disposal options across the county; supplementary offerings include the StopFoodWaste public awareness campaign, a Schools Program with grants up to $50,000 for reusable foodware, four permanent Household Hazardous Waste drop-off facilities (plus ~12 one-day events annually), a Bay Area Reuse and Repair Network, multiple Compost Hubs, on-site compost technical assistance, and energy efficiency programs administered on behalf of BayREN.

StopWaste's business model is primarily funded through public sources. Effective July 1, 2026, a new StopWaste Regulatory Fee will appear on customer garbage bills in Alameda County, providing a recurring revenue stream tied to California-mandated organics recycling, food waste reduction, edible food recovery, and plastic bag pollution programs. Additional funding includes grants disbursed to local organizations — more than $8 million cumulative since 1996, with $330,000+ deployed in a recent annual cycle for food recovery and waste prevention — and modest transaction fees from business hazardous waste services (a $25 minimum for drop-in and appointment-based disposal for Very Small Quantity Generators). Resident-facing services are free at the point of use. Distribution is regional (Alameda County, with energy efficiency extension to nine Bay Area counties via BayREN) and delivered through four HHW facilities, multiple Compost Hubs, school and urban farm partnerships, workshops, online self-serve tools, and direct technical assistance.

The agency serves a broad customer base including 70,000+ households annually through the HHW program, 18,000+ businesses through compliance assistance, 38 schools with reusable foodware programs, and a network of 100+ food recovery and partner organizations. StopWaste reports quantified outcomes including 7,000 tons of edible food recovered annually (equivalent to 11.5 million meals), 3.8 million single-use foodware items eliminated, 49,000+ residents using the RE:Source Guide, and soil-carbon research showing 19-30% greater soil carbon stocks and up to 53% reduction in nitrous oxide emissions from compost application. The organization is governed by three boards, maintains partnerships with UC Berkeley, UC Merced, EBMUD, the U.S. Green Building Council, and BayREN, and operates with a headcount of 11-50 employees.

Name

StopWaste

Legal name

StopWaste

Website

https://stopwaste.org

Company type

Public

Founded year

1976

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

StopWaste is a California public agency, founded in 1976, that delivers waste reduction, recycling, composting, hazardous waste, and energy efficiency programs to residents, businesses, schools, and local governments across Alameda County, funded by a new regulatory fee, grants, and modest business service charges.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Government Waste Reduction and Environmental Services

NAICS

Waste Collection (56211), Hazardous Waste Collection (562112), Solid Waste Collection (562111)

SIC

Refuse Systems (4953), Hazardous Waste Management (4955)

akta.pro primary industry

Solid Waste & Recycling Services Administration (BPAIACAH)

akta.pro secondary industries

Organics & Composting Programs (Food Waste, Green Waste) (BPABALAC), E-waste & Universal Waste Collection/Transfer (Electronics, Lamps, Batteries) (EUAIABAG), Hazardous/Special Waste Removal (Paint, Chemicals, Biohazard) (HSAKALAK)

Keywords

• Waste reduction programs
• Recycling and composting
• Household hazardous waste
• Food waste prevention
• Environmental compliance services

Headquarters

HQ city

Oakland

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Regulatory Fee: Starting July 1, 2026, a StopWaste Regulatory Fee will appear on customer garbage bills in Alameda County. The fee helps fund programs required by California to keep compostable and recyclable materials out of landfills, reduce food waste, recover surplus edible food for donation, and prevent plastic bag pollution.
2. Grant Funding: StopWaste provides grant funding to local organizations for projects focused on waste prevention, reuse, repair, food waste prevention, and food donation equipment. Since 1996, StopWaste has provided more than $8 million in funding.
3. Business Hazardous Waste Service Fees: Business hazardous waste disposal services with a $25 minimum charge for appointment-based and drop-in services.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels6 records

Marketing channels11 records

Core offering

StopWaste is a public government agency that delivers waste reduction, recycling, composting, food recovery, and household hazardous waste disposal programs to Alameda County residents, businesses, schools, and local governments. It operates four permanent household hazardous waste drop-off facilities, a searchable RE:Source Guide for 400+ item types, a Schools Program with grants up to $50,000, Compost Hubs, free technical assistance, and grant funding for partner organizations. Services are mostly free, with business hazardous waste disposal and a forthcoming regulatory fee on garbage bills as funded revenue mechanisms.

Product overview

StopWaste is a public agency offering a comprehensive suite of waste reduction, recycling, and sustainability programs for Alameda County. The organization's product portfolio centers on the RE:Source Guide as the primary digital tool for residents and businesses to find disposal and reuse options for 400+ item types. Supporting programs include the StopFoodWaste Campaign for consumer education, a Schools Program with K-12 curriculum and grants, and the Household Hazardous Waste Program with four permanent drop-off facilities. Additional offerings encompass the Bay Area Reuse and Repair Network for community repair economy development, Compost Hubs providing free compost to residents, Compost Technical Assistance for organizations, Reusable Foodware Grants for schools, and an extensive Workshop and Event Calendar covering composting, gardening, and repair skills. The organization also manages Business Hazardous Waste Services for small businesses and produces educational topic briefs on various sustainability topics.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• StopFoodWaste: A public awareness campaign helping residents prevent wasted food at home.
• RE:Source Guide
• SWEET (StopWaste Environmental Educator Training)

Products and services

• RE:Source Guide Alameda County's online search tool that provides answers on how to recycle, reuse, repair, and safely dispose of items. Offers city-specific curbside service information and accepts searches for 400+ different types of items. Target audience: Alameda County residents, businesses, and schools.
• StopFoodWaste Campaign A broad-scale public awareness campaign designed to help residents prevent wasted food at home, including meal planning ideas, food storage tips, and recipes for using up what they have. Target audience: Alameda County residents.
• Schools Program K-12 programs and curriculum to help reduce food waste, switch to reusables, sort properly, and take action. Includes field trips, classroom resources, and Reusable Foodware Grants. Target audience: K-12 schools and students in Alameda County.
• Household Hazardous Waste Program Free drop-off facilities across Alameda County accepting paint, electronics, chemicals, motor oil, batteries, and more. Four permanent facilities in Fremont, Hayward, Livermore, and Oakland plus approximately 12 one-day events per year. Target audience: Alameda County residents.
• Business Hazardous Waste Service Hazardous waste disposal services for qualifying small businesses including appointment-based and express drop-in options for Very Small Quantity Generators (VSQGs). $25 minimum charge for both drop-in and appointment-based services. Target audience: Very Small Quantity Generators (small businesses) in Alameda County.
• Bay Area Reuse and Repair Network A network of Bay Area businesses and nonprofits focused on reuse, repair, and redistribution. Connects members to share resources, form partnerships, and strengthen the repair economy through regular meetings, facility tours, workshops, and roundtables. Target audience: Bay Area reuse and repair organizations.
• Compost Hubs Free community compost distribution locations throughout Alameda County including Albany, Alameda, Berkeley, Livermore, Oakland, Piedmont, Pleasanton, and Union City. Residents can pick up free, high-quality compost in bulk. Target audience: Alameda County residents.
• Compost Technical Assistance Free on-site composting technical assistance and guidance for agricultural producers, urban farms, community gardens, businesses, nonprofits, and community-based organizations interested in on-site composting or using compost. Target audience: Agricultural producers, urban farms, community gardens, businesses, nonprofits.
• Workshop and Event Calendar Free workshops, composting demonstrations, garden tours, classes, repair events, and community events across Alameda County. Includes gardening, composting, bike repair, electronics, and sewing repair workshops. Target audience: Alameda County residents and community members.
• Reusable Foodware Grants Grants providing up to $50,000 to help schools cover upfront costs of implementing reusable foodware systems including reusable foodware purchasing, dishwashing equipment, dispensing systems, and off-site dishwashing services. Target audience: K-12 schools in Alameda County.

Quantifiable outcome

• 7,000 tons of edible food recovered annually — equivalent of 11.5 million meals
• +6 more outcomes

Named customers7 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature2 records

Partnerships

14 partnerships are on record, tiered strategic and core.

• UC MercedstrategicStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2022Research partnership to study how compost application affects soil carbon in urban landscapes. Multi-year research effort combining field experiment, greenhouse study, and field survey of eight parks.
• Acta Non Verba: Youth Urban Farm ProjectcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership to host Oakland's first Compost Hub at West Oakland Farm Park and Tassafaronga Farm. Urban farming operation growing and distributing produce to neighborhood families. First Compost Hub launched in 2022, serving as community space where residents can pick up free, high-quality compost in bulk.
• LEAF (Local Ecology and Agriculture Fremont)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerProduction and educational urban farm hosting composting workshops, 'Talkin' Dirt Online' monthly gardening Q&A sessions, and volunteer opportunities. Provides community workshops on sustainable living and regenerative agriculture.
• Gill Tract Community FarmcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerUrban farming and research collaboration with UC Berkeley hosting the Albany Compost Hub. Partners on carbon farming research and community education programs.
• EBMUD (East Bay Municipal Utility District)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership for landscape rebate programs. EBMUD hosts weekly virtual office hours to answer questions about landscape rebate programs and water conservation.
• Alameda County Department of Environmental HealthcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership to help businesses and multifamily properties comply with SB 1383. In partnership with Alameda County's environmental health departments, StopWaste offers resources and free personalized support.
• Bay Area Regional Energy Network (BayREN)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCoalition of nine Bay Area counties partnering to promote energy efficiency and electrification. StopWaste runs energy efficiency programs for multifamily housing on behalf of BayREN.
• U.S. Green Building CouncilstrategicStrategic or Co-development PartnerWorking to embed embodied carbon, C&D, and materials credits into certifications, standards, and purchasing specs. Helping certify buildings countywide and shape LEED-based reach codes.
• Build It GreenstrategicStrategic or Co-development PartnerSupporting an ecosystem of small developers adopting sustainable materials on infill projects in the Bay Area.
• Builders for Climate ActionstrategicStrategic or Co-development PartnerAdapting their estimating tools into easy-reference local guides for healthy, low-embodied-carbon products for use in Alameda County construction projects.
• Alameda County GSA/ARUPstrategicStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-developing low-embodied-carbon purchasing specs and bio-materials analysis for industrialized construction projects.
• Alameda County Resource Conservation DistrictstrategicStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership on carbon farming research beginning in 2017 to study the impact of compost application on range lands.
• Food Recovery Organizations NetworkcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNetwork of 100+ food banks, food pantries, food recovery organizations, and logistics providers recovering surplus edible food from grocery stores, restaurants, schools, and hospitals.
• Alameda County CitiescoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership with cities including Oakland, Berkeley, Livermore, Pleasanton, Dublin, and others to host Compost Hubs and meet SB 1383 procurement requirements.

Scale indicators12 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Rethink Waste (San Mateo County): South Bayside Waste Management Authority serving San Mateo County member agencies. Directly comparable as a county-level joint powers authority delivering recycling, composting, and HHW programs with similar governance and revenue models.
• San Francisco Department of the Environment: City and County of San Francisco agency delivering zero waste, recycling, compost, and toxics programs. Comparable as a public-sector environmental program coordinator, though at city/county rather than county-only scope.
• Napa County Recycling and Waste Management: Napa County's recycling and waste management division runs HHW collection, composting programs, and SB 1383 outreach. Directly comparable as a county-level public program with similar service portfolio.
• Sonoma County Waste Management Agency: County-level waste authority providing household hazardous waste, composting, recycling education, and SB 1383 support across Sonoma County. Closely comparable mission and operational structure to StopWaste.

Broad incumbents

• Waste Management Inc. Largest North American waste services company providing collection, transfer, recycling, and disposal. Comparable as the dominant private-sector operator that StopWaste's regulatory and educational programs interface with across Alameda County.
• Republic Services: Major U.S. recycling and waste services company with significant California operations. Comparable as a private-sector incumbent whose collection and recycling infrastructure StopWaste's programs depend upon.
• CalRecycle: California's statewide Department of Resources Recycling and Recovery. Comparable as the parent regulatory body whose mandates (e.g., SB 1383) drive StopWaste's programs, operating at the state level above county agencies.
• Recology: Employee-owned Bay Area waste hauler providing collection, composting, and recycling services across multiple counties including Alameda. Comparable as the operational backbone that executes much of the infrastructure StopWaste's programs coordinate with.

Emerging players

• Acterra: Bay Area nonprofit focused on climate action, sustainability, and environmental education. Comparable as a community-based organization delivering sustainability programming with similar audiences, though operating as a nonprofit rather than public agency.

Regional players

• Contra Costa County Department of Conservation and Development: Adjacent Bay Area county that operates recycling, HHW, and waste reduction programs comparable in scope to StopWaste but in a different geography, providing useful regional benchmarking.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/user/stopwasteorg
• Facebookfacebook.com/StopWasteOrg
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/stopwaste.org
• Instagraminstagram.com/stopwaste

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about StopWaste