Trash & Recycling in San Francisco, CA (2026)
4 verified trash & recycling rules for San Francisco, California, sourced directly from the municipal code and official government pages.
Verified from official government sources
Pickup Rules & Schedules
San Francisco's Mandatory Recycling and Composting Ordinance (Environment Code Chapter 19) requires all residents and businesses to separate waste into three streams: recyclables, compostables, and trash. Recology provides exclusive collection service citywide.
San Francisco Trash Pickup Schedules & Rules
Heavy RestrictionsSB 1383 — California Health and Safety Code Sec. 39730.6 & Public Resources Code Sec. 42652.5 (Statewide Organic Waste Diversion Targets)
39730.6. (a) Consistent with Section 39730.5, methane emissions reduction goals shall include the following targets to reduce the landfill disposal of organics: (1) A 50-percent reduction in the level of the statewide disposal of organic waste from the 2014 level by 2020. (2) A 75-percent reduction in the level of the statewide disposal of organic waste from the 2014 level by 2025... 42652.5. (...
Bin Placement Rules
Trash, recycling, and compost bins must be stored on private property and placed at the curb or designated collection point only on scheduled collection days. Bins left on sidewalks outside collection times are a Public Works Code violation.
San Francisco Trash Bin Placement Rules
Some RestrictionsBulk Item Disposal
San Francisco residents can schedule free bulky item pickups through Recology for large items like furniture, appliances, and mattresses. Each household receives a limited number of free pickups per year. Illegal dumping is aggressively enforced.
San Francisco Bulk Item Disposal & Pickup
Some RestrictionsRecycling Requirements
San Francisco's Mandatory Recycling and Composting Ordinance (Environment Code Chapter 19, enacted 2009) was the first in the U.S. to require all residents and businesses to recycle and compost. Compliance is mandatory for every person and business in the city.
San Francisco Mandatory Recycling Requirements
Heavy RestrictionsCalRecycle — SB 1383 Short-Lived Climate Pollutant Reduction (Mandatory Organic Waste Recycling)
California's Organic Waste Reduction — SB 1383 Short-Lived Climate Pollutant Reduction Strategy. Landfilled food and other organic waste rotting in landfills emits methane climate pollution. To reduce methane pollution and other short-lived climate pollutants, California passed SB 1383 (Lara, 2016). The law set targets for 2025: 75% less organic waste sent to landfills; 20% of unsold, still-edi...