Recycling Requirements: Berkeley vs San Leandro
How do recycling requirements rules compare between Berkeley, CA and San Leandro, CA?
Berkeley and San Leandro have similar restriction levels.
Berkeley, CA
Alameda County
Berkeley requires separation of recyclables and organics from trash for all residents and businesses under BMC 11.28 and California SB 1383, with fines for contaminated or commingled loads.
View full Berkeley rules →San Leandro, CA
Alameda County
SB 1383 and AB 341 mandate recycling and organics separation for all San Leandro residents and businesses, enforced locally through ACI.
View full San Leandro rules →Key Facts Comparison
| Fact | Berkeley | San Leandro |
|---|---|---|
| State law | SB 1383 organics mandate | - |
| Local law | BMC Chapter 11.28 | - |
| Streams | Landfill, recycle, compost | Garbage, recycling, organics |
| Food scraps | Required in green cart | - |
| Enforcement | Contamination tags, fees | - |
| State Law | - | SB 1383, AB 341, AB 1826 |
| Oversight | - | StopWaste Alameda County |
| Businesses | - | Mandatory commercial programs |
| Contamination | - | Fees for repeat violations |
Highlighted rows indicate differences between cities.
Berkeley FAQ
Do I have to compost in Berkeley?
Yes. Food scraps and food-soiled paper must go in the green organics cart under SB 1383 and BMC 11.28.
What goes in the blue cart?
Clean paper, cardboard, metal cans, glass, and rigid plastics #1-5. No bags, film, or styrofoam.
San Leandro FAQ
Do I need to separate food scraps?
Yes. SB 1383 requires all residents to place food scraps and food-soiled paper in the organics cart.
What about apartments?
Property managers must provide recycling and organics containers under StopWaste Alameda County ordinance.
Compare other topics
See how Berkeley and San Leandro compare on other ordinance categories.
Want to add a third city?
Use our full comparison tool to compare up to three cities.
Open Comparison Tool