Recycling Requirements: Carson vs El Monte
How do recycling requirements rules compare between Carson, CA and El Monte, CA?
Carson and El Monte have similar restriction levels.
Carson, CA
Los Angeles County
Recycling is mandatory in Carson under three layered authorities: (1) the city's exclusive residential recycling franchise (CMC Art. 5 Ch. 2), (2) California AB 341 mandatory commercial recycling for businesses generating 4+ cubic yards/week and multifamily of 5+ units (PRC §42649 et seq.), and (3) California AB 1826 / SB 1383 mandatory organics recycling for ALL residents and businesses (PRC §42649.8 et seq., §42652 et seq.). Every Carson home gets a 96-gallon blue-lid recycling cart and 96-gallon green-lid organics cart from Waste Resources; food scraps and food-soiled paper go in the green organics cart along with yard trimmings.
View full Carson rules →El Monte, CA
Los Angeles County
El Monte Ordinance #3006 (Chapter 8.21 of the Municipal Code, adopted October 5, 2021) implements California SB 1383 and requires every residential, commercial, and multi-family premises in the city to subscribe to the City's organic waste reduction program and properly source-separate recyclables and organics.
View full El Monte rules →Key Facts Comparison
| Fact | Carson | El Monte |
|---|---|---|
| Mandatory residential recycling | Yes — blue-lid 96-gal cart, exclusive Waste Resources franchise | - |
| Mandatory residential organics | Yes — SB 1383 (PRC §42652), green-lid 96-gal cart | - |
| Mandatory commercial recycling | AB 341 — businesses 4+ cy/wk waste; multifamily 5+ units | - |
| Mandatory commercial organics | AB 1826 / SB 1383 — all businesses generating organics | - |
| What's in green cart | Food scraps, food-soiled paper, yard trimmings | - |
| Extra carts | Additional blue or green carts available at no charge | - |
| Local ordinance | - | El Monte Ordinance #3006 (Chapter 8.21) |
| Adopted | - | October 5, 2021 |
| Program launch | - | July 2022 |
| State authority | - | California SB 1383 (Lara, 2016) |
| Statewide organics-reduction target | - | 75% below 2014 by 2025 |
| Subscription scope | - | All residential, multi-family, and commercial premises |
Highlighted rows indicate differences between cities.
Carson FAQ
Do I have to recycle in Carson?
Yes. Carson's franchise (CMC Art. 5 Ch. 2) plus California AB 341, AB 1826 and SB 1383 (PRC §42649-§42652) require residents and businesses to separate recyclables and organics from trash. Every Carson household gets blue and green carts.
What goes in the green organics cart?
Food scraps of every kind — fruit, vegetables, meat, bones, dairy, bread, coffee grounds, tea bags — plus food-soiled paper napkins and pizza boxes, and all yard trimmings (leaves, grass, prunings).
Can my apartment building skip recycling?
No. AB 341 requires multifamily complexes of 5+ units to arrange recycling, and SB 1383 requires ALL residents — including apartment dwellers — to have organics service. The property's franchise account with Waste Resources must include both.
El Monte FAQ
Do I have to put food scraps in the green cart?
Yes. Under Chapter 8.21 and California SB 1383, all food waste — including meat, dairy, bones, and spoiled food — must go in the green organics cart, not in the trash.
Can I opt out of recycling service?
Generally no. Ordinance #3006 requires every residential and commercial premises in El Monte to subscribe to the City's three-cart recycling and organics program. Limited waivers exist (e.g., de minimis generators) but must be applied for through the City.
What happens if I put trash in the recycling or organics cart?
Contamination triggers a notice from Valley Vista. Repeated contamination can lead to administrative citations of $50–$500+ per day under CalRecycle's SB 1383 enforcement framework that El Monte has adopted.
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