Recycling Requirements: Daly City vs South San Francisco
How do recycling requirements rules compare between Daly City, CA and South San Francisco, CA?
South San Francisco has fewer restrictions than Daly City.
Daly City, CA
San Mateo County
Recycling participation is mandatory in Daly City under Municipal Code Chapter 8.14 (Recyclable Materials) and the California Mandatory Commercial Recycling Act (AB 341). All residents and businesses receive a blue single-stream cart from Republic Services; covered materials must not be placed in trash. Multi-family and commercial generators must also subscribe to recycling.
View full Daly City rules →South San Francisco, CA
San Mateo County
Recycling is part of the mandatory minimum residential service under County Code Chapter 4.04, with single-stream recyclables collected weekly alongside garbage and organics. The County franchise color scheme is gray/black for garbage, blue for recycling, and green for compost. Electronics are banned from the trash, and businesses and multifamily properties must provide recycling containers under state law.
View full South San Francisco rules →Key Facts Comparison
| Fact | Daly City | South San Francisco |
|---|---|---|
| Local code | Daly City MC ch. 8.14 (Recyclable Materials) | - |
| State laws | AB 341 (commercial recycling), AB 1826 (organics), SB 270 (plastic bag ban) | - |
| Cart | Blue single-stream cart from Republic Services | - |
| Accepted | Paper, cardboard, glass, metal cans, rigid #1/#2/#5 plastics | - |
| Never accepted | Plastic bags, food waste, hazardous waste, e-waste in blue cart | - |
| Recycling in minimum service | - | Yes — weekly single-stream cart |
| Cart colors | - | Gray/black garbage, blue recycling, green compost |
| Accepted (Recology) | - | Paper, cardboard, glass, cans, plastic bottles/tubs |
| Not accepted | - | Black plastic, plastic bags, plastic packaging |
| E-waste | - | Illegal to landfill; must be recycled |
| Commercial/multifamily | - | AB 341 recycling + SB 1383 organics |
Highlighted rows indicate differences between cities.
Daly City FAQ
Is recycling mandatory for Daly City businesses?
Yes. Daly City Chapter 8.14 plus California AB 341 require businesses generating ≥4 cubic yards/week of waste and multi-family properties with 5+ units to subscribe to recycling service.
Can I put plastic grocery bags in my Daly City blue cart?
No. Plastic bags are not accepted in single-stream recycling and California's SB 270 bans single-use carryout bags statewide. Return clean bags to grocery store collection bins instead.
South San Francisco FAQ
Is recycling required in unincorporated San Mateo County?
Yes. Recycling is part of the mandatory minimum residential service under County Code Chapter 4.04, with a weekly single-stream recycling cart. Businesses and multifamily properties must also subscribe to recycling service and provide labeled containers under California law administered locally.
Can I throw old electronics in the trash?
No. In San Mateo County it is illegal to throw away electronics that contain circuitry or batteries classified as hazardous waste under California law. Take e-waste to an electronics-recycling drop-off, a household hazardous waste event, or a participating facility instead.
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