Recycling Requirements: Hesperia vs San Bernardino
How do recycling requirements rules compare between Hesperia, CA and San Bernardino, CA?
Hesperia and San Bernardino have similar restriction levels.
Hesperia, CA
San Bernardino County
Recycling is mandatory in Hesperia under California AB 939 (50% diversion), AB 341 (commercial recycling), AB 1826 (commercial organics), and SB 1383 (statewide organic-waste reduction). Hesperia complies via Advance Disposal's single-stream comingled system — every cart is sorted at a CalRecycle-approved High Diversion Organic Waste Processing Facility (HDOWPF), so residents and businesses do not source-separate but they are still subject to state-level enforcement.
View full Hesperia rules →San Bernardino, CA
San Bernardino County
San Bernardino residents must sort recyclables into the blue cart and food and yard waste into the green cart under CA AB 341, AB 1826, and SB 1383. Contaminated carts can be tagged and draw administrative citations.
View full San Bernardino rules →Key Facts Comparison
| Fact | Hesperia | San Bernardino |
|---|---|---|
| Compliance method | Single-stream MRF (CalRecycle HDOWPF) | - |
| Commercial threshold | 4+ cu yd/wk or 5+ unit MFD | - |
| Organics mandate | All generators (SB 1383) | - |
| State penalty cap | Up to $500/day (14 CCR §18997.2) | - |
| Edible food donation | Tier 1 & 2 generators required | - |
| State laws | - | AB 341, AB 1826, SB 1383 mandate recycling and organics |
| Blue cart accepts | - | Paper, cardboard, rigid plastics 1 and 2, aluminum, glass |
| Green cart accepts | - | All food scraps, yard waste, soiled paper |
| Prohibited in blue | - | Plastic bags, foam, food-soiled paper, electronics |
| Repeat contamination | - | Fines around 65 dollars plus possible cart removal |
Highlighted rows indicate differences between cities.
Hesperia FAQ
Do I have to sort my recyclables in Hesperia?
No — Hesperia uses Advance Disposal's single-stream comingled system. Everything goes in the tan cart and is sorted at the Material Recovery Facility, which qualifies as a CalRecycle High Diversion Organic Waste Processing Facility. This satisfies AB 939, AB 341, and SB 1383 source-separation requirements.
Is my business required to recycle in Hesperia?
Yes if you generate 4 or more cubic yards of waste per week (AB 341/AB 1826) or any organics (SB 1383). Subscribing to Advance Disposal franchise service automatically satisfies recycling and organics requirements because the MRF sorts comingled material.
Can I get CRV refunds for cans and bottles?
Yes — Advance Disposal operates a Buyback Center where residents can drop off CRV-eligible aluminum, glass, and plastic containers for the California Redemption Value refund. Cans and bottles do not have to go through curbside collection.
San Bernardino FAQ
Do I have to separate food waste in San Bernardino?
Yes. Under SB 1383 and Municipal Code Chapter 8.24, all food scraps must be placed in the green organics cart rather than the black trash cart, including meat, dairy, and cooked foods.
Can I put plastic bags in the recycling cart?
No. Plastic bags are a major contaminant that jam sorting equipment. Take clean plastic shopping bags back to grocery store collection bins and never place them in the blue cart.
Does my apartment complex have to recycle?
Yes. AB 341 and AB 1826 require multi-family properties of 5 or more units to provide recycling and organics service. Residents should ask the property manager for labeled bins.
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