Recycling Requirements: Lodi vs Stockton
How do recycling requirements rules compare between Lodi, CA and Stockton, CA?
Lodi has fewer restrictions than Stockton.
Lodi, CA
San Joaquin County
Every Lodi residence receives a blue-lidded recycling cart serviced every other week by WM; accepted materials include cans, glass, plastics #1-#7, cardboard, and paper, with contamination triggering cart upsizing under California AB 341 and SB 1383 commercial mandates.
View full Lodi rules →Stockton, CA
San Joaquin County
Stockton residents and businesses must separate recyclables (blue cart) and organics including food scraps (green cart) from trash (gray cart). This implements three state mandates — SB 1383 (organics), AB 341 (commercial recycling at 4+ cu yd/week), and AB 1826 (commercial organics) — enforced locally via SMC Ch. 8.04.
View full Stockton rules →Key Facts Comparison
| Fact | Lodi | Stockton |
|---|---|---|
| Service frequency | Every other week (biweekly) | - |
| Accepted plastics | Resin codes #1 through #7 | - |
| Additional carts available | Up to 2 extra blue carts free of charge | - |
| Commercial mandate | AB 341 — businesses generating 4+ cubic yards/week solid waste | - |
| State law citation | California Public Resources Code §42649 (AB 341) | - |
| Polystyrene/Styrofoam status | Not currently recycled in Lodi — Dart facility closed | - |
| Contamination penalty | Auto-upsize of trash cart after 2 violations | - |
| State authority | - | SB 1383 (organics), AB 341 (commercial recycling), AB 1826 (commercial organics) |
| Local authority | - | SMC Ch. 8.04 (updated June 2022) |
| Residential cart system | - | Gray = trash, Blue = recycling, Green = organics + food scraps |
| Commercial recycling trigger | - | 4+ cu yd/week solid waste OR 5+ unit multi-family |
| Edible food recovery | - | Required for Tier 1 (2022) and Tier 2 (2024) generators |
Highlighted rows indicate differences between cities.
Lodi FAQ
Is recycling actually mandatory in Lodi, or is it voluntary?
It is mandatory in the sense that every residence is automatically billed for a blue cart as part of WM service — there is no opt-out for residential recycling. Commercial properties generating 4+ cubic yards/week of waste are required by California AB 341 (PRC §42649) to subscribe to recycling service.
Can I recycle plastic bags or Styrofoam in my Lodi blue cart?
No. Plastic bags tangle in the sorting machinery — take them to grocery store collection bins instead. Polystyrene/Styrofoam is currently not recyclable in Lodi (the local Dart Container processing facility closed) and must be placed in the black trash cart.
Stockton FAQ
Do I really have to put food scraps in the green cart?
Yes. SB 1383 is a statewide mandate effective January 2022 and the City updated SMC Title 8 in 2022 to require all food scraps and food-soiled paper to go in the green organics cart, not the trash.
My apartment building has 12 units — do we need recycling?
Yes. AB 341 requires all multi-family properties with 5+ units to subscribe to recycling service. AB 1826 also requires organics service. Contact your franchised hauler for a free site assessment.
What businesses are exempt?
Very few. Businesses generating less than 4 cu yd/week of solid waste may petition for a de minimis exemption, but documentation is required and CalRecycle audits jurisdictions for compliance.
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