Sonoma County, CA Landscaping Rules: Composting (2026)
Key Facts
- Governing law
- California SB 1383 (state mandate)
- Effective date
- January 1, 2022
- Resident requirement
- Use green organics cart for food + yard waste
- Multifamily (5+ units)
- Must provide organics recycling
- Business threshold
- 2+ cubic yards/week combined material
- Local administrator
- Zero Waste Sonoma
Summary
Under California SB 1383 (effective Jan 1, 2022), all Sonoma County residents and businesses must keep organic waste - food scraps and yard trimmings - out of the landfill, typically by using the green organics cart. Backyard home composting is encouraged and can reduce what you set out. The mandate is a state law implemented locally by Zero Waste Sonoma.
The department, in consultation with the State Air Resources Board, shall adopt regulations to achieve the organic waste reduction goals for 2020 and 2025 established in Section 39730.6 of the Health and Safety Code. [...] not less than 20 percent of edible food that is currently disposed of is recovered for human consumption by 2025.
Full Breakdown
Organics diversion in unincorporated Sonoma County is driven by California Senate Bill 1383, the statewide Short-Lived Climate Pollutants law, which took effect January 1, 2022 and requires all residents and businesses to divert organic waste from the landfill to cut methane emissions. In practice this means using your green curbside organics (compost) cart for food scraps, yard waste, and food-soiled paper rather than the trash. Recology Sonoma Marin is the hauler for much of the county. Multifamily properties with five or more units must provide organics recycling, and businesses generating two cubic yards or more of combined material per week must have an organics program.
The mandate is implemented locally by Zero Waste Sonoma (the Sonoma County Waste Management Agency), which administers SB 1383 compliance and outreach for the unincorporated county and member cities. Home composting and grasscycling are encouraged and count toward keeping organics out of the trash; residents who compost or mulch food scraps and yard waste at home can reduce or, in limited cases, qualify for adjustments to curbside organics service. For questions about unincorporated-county service and SB 1383, the County directs residents to Zero Waste Sonoma's Eco-Desk hotline.
Violations & Fines
SB 1383 authorizes local jurisdictions to enforce organics-sorting requirements, including education, notices, and ultimately penalties for non-compliance with mandatory organics recycling. Day-to-day enforcement and any fines are handled through Zero Waste Sonoma and the hauler's service rules; the program has emphasized outreach and contamination correction.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I have to compost or recycle food scraps in Sonoma County?
Can I compost at home instead?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Sonoma County
California rules heatmap·Compare Sonoma County to another location·View the California landscaping rules overview
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