Redding, CA Landscaping Rules: Composting (2026)
Key Facts
- State Mandate
- SB 1383 (PRC §42652+, 14 CCR §18981+)
- Effective in Redding
- January 2024
- Organics Cart
- Food + yard waste, no plastic bags
- Backyard Compost
- Permitted, no permit required
- Open Burning
- Prohibited in city; AQMD outside
Summary
Since January 2024, all City of Redding residents are required by California Senate Bill 1383 (Lara, 2016; Public Resources Code §42652+) to separate food scraps, food-soiled paper, and yard trimmings into the City's Organics cart for collection by Recycling and Solid Waste. Backyard composting on private residential lots is permitted and encouraged. Open burning of yard waste is prohibited within Redding city limits and regulated by the Shasta County Air Quality Management District.
SB 1383, Lara. Short-lived climate pollutants: methane emissions: dairy and livestock: organic waste: landfills. (2) The California Integrated Waste Management Act of 1989, which is administered by the Department of Resources Recycling and Recovery, establishes an integrated waste management program that requires each county and city and county to prepare and submit to the department a countywide integrated waste management plan. The bill would require the department, in consultation with the state board, to adopt regulations that achieve the specified targets for reducing organic waste in landfills... By adding to the duties of local governments related to organic waste in landfills, this bill would impose a state-mandated local program.
Full Breakdown
, requires every California jurisdiction to provide separate organic-waste collection and achieve a 75% reduction in organic waste sent to landfill by 2025 plus recovery of at least 20% of edible food. The City of Redding rolled out compliance through its Recycling and Solid Waste Division starting January 2024: residents must place food scraps (including meat and dairy), food-soiled paper, plant clippings, yard trimmings, and untreated wood waste into the green Organics cart, not the gray landfill cart. Plastic bags, including biodegradable and compostable plastics, are prohibited in the green cart; brown paper bags and newspapers are acceptable for food-scrap collection.
C. Cooperative Extension provide guidance recommending rodent-resistant bins, balanced brown/green inputs, and avoiding meat, dairy, oils, and pet waste in unmanaged bins. Open burning of yard waste within Redding city limits is prohibited; outside city limits in Shasta County, agricultural and residential burning is regulated by the Shasta County Air Quality Management District under permissive-burn-day rules. Commercial composting facilities require CalRecycle and Regional Water Quality Control Board permits under 14 CCR §17850+.
Violations & Fines
SB 1383 noncompliance can trigger education, then administrative citation by the City's Recycling and Solid Waste Division. State law caps initial penalties at $50-$100 per violation through 2024 with escalation thereafter; CalRecycle audits jurisdictions and can fine the City directly for systemic noncompliance under 14 CCR §18997.2. Improper composting that creates a documented vermin or odor nuisance is enforceable as a public nuisance with City Code Enforcement citation. Unpermitted open burning violates Shasta County AQMD rules and California Health and Safety Code §41700 with civil penalties.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I compost in my Redding, CA backyard?
What goes in Redding's green Organics cart?
Can I burn leaves in Redding?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Redding
California rules heatmap·Compare Redding to another location·View the California landscaping rules overview
See something wrong?
Help us keep this page accurate. If you notice an error or outdated information, let us know.