San Benito County, CA Landscaping Rules: Composting (2026)

Composting at home is permitted in unincorporated San Benito County, and statewide policy strongly encourages diverting organic material from landfills. California's Senate Bill 1383 (SB 1383), the Short-Lived Climate Pollutants organics law, took effect January 1, 2022 and requires all jurisdictions to provide organic-waste collection to residents and businesses, and requires residents and businesses to separate organic materials such as food scraps, food-soiled paper, and yard trimmings from their trash. Residents typically comply by subscribing to curbside green-waste/organics service through their hauler, but home composting of yard waste and food scraps is an approved way to keep those materials out of the landfill and can reduce what you set out for collection. Backyard compost bins should be managed to avoid creating a nuisance: piles that produce strong odors, attract rodents or vectors, or otherwise become unsanitary can be addressed under the County's public-nuisance provisions. Larger-scale or commercial composting operations are regulated separately under state CalRecycle rules and would need appropriate permits. For specifics on green-cart service and accepted materials in your area, residents should contact their waste hauler or the County, since collection programs are administered locally to meet the SB 1383 mandate.