Westminster, CA Landscaping Rules: Composting (2026)

Composting and organic-waste handling in Westminster are driven mainly by California state law as implemented locally. Under SB 1383 (the Short-Lived Climate Pollutant Reduction law), effective January 1, 2022, all residents (single-family and multifamily), businesses, self-haulers, and the City must separate organic materials, such as food waste, food-soiled paper, plant and yard debris, landscape and pruning waste, and untreated wood, from trash to help cut statewide organic-waste disposal 75% by 2025. The City's Public Works recycling pages explain that SB 1383 expands the earlier mandatory recycling (AB 341) and mandatory commercial organics recycling (AB 1826) requirements to nearly all generators. Residents participate through the franchised collection service's organics cart rather than sending food and yard waste to the landfill; for residential collection in much of Westminster, service is provided through the Midway City Sanitation District (listed at (714) 893-3553) and the City's franchised hauler. Backyard or on-site home composting is allowed and encouraged as an alternative way to divert organic waste, and the City periodically offers free, eco-friendly, locally sourced compost to residents in partnership with the County of Orange, distributed at Westminster Park on a first-come, first-served basis. Mandatory Commercial Recycling (MCR) and Mandatory Organics Recycling (MORe) pages on the City site spell out business obligations. Verify your specific cart and collection details with your hauler.