California's SB 1383 requires unincorporated Merced County residents and businesses to separate food scraps, food-soiled paper and yard waste into a green organics cart. The County's program took effect with collection in 2024 and service requirements as of July 1, 2025; low-density tracts under 75 people/sq mi qualify for CalRecycle rural waivers.
SB 1383 is a statewide California mandate to cut organic waste disposal 75% by 2025, implemented locally under the County's organic waste reduction provisions (County Code Chapter 9.06.100). Beginning January 1, 2024, residents must separate food waste from trash and place it, with yard waste and food-soiled paper, in the green organics cart. Accepted organics include food scraps and spoiled food, food-soiled paper and cardboard (pizza boxes, cup sleeves), uncoated paper to-go containers, paper coffee filters, brown paper bags, wooden utensils and compostable plates; prohibited items include glass, metal, plastic, pet waste, diapers, styrofoam, treated wood and wax-coated cartons. MCRWMA processes organics at the Highway 59 facility. Because Merced County's population (about 286,000) exceeds the threshold for a countywide rural exemption, organics collection is required, but the County obtained CalRecycle low population density waivers for census tracts under 75 people per square mile, and offers businesses de minimis waivers (generating less than ~10–20 gallons of organics weekly) and space-constraint waivers; a County map tool checks waiver eligibility by address. Commercial edible-food generators must also donate edible food to Food Recovery Organizations. The suspension on SB 1383-compliant service requirements ended July 1, 2025.
Carts contaminated with the wrong materials are subject to contamination tagging by haulers, with educational notices issued first. SB 1383 authorizes administrative penalties for non-compliance with separation and (for covered businesses) edible-food-donation and recordkeeping requirements; the County emphasizes education and tagging before escalating. Households in waivered low-density tracts are exempt from mandatory subscription.
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See how Merced County's mandatory organics recycling rules stack up against other locations.
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