Bellflower, CA Trash & Recycling: Mandatory Organics Recycling (2026)
Key Facts
- Applies to
- single-family households
- Requires
- 3-container sorting (green/blue/gray)
- Legal basis
- SB 1383, adopted 2021
- Contamination
- unlawful, per § 13.36.030
Summary
Bellflower requires every single-family household to subscribe to organic waste collection and sort food scraps, yard waste, recyclables, and trash into separate green, blue, and gray containers under the City's SB 1383 program.
... single-family organic waste generators must: ... Place source separated green container organic waste, including food waste, in the green container; Place source separated recyclable materials in the blue container; and Place gray container waste in the gray container. ... It is unlawful for generators to place materials designated for the gray container into the green container or blue container.
Full Breakdown
Chapter 13.36, adopted by Ordinance 1411 in 2021 to implement California's SB 1383 organic waste reduction law, requires single-family generators in Bellflower to subscribe to the City's organic waste collection service and sort materials into three streams: source-separated green container organic waste (including food scraps) in the green container, recyclables in the blue container, and everything else in the gray container. Section 13.36.030 makes it unlawful to place prohibited contaminants in collection containers or to put gray-container waste into the green or blue container. The City can require households to adjust their container size or collection frequency to maintain adequate capacity for proper separation.
Violations & Fines
Failing to subscribe to organic waste service, or mixing gray-container waste into the green or blue container, is unlawful under § 13.36.030 and can trigger a City compliance review.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do Bellflower residents have to separate food scraps from trash?
What if I put waste in the wrong container?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Bellflower
California rules heatmap·Compare Bellflower to another location·View the California trash & recycling overview
See something wrong?
Help us keep this page accurate. If you notice an error or outdated information, let us know.
Mandatory Organics Recycling in Nearby Cities
How other cities in Los Angeles County handle mandatory organics recycling.