Chino, CA Trash & Recycling: Mandatory Organics Recycling (2026)
Key Facts
- Organics go in
- Green container, including food waste
- State mandate
- SB 1383, Short-lived Climate Pollutant Reduction Act
- Tier one compliance
- Required by January 1, 2022
- Tier two compliance
- Required by January 1, 2024
- Civil penalties began
- January 1, 2024
- Penalty schedule
- $100 / $200 / $500, escalating
Summary
Chino requires households and businesses to sort food waste and other organic material into the green container, separate from the blue recyclables container and gray trash container, implementing the state's SB 1383 methane-reduction mandate. Cross-contaminating a container is unlawful and can trigger a processing fee or an escalating fine.
1.Generator shall place organic materials, including food waste, in the green container; source separated recyclable materials in the blue container; and solid waste in the gray container. Generators shall not place materials designated for the gray container into the green container or blue container, nor materials designated for the green or blue containers into the gray container. It shall be unlawful and a violation of this chapter to place contamination in a collection container, and may subject the generator to a contamination processing fee or enforcement action as set forth in Section 8.18.180.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Code of Ordinances: Supplement 38).
Full Breakdown
070(B)(1) requires that a "generator shall place organic materials, including food waste, in the green container; source separated recyclable materials in the blue container; and solid waste in the gray container," and it bars placing gray-designated material into the green or blue containers or green/blue material into the gray container. 180. 010(D)-(E) trace this mandate to SB 1383, the Short-lived Climate Pollutant Reduction Act of 2016, which directs CalRecycle to cut organic waste in landfills as a source of methane and requires every city to adopt and enforce an ordinance implementing the state regulations, including a food-recovery component for commercial edible food generators.
100, tier one commercial edible food generators had to begin complying by January 1, 2022, and tier two generators by January 1, 2024. 110. 090). The chapter was adopted by Ord. 2021-014, § 5(exh. 200.
Violations & Fines
Placing organic waste in the wrong container is unlawful under Section 8.18.070(B)(1) and can bring a contamination processing fee or a notice of violation under Section 8.18.180. Civil penalties, in effect since January 1, 2024, escalate from $100 for a first violation to $200 for a second and $500 for a third or later violation, appealable under Section 1.15.110.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I have to separate food waste from trash in Chino?
Why does Chino require organic waste separation?
When did organics enforcement penalties start in Chino?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Chino
California rules heatmap·Compare Chino 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 San Bernardino County handle mandatory organics recycling.