Chino Hills, CA Trash & Recycling: Mandatory Organics Recycling (2026)
Key Facts
- Authority
- CHMC §§ 13.20.051-.054
- State mandate
- SB 1383 organics law
- First violation fine
- $100
- Third+ violation fine
- $500
- Waiver renewal
- Every 5 years
- Tenant sorting notice
- Within 14 days of move-in
Summary
Chino Hills requires every residential, multifamily and commercial property to subscribe to the city's organic waste collection service and separate materials into color-coded containers under Municipal Code §§ 13.20.051 and 13.20.052, the city's implementation of state law SB 1383. Green containers take yard trimmings and food scraps, blue containers take recyclables, and only true garbage goes in the gray or black container.
A. Shall subscribe to City's organic waste collection services for all organic waste generated as described below in this section. City shall have the right to review the number and size of a generator's containers to evaluate adequacy of capacity provided for each type of collection service... B. Shall participate in the City's organic waste collection service(s) by placing designated materials in designated containers as described below... 1. Generator shall place source separated green container organic waste in the green container; source separated recyclable materials in the blue container; if applicable, source separated food waste in the brown container, and solid waste in the gray/black container. Generators shall not place materials designated for the gray/black container into the green container, brown container or blue container.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Code of Ordinances: Supplement 61).
Full Breakdown
051. 052 and must post container labels showing accepted and prohibited materials, train employees annually, and give new tenants sorting instructions within fourteen days of move-in. 054, with compliance phased in by January 1, 2022 and January 1, 2024. 053. City staff or the franchise hauler may inspect containers, including by remote camera on collection trucks, to confirm materials are properly sorted.
Violations & Fines
Chino Hills enforces this program under Chapter 1.18's administrative citation process. A first violation carries a base penalty of $100, a second $200, and a third or subsequent violation $500, per Section 13.20.340(E). Contaminated-container notices allow correction before a fine issues, but repeated contamination on more than three occasions in six months can trigger contamination processing fees, and cited parties may request a hearing under Section 1.18.100.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I have to sign up for organic waste collection in Chino Hills?
Can my small business skip the extra containers?
What happens if I put food scraps in the trash cart?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Chino Hills
California rules heatmap·Compare Chino Hills to another location·View the California trash & recycling overview
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