Santa Cruz County, CA Trash & Recycling: Mandatory Organics Recycling (2026)
Key Facts
- Governing section
- SCCC § 7.20.270
- Service mandate
- SCCC § 7.20.230
- Organic materials defined
- Yard trimmings and food scraps
- Business container deadline
- Labeling required by Jan. 1, 2036
- Enforcement
- SCCC Ch. 1.12-1.14 citations
- Exemptions
- Director discretion, Article XI
Summary
Unincorporated Santa Cruz County requires every household and business to subscribe to organic materials collection and keep food scraps and yard trimmings out of the trash and recycling. SCCC § 7.20.270 makes diversion mandatory for all generators, with added rules for multi-family and commercial properties.
All generators, including all property owners, owners of commercial businesses, and residents living in single-family structures, multi-family structures and mixed-use buildings, including those entities authorized to self-haul their waste pursuant to SCCC § 7.20.250, must participate in a program to divert covered materials, including the requirements to: (1) Subscribe to covered materials collection service offered by a County-authorized service provider, or self-haul covered materials in accordance with SCCC § 7.20.250 and applicable law. (2) Separate covered materials for collection or transport, and ensure that no covered materials are deposited in a solid waste container or receptacle; deposited at any County disposal facility; or are otherwise disposed of.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: rev 5004302; v11 updated 2026-05-19; through 05-19-2026).
Full Breakdown
230 requires every residential and commercial property in the unincorporated county to carry recyclable materials, organic materials, and solid waste collection service from a County-authorized hauler; landlords cannot rent property without ensuring the service exists, and the legal owner is responsible for compliance. 250, to separate "covered materials" (organic materials and recyclables) so that none end up in a solid waste container, a receptacle, or a County disposal facility. The code defines "organic materials" to include yard trimmings and food scraps, so kitchen scraps must go in the organics cart, not the trash.
420. Commercial businesses must also place organics containers everywhere trash containers are offered (except restrooms) and can be excused from replacing functional containers until January 1, 2036. Generators may reduce this burden by managing organic waste on-site or through community composting instead of subscribing to hauled service. 240 and Article XI, granted solely at the Director's discretion and not subject to administrative appeal.
Violations & Fines
Violations of Chapter 7.20, including failure to separate organics, are enforced under SCCC Chapters 1.12, 1.13 and 1.14 and 14 CCR Division 7, Chapter 12, per § 7.20.440. The Director's office can issue citations, assess administrative penalties, or take other enforcement action, and in addition to fines the County may revoke, suspend or deny any related permit, registration or license. Improper sorting or contaminating an organics cart can also trigger non-collection of the container or contamination processing fees billed by the hauler.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do unincorporated Santa Cruz County residents have to separate food scraps?
Can a landlord skip organics service for a rental in the county?
What happens if a business does not sort its organics correctly?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Santa Cruz County
California rules heatmap·Compare Santa Cruz County to another location·View the California trash & recycling overview
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