Costa Mesa, CA Trash & Recycling: Mandatory Organics Recycling (2026)

Organics recycling in unincorporated Orange County is a California state mandate under Senate Bill (SB) 1383, the Short-Lived Climate Pollutant Reduction Strategy, administered through CalRecycle. Per the County of Orange Unincorporated WM Service Guide, effective January 1, 2022, all residences, multifamily complexes, and businesses are required to separate organic waste from trash and participate in an organics collection program. Organics consist of food waste and green/yard waste; the organics cart accepts meat, fish, poultry, dairy, fruits, vegetables, bread, pasta, rice, grains, eggshells, plate scrapings, minimal food-soiled paper, grass, leaves, small branches, shrubs, plants, weeds, and garden trimmings. Food waste is co-mingled with green waste in the same organics cart (no separate fourth cart). Residents cannot opt out - the guide states 'No, this is a mandatory service per State Senate Bill 1383,' even for home composters. To implement SB 1383 locally, the County of Orange adopted Ordinance No. 21-011 (2021); per OC Waste & Recycling, statewide enforcement commenced January 1, 2024. SB 1383 also sets a 20% edible-food-recovery goal for large commercial generators. Inspections in OC unincorporated residential areas occur when carts are placed out for pickup, not on private property.