Mariposa County, CA Trash & Recycling: Mandatory Organics Recycling (2026)

California Senate Bill 1383 sets statewide organic-waste recycling and methane-reduction mandates that would normally require jurisdictions to provide organic-waste (food and yard waste) collection. However, CalRecycle's approved-waivers list shows that Mariposa County holds a 'Rural Exemption' with an effective date of 1/1/2022, alongside other low-population counties such as Alpine, Amador, Calaveras, Mono, Tuolumne, and Sierra. To qualify, a county must meet the definition of a 'Rural Jurisdiction' and its governing body must adopt a resolution finding the purpose of and need for the exemption. The exemption means Mariposa County is not required to roll out curbside organic-waste collection or the related procurement targets. Importantly, the rural exemption does not waive everything: per CalRecycle, exempt jurisdictions 'will still have to implement SB 1383's edible food recovery, recycled paper procurement, and model water efficient landscaping requirements.' That means commercial edible food generators in the county (for example, larger supermarkets, restaurants, and similar Tier One/Tier Two businesses) are still subject to the state's mandatory edible-food-donation rules, which phased in beginning in 2022 and expanded in 2024. Residents can still compost on their own property: County Code Section 8.36.060(C) permits composting as long as it follows a procedure that does not create a public nuisance, with acceptable procedures provided by the health department.