Fountain Valley, CA Trash & Recycling: Mandatory Organics Recycling (2026)
Key Facts
- Single-family duty
- Subscribe to organic waste collection for all organic waste
- Container split
- Green for food and green waste, blue for recyclables, gray for the rest
- Cart sizes
- 95 gallons standard, 65 gallons with inadequate storage
- New tenant education
- Within 14 days of occupation
- Tier Two edible food deadline
- January 1, 2024
- Contamination fees
- After more than three consecutive occasions
- Compliance deadline after notice
- Sixty days from issuance
Summary
In the City of Fountain Valley, California, every single-family household must subscribe to the city's organic waste collection service and sort food waste into the green container, recyclables into the blue container and everything else into the gray container. Businesses and multi-family properties face a longer list of duties under Section 6.08.210.
Single-family organic waste generators shall comply with the following requirements except single-family generators that meet the self-hauler requirements in Section 6.08.260 of this chapter: (a) Shall subscribe to jurisdiction's organic waste collection services for all organic waste generated as described below. ... (b) Shall participate in the jurisdiction's organic waste collection service(s) by placing designated materials in designated containers as described below and shall not place prohibited container contaminants in collection containers. (c) Shall place source separated green container organic waste, including food waste, in the green container; source separated recyclable materials in the blue container; and gray container waste in the gray container. Generators shall not place materials designated for the gray container into the green container or blue container.
Full Breakdown
Chapter 6.08 of the Fountain Valley Municipal Code carries the state SB 1383 organic waste rules into local law, and Section 6.08.200 is the single-family mandate. A single-family generator has to subscribe to the city's organic waste collection service for all organic waste it generates, unless it meets the self-hauler requirements in Section 6.08.260. The city keeps the right to review the number and size of a household's containers and to require an adjustment in service level. Residents can also meet their obligation by preventing waste, managing organic waste on site, or using a community composting site under 14 CCR Section 18984.9(c).
The sorting rule is a three-container system. Food waste and other green container organic waste go in the green container, recyclables in the blue container, and gray container waste in the gray container. Section 6.08.110 repeats the split and adds that persons shall not place solid waste in containers except as provided. The franchised collector supplies a ninety-five-gallon cart for each stream, or sixty-five-gallon carts for customers with inadequate storage (Section 6.08.080).
Commercial businesses and multi-family residential dwellings answer to Section 6.08.210. They subscribe to the three-container service, provide labeled containers for employees, tenants and customers, share sorting information every year, and give new tenants education information within fourteen days of occupation. Tier One commercial edible food generators had to comply from January 1, 2022 and Tier Two from January 1, 2024 (Section 6.08.230). De minimis waivers cover businesses with total service of two cubic yards or more per week and under twenty gallons per week of organics, or under two cubic yards with under ten gallons, and physical space waivers need documentation from a hauler, architect or engineer. Both are re-verified every five years.
Inspectors can examine collection containers and vehicle loads at random, but Section 6.08.270 does not allow entry into the interior of a private residential property.
Violations & Fines
Under Section 6.08.280, contamination is handled first by a notice of violation delivered by cart tag or other communication immediately or within ten days. After prohibited contaminants appear on more than three consecutive occasions, the city can assess contamination processing fees or penalties. Other violations get a notice requiring compliance within sixty days, then an administrative citation and fine under Chapter 1.16, which allows misdemeanor or infraction prosecution.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do Fountain Valley homeowners have to use a green container for food scraps?
Can Fountain Valley inspect my trash carts?
What must a Fountain Valley business do about organics?
How does Fountain Valley handle a contaminated cart?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Fountain Valley
California rules heatmap·Compare Fountain Valley to another location·View the California trash & recycling overview
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