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

Light Restrictions
Compiled from the official code textEditor Martyn O'NeillLast verified September 2026

Key Facts

Governing ordinance
Ord. No. 1307, adopted 4/5/2022
Single-family mandate
Encouraged, not required, under (b)
Rural Exemption expires
December 21, 2026
Enforcing agency
Glenn County Enforcement Official
Applies to
Unincorporated Glenn County only

Summary

In unincorporated Glenn County, single-family households are only encouraged, not required, to separate food scraps and yard waste from the trash can under the county's 2022 SB 1383 ordinance. The Board of Supervisors secured a state Rural Exemption that keeps mandatory organics collection service off the table for the unincorporated area through December 21, 2026.

These county ordinances apply to unincorporated areas of Glenn County. Incorporated cities within the county may have their own rules that take precedence over county-level regulations.

Single-Family Solid Waste Generators shall comply with the following requirements: (a) Shall comply with Glenn County's Solid Waste collection service(s) by placing designated materials in designated containers as described below and shall not place Prohibited Container Contaminants in collection containers. (b) Single-Family Solid Waste Generators are encouraged to manage their Organic Waste by preventing or reducing their Organic Waste, managing Organic Waste on site, and/or using a Community Composting site pursuant to 14 CCR Section 18984.9(c).

Full Breakdown

Glenn County adopted its Organic Waste Disposal Reduction Ordinance by Ordinance No. 1307 on April 5, 2022, to implement SB 1383, the Short-Lived Climate Pollutant Reduction Act. 060 sets two different tracks for single-family generators (households with fewer than five units). Subsection (a) is a mandatory duty: households must comply with the county's solid waste collection service by placing designated materials in designated containers and must keep Prohibited Container Contaminants out of those bins. 9(c); the code does not use mandatory language for that piece.

12(c). That exemption removes Glenn County from Article 3 Organic Waste Collection Services, Article 11 Organic Waste Capacity Planning, and Article 12 Procurement of Recovered Organic Waste Products through December 21, 2026. In practice, the county is not required to roll out a curbside organics cart to unincorporated households before that date, so there is no separate green-bin mandate to violate. The county still runs education and outreach through the Public Works Agency and requires Tier One and Tier Two commercial edible food generators to meet food-recovery duties on a separate track. Willows and Orland, both incorporated cities, run their own SB 1383 compliance and are not covered by this county ordinance.

Violations & Fines

Under Section 7.08.795.160, any violation of the ordinance, including failing to use designated collection containers or keeping Prohibited Container Contaminants in a bin, lets the Glenn County Enforcement Official issue a Notice of Violation and an administrative citation with a fine. The county can also pursue civil action or prosecute a violation as a misdemeanor or infraction, and may delay court action until enough violations accumulate to justify the expense of a case.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I have to separate food scraps from my trash in unincorporated Glenn County?
No. Section 7.08.795.060(b) only encourages single-family households to reduce, compost on site, or use community composting; it does not require organics separation. You must still use the containers the county's collection service designates and keep out Prohibited Container Contaminants under subsection (a).
Why doesn't Glenn County require curbside organics collection?
The county qualifies as a Rural Jurisdiction under Public Resources Code Section 42649.8 and received a Rural Exemption under 14 CCR Section 18984.12(c). Section 7.08.795.020(e) confirms Glenn County is not subject to mandatory organic waste collection service requirements through December 21, 2026.
What happens if I put the wrong material in my collection container?
It is a Prohibited Container Contaminant violation under Section 7.08.795.060(a). The Glenn County Enforcement Official can issue a Notice of Violation and an administrative citation with a fine under Section 7.08.795.160, and the county can pursue civil or criminal remedies for repeated violations.
Does this rule apply inside Willows or Orland?
No. Willows and Orland are incorporated cities that adopt and enforce their own SB 1383 compliance ordinances. Glenn County Code Section 7.08.795 governs only the unincorporated communities, including Hamilton City, Artois, Elk Creek, Glenn, and Butte City.

Sources & Official References

Other rules in Glenn County

All Glenn County rules

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