Highland, CA Trash & Recycling: Mandatory Organics Recycling (2026)

Chapter 8.13 of the Highland Municipal Code, titled Mandatory Organic Waste Disposal Reduction, was adopted by Ordinance 451 in 2021. Section 8.13.020 requires organic waste generators, haulers and other regulated entities to comply with SB 1383, the state regulations under it, the chapter itself and any collection agreement between the City of Highland and its hauler. Where the chapter conflicts with other provisions of the Highland code, the chapter controls, but the SB 1383 regulations control over the chapter.

For homes, Section 8.13.030 sets two duties. First, subscribe to the city's three-container organic waste collection service for all organic waste generated. The city keeps the right to review the number and size of your containers and to require you to adjust your service level. You can also reduce organic waste, manage it on site, or use a community composting site under 14 CCR Section 18984.9(c). Second, place food waste and other source separated green container organic waste in the green container, recyclables in the blue container, and gray container waste in the gray container, without moving gray materials into the green or blue containers. Only permitted single-family generators that meet the code's self-hauler requirements are excused from the subscription.

The definitions in Section 8.13.010 matter for sorting. Food scraps include fruits, vegetables, meat, poultry, seafood, shellfish, bones, rice, beans, pasta, bread, cheese and eggshells. Gray container waste includes textiles. Containers bought before January 1, 2022 that do not match the state color requirements count as compliant until the end of their useful life or January 1, 2036, whichever is earlier.

Under Section 8.13.050(C), a subscriber can arrange to have the blue container, gray container, or both collected once every fourteen days rather than once per week. Section 8.13.130 authorizes inspections of collection containers but does not allow the city to enter the interior of a private residential property.