La Habra, CA Trash & Recycling: Mandatory Organics Recycling (2026)

La Habra adopted mandatory organic waste separation in Chapter 8.04 by Ord. 1838, effective January 1, 2022, to comply with the state's organics diversion mandate referenced throughout the chapter's definitions (AB 341, AB 1826). Section 8.04.270(B) requires every single-family generator to participate in the city's organic waste collection service by placing designated materials, food scraps, food-soiled paper, green waste, in the designated green container, and bars placing 'prohibited container contaminants' into that container. Section 8.04.280(B) imposes the identical participation mandate on commercial businesses and multifamily dwellings of five or more units, layered with labeling, inspection and annual-education duties in subsections (C) through (H) of that section.

The only opt-out is self-hauling under § 8.04.290, which still requires the self-hauler to source-separate organic waste from solid waste before hauling it to an approved processing facility or a high-diversion facility, and to keep hauling records if the self-hauler is a commercial business. A commercial generator that produces only a de minimis amount of organic waste can apply for a waiver of some or all of the chapter's organics requirements under § 8.04.300, but residential generators have no equivalent waiver.