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

Adopted by Ordinance 2022-2895 effective April 21, 2022, Chapter 7.30 requires single-family residential dwellings to source-separate organic waste, meaning food scraps, food-soiled paper and yard material, into the green container, recyclables into the blue container, and everything else into the gray container, per Section 7.30.030(B). The City can adjust the minimum thirty-five-gallon weekly service level for either container and can require households to expand their service if it isn't enough capacity for what they generate. Commercial businesses and multi-family dwellings carry heavier duties under Section 7.30.040, including subscribing to all three containers, labeling them, training employees and tenants annually, and periodically inspecting for prohibited contaminants, unless they qualify as self-haulers under Section 7.30.090 or obtain a de minimis waste waiver under Section 7.30.050.

Tier One and Tier Two commercial edible food generators, such as large supermarkets, restaurants and venues, must also arrange edible food recovery under Section 7.30.060. Enforcement runs through Section 7.30.120: the City issues a notice of violation before any fine, then escalates to an administrative citation with fines of up to two hundred dollars for a first violation, four hundred dollars for a second violation of the same rule within twelve months, and one thousand dollars for a third or later violation in that period, on top of possible civil or criminal prosecution.