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

Section V-200-3.20 of the Solid Waste Management chapter makes collection service mandatory: the owner, agent or occupant of any premises must subscribe to and pay for solid waste, recyclable materials and organic materials collection from the City's authorized contractor, and must maintain containers sized to the property's actual waste volume, adjusting service level if the City finds the containers inadequate. The City may automatically enroll single-family residences or commercial businesses in the required service rather than waiting for a sign-up.

The ordinance then dictates exactly how each type of generator must sort its waste at the source. Single-family customers must place green waste in the green container, source-separated recyclables in the blue container, solid waste in the designated side of the split gray container, and food waste in the other, brown-lidded side of that same split cart; materials meant for the green or blue container may not be dumped into the gray container. Commercial generators follow a parallel rule using a green container for green waste other than food, a blue container for recyclables, a brown container for source-separated food waste, and a gray container for solid waste. This sorting mandate implements California's SB 1383 organic-waste-reduction law, and a business may seek a de minimis waiver from the Public Works Director if it generates below set volume thresholds. Any violation of this Chapter is an infraction punishable under the general penalty provisions of Title I, Chapter 1 of the Municipal Code.