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

Mandatory organics recycling in unincorporated Shasta County is driven by California Senate Bill 1383, which since January 1, 2022 requires residents and businesses to keep food scraps, food-soiled paper, and yard/green waste out of the trash and in a separate organics container. The County implements SB 1383 through its County Code Chapter 8.34, 'Organic Waste Disposal Reduction' (Title 8, Health and Safety). Operationally, Waste Management distributed new 96-gallon green organics carts beginning September 15, 2025, started weekly organics collection on October 6, 2025, and the County reduced recycling to biweekly to fund weekly organics pickup. Service covers inner-county/urban areas including Cottonwood, Palo Cedro, Bella Vista, and the county area around Redding; SB 1383 allows rural, low-population areas (below roughly 75 persons per square mile) to seek waivers, so the lowest-density rural parcels may be exempt from mandatory collection. Compliance is monitored with smart-truck cameras, and the County reported a $37.86 charge for a contaminated recycling or organics cart and an $8.36 charge for overfilled bins (lids lifted more than six inches), imposed after two warnings, with fine enforcement beginning December 8, 2025. The County also offers home composting and self-haul options consistent with SB 1383. These requirements apply to unincorporated Shasta County; the cities run their own SB 1383 programs.