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

Mandatory organics recycling in Pleasanton implements California Senate Bill 1383 (SB 1383, 2016), the Short-Lived Climate Pollutants: Organic Waste Reductions law, which took effect statewide January 1, 2022. Pleasanton adopted the Alameda County waste management authority's Organics Reduction and Recycling ordinance (WMA Ord. 2021-02) by reference into Municipal Code Chapter 9.20, effective January 1, 2022. Organic waste includes food, green/landscape and pruning waste, organic textiles and carpets, lumber, wood, paper products, manure, biosolids and similar materials. Every single-family household receives a green cart for food and plant waste (compost) and, on request, a food scrap pail; residents must sort organics into the green cart rather than the garbage. No BPI compostable bags or any type of plastic bags are allowed in the green waste cart (paper bags are acceptable for shredded material). Businesses, institutions, nonprofits and multi-family properties must subscribe to compost collection, provide color-coded labeled bins, ensure sorting, and educate staff/tenants at least annually. Covered (Tier 1 and Tier 2) food-generating businesses must additionally recover the maximum amount of excess edible food, establish written agreements with food recovery organizations or services, and maintain records and receipts available on request. The city conducts contamination monitoring, education, recordkeeping, compliance monitoring and enforcement as required by the state regulations.