Pomona, CA Trash & Recycling: Mandatory Organics Recycling (2026)
Key Facts
- Governing sections
- City Code Secs. 62-653, 62-786, 62-795
- Who must comply
- All residential and commercial generators (non self-haulers)
- Civil penalties began
- January 1, 2024
- First-violation fine
- $50 to $100
- Compliance window
- 60 days after notice of violation
- Appeal path
- Hearing before city-appointed hearing officer
Summary
Every Pomona household and business must subscribe to the city's organic waste collection service and sort food and yard waste into the correct color-coded bin under City Code Secs. 62-653 and 62-786. Skipping the required containers or service tier draws inspection and escalating fines under the city's SB 1383 enforcement program.
Single-family organic waste generators shall comply with the following requirements except single-family generators that meet the self-hauler requirements in section 62-792 of this article: (a)Shall subscribe to city's organic waste collection services for all organic waste generated as described below in section 62-653(b). ... (1)For a first violation, the amount of the base penalty shall be $50 to $100 per violation.(2)For a second violation, the amount of the base penalty shall be $100 to $200 per violation.(3)For a third or subsequent violation, the amount of the base penalty shall be $250 to $500 per violation.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: City Code: Supplement 31).
Full Breakdown
Sec. 62-653 requires single-family organic waste generators, other than qualifying self-haulers under Sec. 62-792, to subscribe to the city's organic waste collection service for all organic waste generated and to place designated materials in the correct blue, green or black container based on their service tier, without dumping black-container waste into the green or blue containers. The city may review the number and size of a household's containers and require the resident to adjust its service level. Commercial businesses face a near-identical mandate under Sec.
62-786: subscribe to the applicable three-, three-plus-, two- or one-container collection service, supply enough labeled containers for employees, contractors, tenants and customers, provide separate indoor and outdoor bins for source-separated organic and recyclable material (color-coded or labeled per 14 CCR Sec. 9), train and periodically inspect for contamination, and give new tenants sorting instructions within 14 days of occupancy. Tier one and tier two commercial edible food generators layer on food-recovery duties under Sec. 62-789. Sec. 62-794 authorizes random or complaint-driven inspections of containers, collection loads and facilities, though the city cannot enter the interior of a private residence. Civil penalties for non-compliance took effect January 1, 2024, after an education period that ran through December 31, 2023, per Sec. 62-795(i)-(j).
Violations & Fines
Sec. 62-795 requires a notice of violation giving 60 days to come into compliance before the city imposes an administrative citation, with base penalties of $50 to $100 for a first violation, $100 to $200 for a second violation of the same requirement within a year, and $250 to $500 for a third or later violation within that year; factors like willfulness, economic benefit and ability to pay adjust the amount within each range, and a recipient may request a hearing before a city-appointed hearing officer to appeal the citation.
Frequently Asked Questions
Am I required to subscribe to organic waste collection in Pomona?
What happens if I put food waste in the wrong bin in Pomona?
When did Pomona start fining organic waste violations?
Can a Pomona business avoid the mandatory organics program?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Pomona
California rules heatmap·Compare Pomona to another location·View the California trash & recycling overview
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