San Diego County, CA Trash & Recycling: Mandatory Organics Recycling (2026)
Key Facts
- Rule
- Source-separate organics from trash
- Applies to
- Single-family, multi-family, commercial premises
- Scope
- Unincorporated San Diego County only
- Penalty
- Infraction; misdemeanor after repeat violations
- Alternative
- On-site composting via Director waiver
Summary
Unincorporated county property owners, occupants, and businesses must source-separate food scraps and green waste from trash and recyclables and route them to a collector, CRMC, or approved on-site composting: mixing organics into the trash can is illegal.
The owner, occupant, or operator of a premises subject to subsection (a) above shall: (1) source separate and store designated recyclable materials and designated organic materials separately from solid waste; and, (2) source separate and store designated recyclable materials and designated organic materials separately from each other. ... No owner, occupant, or operator of a premises shall dispose of or arrange for disposal of designated recyclable materials or designated organic materials.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: 2026 S-141: Administrative: Current through Ord. No. 11007 (N.S.), effective 7-10-26 | Regulatory: Current through Ord. No. 11008 (N.S.), effective 7-24-26).
Full Breakdown
County Code § 68.570 requires owners, occupants, and operators of single-family, multi-family, and commercial properties in unincorporated San Diego County to source-separate designated organic materials, food waste and green waste, from solid waste and from recyclables, then either subscribe to a collector's or CRMC's three-stream (or approved two-stream) service, self-haul under § 68.572, or compost on-site under a Director-approved waiver. Small sparsely-populated single-family and multi-family properties get a food-waste exemption if green waste is still separated; commercial generators under two cubic yards a week in sparsely-populated areas get a broader exemption. § 68.570(i) flatly bars disposing of designated organics in the trash.
Violations & Fines
Violating the source-separation or disposal rules is an infraction; a second violation within a year can be charged as a misdemeanor at the prosecutor's discretion (§ 68.571(i)).
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I have to separate food scraps in unincorporated San Diego County?
Can I compost my own food waste instead of using collection service?
What happens if I mix food waste into my regular trash bin repeatedly?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in San Diego County
California rules heatmap·Compare San Diego County to another location·View the California trash & recycling overview
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