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

Section 8.08.500 states the baseline: single-family and commercial premises in Rialto must comply with the organic waste recycling requirements of AB 1826 and SB 1383, the state laws that phased in mandatory organics recycling statewide. Section 8.08.510 then spells out what that means for single-family generators specifically. Subsection (A) requires every household to subscribe to the city's three-container organic waste collection service, and gives the city the right to review the number, size and location of a generator's containers to evaluate whether capacity is adequate, plus the authority to require the generator to adjust its service level on request.

Subsection (B) requires households to participate in the resulting three-container system, sorting source-separated recyclables, source-separated green container organics, and gray container waste, and it specifically bars putting gray-container material into the green or blue container. The city isn't required to swap out functional, non-color-compliant containers purchased before January 1, 2022, until the end of their useful life or January 1, 2036, whichever comes first, so long-time residents may keep older cans while the labeling and color rules phase in.

Commercial businesses and multifamily dwellings face a parallel but more detailed set of obligations under § 8.08.520, including providing indoor and outdoor collection containers, employee education, annual tenant notices, and cooperation with city inspections or a remote container-monitoring program if the city implements one. Both single-family and commercial generators can apply for de minimis, physical-space, or reduced-frequency waivers under § 8.08.530 if their organic waste volume or property layout doesn't support full three-container service.