San Bernardino, CA Trash & Recycling: Mandatory Organics Recycling (2026)
Key Facts
- Who must comply
- All residential, commercial, multi-family generators
- Required action
- Subscribe to adequate service, sort materials
- Compliance deadline
- 30 days after non-compliance notice
- City audit cycle
- Site visits every 5 years per generator
- Enforcement
- Misdemeanor/infraction under § 8.24.130
Summary
Every residential, commercial and multi-family generator in San Bernardino must subscribe to organic waste and recycling collection sufficient for the waste they produce. Municipal Code Section 8.24.090 requires proper separation of materials and gives non-compliant generators 30 days to fix it before enforcement.
(B) Recycling and organics collection required. Each generator shall subscribe to a level of service with the franchised hauler that is sufficient to handle the volume of recyclable materials and organic waste generated or accumulated on the premises. Additionally, each generator shall ensure the proper separation of solid waste, as established by the franchised hauler, by placing each type of material in designated containers or containers, and ensure that employees, contractors, volunteers, customers, visitors and other persons on site conduct proper separation of solid waste. ... (e) All generators shall be responsible for ensuring and demonstrating compliance with the requirements of this chapter within 30 days of notification of non-compliance. Failure to demonstrate compliance with the requirements of this chapter shall be cause for enforcement.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: 2026 S-2: Supplement contains: Local legislation current through Ord. MC-1666, passed 8-5-2026).
Full Breakdown
090(A) makes every solid waste generator, residential or commercial, responsible for ensuring and demonstrating compliance with the chapter's recycling and organics rules. Division (B) requires each generator to subscribe to a level of service with the franchised hauler sufficient to handle the volume of recyclable materials and organic waste it actually produces, to properly separate materials into the containers the hauler designates, and to make sure employees, tenants, contractors and visitors on the property also sort correctly. Division (C)(1) requires generators to use hauler-provided containers, post signage in work or common areas showing what is recyclable and how to sort it, and the city commits to notifying generators in writing of their obligations and offering outreach and training on request.
090(C)(2) has the City Manager work annually with the franchised hauler to identify subject generators, review subscription data to catch non-subscribers, and conduct site visits covering every commercial generator at least once every five years to confirm they are actually participating, not just paying for the subscription. 130, which carries misdemeanor or infraction penalties for chapter violations.
Violations & Fines
A generator that does not subscribe to adequate recycling and organics service, or that keeps mixing recyclables, organics and trash together after being notified, has 30 days under Section 8.24.090(C)(2)(e) to fix it before the city moves to enforcement under Section 8.24.130, which can charge the violation as a misdemeanor, up to six months jail and a $1,000 fine, or, at the City Attorney's discretion, an infraction.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I have to recycle and separate organic waste in San Bernardino?
What happens if the city finds my business isn't complying?
Does the city check whether generators are actually recycling, not just paying for it?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in San Bernardino
California rules heatmap·Compare San Bernardino to another location·View the California trash & recycling overview
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Mandatory Organics Recycling in Nearby Cities
How other cities in San Bernardino County handle mandatory organics recycling.