Colusa County, CA Trash & Recycling: Mandatory Organics Recycling (2026)

SB 1383 (2016) requires California jurisdictions to provide organic-waste collection to residents and businesses to divert food scraps, yard waste and soiled paper from landfills, unless they hold a low-population or high-elevation exemption or waiver (CalRecycle, 14 CCR 18984.12). CalRecycle defines a rural county as one with a population under 70,000 and has named 19 qualifying rural counties — including Colusa — that may adopt a resolution exempting themselves and their businesses from the organic-waste collection and procurement requirements. CalRecycle extended this rural exemption through December 31, 2026. Subsequent legislation (AB 2902, 2024) extends relief for these 19 rural counties beyond that date, giving qualifying rural jurisdictions additional years to comply with organics collection and procurement requirements. Consistent with this exemption, the County's franchise service in unincorporated Colusa County does not include a dedicated organics/green-waste cart; yard waste (grass clippings and tree limbs) is instead accepted for a fee at the Maxwell Transfer Station. Chapter 32 does permit noncommercial backyard composting of a homeowner's own garbage in a nuisance-free, vector-free manner (Sec. 32-2(e)). This is a state-law matter modified by the rural exemption; residents should confirm current status with the County and CalRecycle, as exemption dates and requirements change.