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

California's SB 1383 requires jurisdictions to provide organic-waste collection and residents and businesses to separate organic waste from trash, targeting statewide goals of 75% less organic waste sent to landfills and 20% of edible food recovered, with collection requirements taking effect in 2022. The City of Tustin implements SB 1383 through the green cart in its CR&R three-cart program. As the City states, 'Since July 1, 2021, as required by state law SB 1383, Tustin residents can recycle food scraps by placing them in their green cart.' The green cart is for 'yard trimmings and food waste,' and residents can collect kitchen scraps - food prep scraps and plate scrapings, plus paper towels and napkins - in a kitchen pail and empty them into the green cart. CalRecycle's rural exemption from SB 1383 applies only to jurisdictions with a population under 70,000 (per census data); Tustin's population of roughly 80,000 is above that threshold, so Tustin is NOT rural-exempt and the organics requirements apply in full. Because the City franchises a single hauler and service is mandatory, organics separation is not optional for Tustin households. Keep food-soiled paper, food scraps, and yard trimmings in the green cart, and keep plastics and non-organics out. Questions go to CR&R at 714-372-8272 or City Public Works at 714-573-3150.