Downey, CA Trash & Recycling: Pickup Rules & Schedules (2026)

Adopted by Ordinance 21-1474 on December 14, 2021 to implement Senate Bill 1383's statewide methane-reduction mandate, Chapter 10 requires every Single-Family Organic Waste Generator to subscribe to the Jurisdiction's organic waste collection service under Section 5932(a), and the City may review the number and size of a household's containers and require the resident to adjust its service level. Section 5932(b) then requires residents to sort: food waste and other Source Separated Green Container Organic Waste goes in the Green Container, Source Separated Recyclable Materials go in the Blue Container, and everything else goes in the Black Container, with cross-contamination between containers barred outright.

9(c). Compliance is not optional by default: Section 5934 allows only two narrow waivers, a de minimis waiver for generators producing under 20 gallons of organic waste per week (10 gallons for smaller accounts), or a physical space waiver documented by the hauler, an architect or an engineer, both reviewed by the Public Works Department with Code Enforcement. Section 5942 gives the City authority to inspect collection containers and collection vehicle loads at random, though it may not enter the interior of a private residence, and residents must cooperate with curbside inspections confirming proper sorting.