Aliso Viejo, CA Trash & Recycling: Recycling Requirements (2026)

Curbside recycling for single-family homes in the City of Aliso Viejo is built on the state's organics rules and is spelled out in AVMC 7.05.300. Single-family generators, defined in AVMC 7.05.010 as residential premises with fewer than five units, are automatically enrolled in the city's integrated waste collection services with a blue recyclable materials container and a green organic waste container approved by the public works director or designee. The city can change the minimum levels of service over time and can review the number, size and location of containers; the generator must adjust service as the city requests.

Participation is mandatory. Generators join the three-container system: source separated recyclables in the blue container, food waste and other organics in the green container, and everything else in the gray container. Materials designated for the gray container cannot go into the green or blue container, and blue or green materials cannot go into the gray container. The code defines prohibited container contaminants as non-recyclable material in the blue container, non-organic material in the green container, recyclables or organics in the gray container, and non-solid waste items in any container. Backyard composting and community composting sites are expressly protected; the section says nothing in it prohibits them.

AVMC 7.05.290 sets a standard compliance approach that requires subscription to the city's organic waste collection services, and each section states that the city can choose the other. Container handling rules sit in AVMC 7.05.100: containers go to the street no earlier than 6:00 p.m. the day before the normal collection day and come off the right-of-way by 6:00 p.m. on collection day; bulky goods go out only by arrangement with the contractor; tree trimmings and brush must be cut to pieces not exceeding four feet in length and four inches in diameter. Removal of all solid waste, recyclable materials and organic waste must happen at least once a week under AVMC 7.05.110.

AVMC 7.05.390 provided an education period from January 1, 2022 through December 31, 2023, with administrative civil penalties starting January 1, 2024. Enforcement is by notice of violation and administrative citation.