Unincorporated San Diego County requires residents and businesses to source-separate designated recyclables (paper, rigid plastics #1-7, glass, metal) from trash and arrange recycling, implementing state laws AB 341, AB 1826, AB 827, and SB 1383. Densely-populated commercial and multi-family premises must meet a 35% minimum diversion service-level ratio.
The Solid Waste Ordinance (County Code Chapter 5, Sec. 68.570) requires owners, occupants, or operators of single-family, multi-family, and commercial premises to source-separate and store designated recyclable materials separately from solid waste, and arrange recycling through a three-stream subscription with a non-exclusive franchise hauler, a Certified Recyclable Materials Collector (CRMC), or by self-hauling (registration with the County required). Designated recyclables include paper and paper products, rigid plastics (#1-#7), glass, tin/metal, and similar materials. The ordinance incorporates California's recycling mandates: AB 341 (commercial recycling), AB 1826 and SB 1383 (organics), and AB 827 (customer-facing bins). For commercial and multi-family premises in densely-populated areas, the County sets a minimum diversion service-level ratio of 35% - meaning at least 35% of weekly container capacity must be available for recyclables and organics. Businesses must provide labeled, color-matched containers, co-locate trash and recycling bins for customers (except restrooms), train employees annually, and accommodate County inspections. Multi-family complexes (5+ units) should provide a minimum of 20 gallons of recycling capacity per unit. Sec. 68.570(i) prohibits disposing of designated recyclables as trash. Waivers are available for de minimis generation, physical space constraints, or on-site management.
Noncompliance with recycling requirements is subject to an Administrative Citation. Code Compliance escalates citations ($100 to $1,000, up to $10,000 per violation per year for County code; up to $2,500 per day and $125,000 for state-code violations). Violations of Sec. 68.571 are infractions.
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