Solano County, CA Trash & Recycling: Recycling Requirements (2026)

Recycling in unincorporated Solano County is delivered through the franchised collection system established by Chapter 23 of the County Code and reinforced by California state recycling mandates. Section 23-12 defines 'recyclables' as materials in the solid-waste stream collected under the service agreement that can be reused or reprocessed, listing aluminum cans, glass jars and bottles, steel (tin) food cans, bi-metal beverage cans, narrow-necked PET (#1) and HDPE (#2) plastic containers, newspaper, mixed paper, and corrugated cardboard. The county's mandatory service provisions (Sections 23-30 and 23-21(b)) require subscribers to use the franchised contractor for collection of solid waste, recyclables, and green waste, and storage Section 23-20 requires recyclables to be removed often enough to avoid a nuisance. In practice, the unincorporated franchised hauler (Recology Vacaville Solano / Mt. Diablo Resource Recovery) provides weekly recycling collection; in the unincorporated bag program residents receive a supply of blue recycling bags (delivered annually) and set them out inside or beside the weekly garbage cart. Above the county program, California law independently requires recycling: AB 341 mandates commercial recycling, AB 1826 mandates organics/recycling for businesses, and SB 1383 requires broad diversion of recyclable and organic material from landfills, enforced statewide through CalRecycle and the county. Together, the county franchise and state mandates mean recycling participation is effectively required, not optional, for served properties.