Under SB 1383, all unincorporated Orange County residents must separate organic waste, recyclables, and landfill-bound trash using a mandatory three-container system with color-coded lids. Opting out is not permitted under state law, and enforcement began January 2024.
California Senate Bill 1383 requires all residents and businesses to sort food scraps, yard debris, and food-soiled paper separately from trash and recyclables. Orange County adopted Ordinance No. 21-011 in 2021 to implement these requirements. The three-container system uses green-lidded bins for organics (food scraps, yard waste, food-soiled paper), blue-lidded bins for traditional recyclables (paper, cardboard, glass, plastics, metals), and black-lidded bins for landfill-bound waste. The state mandate targets reducing organic waste disposal by 75% by 2025 and recovering at least 20% of surplus edible food by 2025. Plastic bags and compostable bags may not be accepted by all haulers for organics collection. Apartment and multifamily residents should contact their property manager for specific procedures. Statewide enforcement commenced January 1, 2024.
Non-compliant residents may receive notices of violation, monetary penalties, and possible denial of service if contamination is found during curbside inspections. Warnings and educational materials are provided before fines are assessed.
Orange County, CA
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Orange County, CA
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Orange County, CA
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Orange County, CA
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Orange County, CA
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Orange County, CA
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See how Orange County's recycling requirements rules stack up against other locations.
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