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

Recycling in unincorporated Yuba County is mandatory under the Regional Waste Management Authority (RWMA) Mandatory Organic Waste Disposal Reduction Ordinance (No. 22-1), which implements California SB 1383. Single-family residences must place recyclable materials, organic materials, and refuse in the designated collection-program containers; must not place contaminants in collection containers; and must not place organic waste or non-organic recyclables in the refuse (trash) container. Recyclables collected by Recology Yuba-Sutter in the blue cart include paper, cardboard, glass bottles, aluminum and tin cans, and hard plastics (no plastic bags or thin-film plastics). The RWMA is required by SB 1383 to conduct annual route reviews to determine compliance with the separation requirements. For businesses, the County's Mandatory Commercial Recycling program (California AB 341) requires businesses, nonprofits, schools, and agencies disposing of four cubic yards or more of commercial solid waste per week — plus multifamily properties with five or more units that share refuse service — to recycle materials such as paper, cardboard, plastics, glass, metals, and food and yard waste (effective July 1, 2012). Separately, Yuba County Ordinance Code Chapter 7.13 prohibits unauthorized trash scavenging from refuse and recycling receptacles in the unincorporated area, protecting the recycling stream and public health.