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

Recycling in unincorporated Mendocino County is governed by Title 9A (Solid Waste), rewritten by Ordinance 4506 in 2022. Section 9A.16.080 requires anyone who subscribes to or voluntarily participates in the recyclable-material collection program to 'prepare and separate those recyclable materials' contracted for pickup from other garbage and place them in the proper containers or designated collection location. Section 9A.16.070 provides that subscribing residential units are supplied with containers for segregated recyclables, including organic waste as applicable, which remain the property of the authorized recycling entity. For households subject to SB 1383, Section 9A.08.050 requires Source Separated Recyclable Materials to be placed in the Blue Container, with green-container organics and gray-container trash kept separate, and prohibits placing Prohibited Container Contaminants in any collection container. Mandatory Commercial Recycling under Section 9A.08.070 (implementing California AB 341) requires commercial businesses and multi-family complexes to arrange recycling service. The County may inspect containers, issue cart tags or warnings for contamination, and, for repeated contamination, assess contamination processing fees or penalties under Section 9A.24.030(D). Recyclables collected under the program may not be unlawfully buried or disposed of (Section 9A.08.110).