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

Recycling in the MCRWMA service area, which includes all unincorporated Merced County, is provided through curbside carts collected by the franchised hauler. The blue container is for accepted recyclables; CRV-marked beverage containers are accepted, and residents are directed to the 'Merced Recycles' app's searchable database (Waste Wizard) to check whether a specific item belongs in the recycling, organics or trash cart. Household hazardous waste must never be placed in curbside carts and is handled through MCRWMA's separate HHW program. On top of local service, California's mandatory commercial recycling law (AB 341, in effect since 2012) requires that businesses and multifamily residential dwellings of five or more units that generate four cubic yards or more of solid waste per week arrange for recycling service — by self-hauling, subscribing to a recycling service, or contracting for collection. This is a state mandate administered with CalRecycle, distinct from any County ordinance, and it overlaps with SB 1383 organics requirements (see Mandatory Organics). Contamination of recycling carts with the wrong materials may result in the hauler tagging the cart or rejecting service.