Napa, CA Trash & Recycling: Recycling Requirements (2026)

Recycling in the City of Napa is delivered through a single-stream blue cart program administered by Napa Recycling & Waste Services (NRWS) under Napa Municipal Code Chapter 5.60. NRWS accepts plastic bottles and jugs (#1 and #2), aluminum and tin/steel cans, food-and-beverage glass bottles and jars, flattened cardboard, newspapers, magazines, and junk mail in the blue cart. Materials excluded from the blue cart include plastic bags, styrofoam, pizza boxes with grease, and shredded paper. The state framework has three layers: AB 341 (PRC §42649+) requires every business generating 4+ cubic yards of solid waste per week to subscribe to recycling service; AB 1826 (PRC §42649.81+) extends the same rule to commercial organics; SB 1383 (PRC §42652+, regulations at 14 CCR §18981+) is the comprehensive residential and business organics mandate that took effect January 1, 2022 with tiered enforcement (Tier One generators since Jan 1, 2022; Tier Two since Jan 1, 2024). Napa locally implements these state mandates through NMC Chapter 5.61 (Mandatory Municipal Solid Waste, Recyclable Material, and Compostables Disposal Reduction). NRWS performs periodic 'flip-the-lid' route reviews to check for contamination in landfill, recycling, and compost carts; contaminated carts may be left unserviced. AB 827 separately requires customer-facing recycling and organics bins for food sold for immediate consumption. State-required fines under 14 CCR §18997.2 are $50-$100 first violation, $100-$200 second, and $250-$500 third within 12 months after notice and a meaningful opportunity to cure.