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

50, adopted to implement California's SB 1383 organic waste law, makes recycling participation mandatory rather than optional in Norwalk. 120, to subscribe to the City's organic waste collection services and to accept the City's three-container system: source-separated green container organic waste (including food waste) goes in the green cart, source-separated recyclable material goes in the blue cart, and everything else goes in the black cart, with generators barred from placing black-container material in either the green or blue container. The City or its designee can review the size and number of a household's containers and require the resident to adjust its service level accordingly.

050 places a parallel, more detailed set of obligations on commercial businesses and multifamily properties, including labeling and access requirements for their own collection containers. 130: the City documents noncompliance, issues a notice of violation, and if a generator's container shows prohibited contaminants more than twice in a calendar year, the City may assess an administrative fine starting at $100 for a first violation, rising to $200 for a second and $500 for a third or later violation, with a right to appeal an uncorrected citation to a hearing officer. Civil penalties under this enforcement scheme have applied since January 1, 2024, following an education-only period that ran through the end of 2023.