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

Section 13.09.020 sets the curbside sorting rules for single-family generators, which Chapter 13.09 defines as any residential premises with fewer than five units. Each household must subscribe to organic waste separate collection services and participate by placing designated materials in designated containers without placing prohibited container contaminants in them. The City can review the number and size of containers and require the household to adjust its service level.

The City program runs on one of two container sets. In the first, source separated green container organic waste including food waste goes in the green container, source separated recyclables go in the blue container and black container waste goes in the black container. In the second, food waste goes in a brown container, other green container organic waste goes in the green container, recyclables go in the blue container and everything else goes in the black container. Section 13.09.010 describes non-organic recyclables as bottles, cans, metals, plastics and glass, and the blue container also takes source separated blue container organic waste such as paper fiber. Prohibited container contaminants include anything placed in the blue container that is not an acceptable recyclable, and acceptable recyclables or organics placed in the black container.

Households that meet the self-hauling requirements of § 13.09.080 or practice on-site home composting and grasscycling without generating organic waste for collection are excepted. Under § 13.09.040(C) the City can allow a household on the three-container service to put out its containers once every 14 days instead of once per week. Under § 13.09.120 inspections cover containers and collection vehicle loads, and the City cannot enter the interior of a private residential property. Collection is by the City's exclusive franchised hauler under § 13.09.070.