Sonoma County, CA Trash & Recycling: Recycling Requirements (2026)
Key Facts
- Containers required
- blue, green, gray (3-stream)
- Collection frequency
- weekly, mandatory
- First violation
- written warning only
- Repeat violation fines
- $100 / $200 / $500
- Enforcing agency
- Transportation and Public Works Dept.
Summary
Unincorporated Sonoma County requires every home and business to keep separate blue, green, and gray containers and sort recyclables, organics, and trash accordingly under Sonoma County Code § 22-4.
All persons occupying or maintaining any premises within the county where solid waste or organic waste is created, produced or accumulated shall maintain and use sufficient standard containers... Generators shall place source separated organic waste... in the green container; Generators shall place source separated recyclable materials in the blue container; and Generators shall place solid waste in the gray container. Generators shall not place materials designated for the gray container into the green container or blue container.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Code of Ordinances: Supplement 64 Update 2).
Full Breakdown
Every occupied premises in unincorporated Sonoma County must maintain source-separation containers: recyclables go in the blue container, organic waste in the green container, and solid waste in the gray container. Generators may not put gray-container waste into the blue or green container, and containers must stay closed except when materials are being added or removed. Weekly collection through the county's authorized franchisee is mandatory under § 22-3 unless the county grants a hardship waiver. This applies only to unincorporated areas. Santa Rosa, Petaluma, Rohnert Park, Windsor, Healdsburg, Sebastopol, Cotati, Cloverdale, and the City of Sonoma each run their own separate recycling programs.
Violations & Fines
The Transportation and Public Works director enforces via administrative citation: $100 for a first violation, $200 for a second, $500 for a third or subsequent violation, after an initial written warning.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I have to sort my trash in unincorporated Sonoma County?
Can I skip weekly collection service?
Does this rule apply inside Santa Rosa or Petaluma?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Sonoma County
California rules heatmap·Compare Sonoma County to another location·View the California trash & recycling overview
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