San Bernardino County, CA Trash & Recycling: Recycling Requirements (2026)

Recycling in unincorporated San Bernardino County is provided through the County franchise: WM supplies a 96-gallon recycling cart as part of standard residential service. Acceptable recyclables include plastic bottles, cups and containers; food and beverage cans; glass bottles and containers; paper and paper cups; and flattened cardboard and paperboard. Residents are told to place recyclables directly into the recycling cart and not to bag them. Items that must NOT go in the recycling cart include food or liquids, plastic bags and film, foam containers, clothing/furniture/carpet, batteries, electronics, hazardous waste, and yard waste. The recycling requirement is driven primarily by California state law - the Mandatory Commercial Recycling law (AB 341) and SB 1383 - which the County implements through its franchise; commercial solid-waste recycling is also referenced in the County Code (Section 46.0603). Under SB 1383, haulers must actively monitor recycling and organics carts for contamination; WM uses its Smart Truck technology to photograph and record cart contents. If a recycling or organics cart is contaminated, WM will service it at least twice as a courtesy with photo notices, but continued contamination can result in the cart not being collected until the contamination is removed or the resident paying for an extra pickup as trash. Cart colors are transitioning over time (recycling moving to a blue lid by 2036).