San Francisco's Mandatory Recycling and Composting Ordinance (Environment Code Chapter 19, enacted 2009) was the first in the U.S. to require all residents and businesses to recycle and compost. Compliance is mandatory for every person and business in the city.
All recyclable materials must be placed in blue bins and compostable materials in green bins. Accepted recyclables include paper, cardboard, glass, metal, and most plastics. Compostables include food scraps, yard trimmings, and soiled paper products. California SB 1383 (2022 enforcement) adds statewide organics diversion requirements that complement SF's existing program. Commercial food generators must also comply with edible food recovery requirements. The city provides education and outreach to improve sorting compliance.
Contamination of recycling or compost bins may result in rejection, sorting surcharges, and warning notices. Fines for non-compliance range from $100 for residential to $500 for commercial properties per occurrence.
Other ordinances people look up for this city. Green dot = verified primary-source excerpt.
San Francisco, CA
San Francisco Police Code Section 2909 sets specific dBA limits at the property line: 55 daytime and 50 nighttime in residential zones, scaling up to 70/65 i...
San Francisco, CA
San Francisco restricts gas-powered leaf blowers under Police Code Article 29 and state AB 1346, which bans the sale of new gas-powered small off-road engine...
San Francisco, CA
Industrial noise in San Francisco is capped at 65-70 dBA at the property line under Police Code Article 29 and must not exceed ambient by more than 5 dBA. Fi...
San Francisco, CA
San Francisco Police Code Article 29 governs amplified music, setting fixed decibel limits at property lines and requiring Entertainment Commission permits f...
San Francisco, CA
Outdoor amplified music in San Francisco requires an Entertainment Commission Outdoor Amplified Sound Permit and must comply with Police Code Article 29 deci...
San Francisco, CA
San Francisco Environment Code Chapter 22 and Building Code require EV-ready infrastructure in new construction. CA Civil Code 4745 protects condo EV-charger...
See how San Francisco's recycling requirements rules stack up against other locations.
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