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

Recycling in unincorporated Sutter County is required through a combination of the Regional Waste Management Authority's Mandatory Organic Waste Disposal Reduction Ordinance (RWMA Ordinance No. 22-1, implementing SB 1383) and California's commercial recycling law. Under Ordinance 22-1, single-family and commercial generators must either subscribe to and participate in the Member Agency's Recyclable Materials Collection Program (and Organic Materials Collection Program) or self-haul, and must place designated materials in the correct containers without putting contaminants in collection containers or placing recyclables in solid-waste containers (Sections 4 and 5). State law AB 341 (Mandatory Commercial Recycling) separately requires businesses generating four cubic yards or more of commercial solid waste per week, and multifamily properties of five or more units, to arrange recycling service. Recology's blue recycling cart accepts paper, newspaper, magazines, flattened cardboard, glass and metal containers, and empty plastic containers numbered 1 through 7; recyclables go in loose with no plastic bags. All carts exclude hazardous materials such as batteries, fluorescent bulbs, electronics, paint, fuels and chemicals. Households in certain low-population census tracts in the unincorporated county that have CalRecycle-approved waivers are exempt from the mandatory collection requirement and may instead self-haul, grasscycle, home-compost or use local recycling centers. Penalties for violations of the RWMA ordinance follow its enforcement schedule (see mandatory organics).