Placer County, CA Trash & Recycling: Recycling Requirements (2026)

Placer County's residential recycling model is the mixed-waste One Big Bin / 'You Toss, We Sort' system. Residents place trash, recyclables, and organics together and the Western Placer Waste Management Authority (or Eastern Regional MRF) sorts and recovers recyclables at the Materials Recovery Facility. There is no requirement for residents to wash, crush, or remove labels, and bags are opened mechanically or by workers so contents can be recovered. Household hazardous waste (batteries, medications, paint, sharps, motor oil, cooking grease) must NOT go in the bins; it is dropped off at the MRF (8 a.m.-5 p.m.) or collected through free curbside HHW service. For commercial generators, Placer County enforces California's mandatory recycling and organics laws (AB 341, AB 1826, and SB 1383): covered businesses must separate and recycle food waste, green/landscaping waste, paper, cardboard, and non-hazardous wood waste. Under AB 827, businesses generating two or more cubic yards of solid waste per week with food consumed on-site must provide labeled food-waste containers visible and accessible to customers adjacent to each trash can. Separate food-waste bins are provided by the haulers at no additional cost and collected on routes serving composting facilities. Self-hauling businesses must keep delivery receipts, weight tickets (if available), and documentation of cubic yardage. Service providers are Recology Auburn Placer (western, 530-885-3735) and Tahoe Truckee Sierra Disposal (eastern, 530-583-7800).