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

Recycling obligations in unincorporated Tuolumne County are driven largely by California state law, which the County administers locally. Under California Assembly Bill 341 (mandatory commercial recycling), "all businesses generating four or more cubic yards of waste per week are required to recycle," and "all multifamily residential dwellings of five units or more must recycle, regardless of the amount of waste generated." The County's Mandatory Commercial Recycling program gives affected generators three compliance paths: arrange with the franchised hauler in their collection area to collect commingled recyclables and/or cardboard, self-haul recyclable materials to a recycling center, or donate the recyclables. The Solid Waste Division (209) 533-5588 will work with businesses and multifamily complexes on options. On the County-Code side, Title 7 defines "recyclables" (7.08.230), "recycling container" (7.08.250) and "source separated" materials (7.08.320), and supports drop-off and buy-back recycling centers. For households, curbside recycling and recycle/buy-back centers, plus targeted programs for tires, motor oil, e-waste, mattresses and mercury thermostats, are available through the franchised haulers and county programs, but the County does not impose a separate residential recycling mandate beyond the state framework. Contamination and proper sorting follow hauler and state guidelines rather than a county penalty schedule.