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

Recycling in unincorporated Riverside County is mandatory under Ordinance No. 745, which implements California's source-separation requirements. Section 5.A requires all residential properties in unincorporated areas to participate in the County's three-container system and to place source-separated recyclable materials in the blue container, organic waste in the green container, and all other waste in the gray container; generators may not place gray-container materials into the green or blue containers. Section 5.B applies the same three-container requirement to commercial properties (including multifamily dwellings of five or more units), and authorizes the Director of Environmental Health to review the number, size, and frequency of containers to ensure adequate capacity. 'Blue Container' and 'Recyclable Materials' are defined in Section 2 consistent with 14 CCR Section 18982, covering glass, metal, plastics, cardboard, paper, and similar items. Section 5.C makes each account holder responsible for source-separating material and minimizing contamination in the containers. Limited waivers exist: self-haul waivers (Section 8.A) require source separation and recordkeeping, and commercial businesses may seek de minimis or physical-space waivers from the Department of Environmental Health. These County requirements implement statewide mandates including AB 341 (mandatory commercial recycling) and SB 1383. Violations are subject to administrative or criminal citation under Section 13.