Yucaipa, CA Trash & Recycling: Recycling Requirements (2026)
Key Facts
- Service
- Mandatory three-container organic waste collection
- Blue container
- Source separated recyclable materials only
- Green container
- Source separated organic waste, including food waste
- Old containers
- Count as black containers until end of life or January 1, 2036
- First violation
- $100 per violation
- Third or later violation
- $500 per violation
Summary
Single-family households in the City of Yucaipa must subscribe to the city's three-container organic waste collection service and sort material into the green, blue and black containers. Recyclables go in the blue container, and the city can review container sizes and require a service-level change.
Single-family organic waste generators shall comply with the following requirements, except single-family generators that meet the self-hauler requirements of this code: A. Subscribe to the city’s three-container organic waste collection services for all organic waste generated as described in subsection B of this section. ... B. Participate in the city’s organic waste collection services by placing designated materials in designated containers as described in this subsection and shall not place prohibited container contaminants in collection containers. Generators shall place source separated green container organic waste, including food waste, in the green container; source separated recyclable materials (which includes source separated non-organic recyclables and source separated blue container waste) in the blue container; and black container waste in the black container. Generators shall not place materials designated for the black container into the green container or blue container.
Full Breakdown
Chapter 8.29 turns the City of Yucaipa's curbside program into a three-container system for single-family households. Under § 8.29.030, a single-family organic waste generator must subscribe to the city's three-container organic waste collection services for all organic waste generated, and must put each material in its own cart: source separated green container organic waste, including food waste, goes in the green container; source separated recyclable materials, which include non-organic recyclables, go in the blue container; and black container waste goes in the black container. Nothing designated for the black container can go into the green or blue container. The one carve-out is for single-family generators that meet the code's self-hauler requirements.
The city can check your carts. It has the right to review the number and size of a generator's containers and the capacity provided for each type of collection service, and the household must adjust its service level when the city asks. A household can also manage organic waste by preventing or reducing it, handling it on site, or using a community composting site.
Container colors follow § 8.29.010: the blue container is used only for source separated recyclable materials. Functional containers bought before January 1, 2022 that hold black container waste, including brown containers used by single-family generators, count as black containers until the end of their useful life or January 1, 2036, whichever is earlier. Section 8.29.020 says Chapter 8.29 controls over other Municipal Code provisions in a conflict, while the SB 1383 regulations control over the chapter itself. Older Chapter 8.28 still applies alongside it: § 8.28.180 requires recyclables to go in standard containers or bins approved by the city manager and the collector, and requires yard waste to sit in a separate container specified by the city manager. Section 8.28.050 makes collection service mandatory for every developed property.
Violations & Fines
Section 8.29.140 gives the city enforcement official a notice of violation, with compliance due within sixty days of issuance, followed by an administrative citation if the deadline passes. Penalties are $100 for a first violation, $200 for a second and $500 for a third or later, per violation, under the Chapter 1.13 citation procedures. Cart contamination is handled separately, through a notice and contamination processing fees under the hauler agreement. The city can also pursue a misdemeanor or infraction.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which cart do recyclables go in for a Yucaipa single-family home?
Can the City of Yucaipa change my container sizes?
Do my old brown or non-matching containers have to be replaced?
What does a violation cost in Yucaipa?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Yucaipa
California rules heatmap·Compare Yucaipa to another location·View the California trash & recycling overview
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