Riverside County, CA Trash & Recycling: Recycling Rules (2026)
Key Facts
- Green container
- food scraps, yard/organic waste
- Blue container
- source-separated recyclables
- Gray container
- all other solid waste
- Enforcing agency
- Dept. of Environmental Health
- Applies to
- unincorporated county only
Summary
Unincorporated Riverside County requires every residence and business to use three separate carts, green for organics, blue for recyclables, gray for trash, and bans mixing them.
All residential properties in the unincorporated portions of the county shall participate in the county's three-container system for source separated organic materials, source separated recyclable materials, and waste collection services... Participation in the collection programs requires that residents place organic waste, including food waste, in the green container; source separated recyclable materials in the blue container; and all other waste in the gray container. Generators shall not place materials designated for the gray container into the green container or blue container.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Code of Ordinances: Supplement 84 Update 1).
Full Breakdown
County Code Chapter 8.136 requires all residential and commercial properties in the unincorporated area to participate in the three-container collection system: source-separated organic waste (including food waste) goes in the green container, source-separated recyclables in the blue container, and everything else in the gray container. Generators may not put gray-container material into the green or blue containers, and account holders must keep contamination out of each stream. Small businesses and self-haulers can apply to the Department of Environmental Health for waivers.
Violations & Fines
Contaminating a blue or green container, or failing to source-separate as required, is a chapter violation enforceable by administrative or criminal citation and recovery of abatement costs under Ordinance No. 725; the county can also require increased collection frequency to prevent nuisance conditions.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does this apply inside the City of Riverside or Temecula?
Can I mix recyclables with trash in the gray cart?
Can a small business skip the three-cart system?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Riverside County
California rules heatmap·Compare Riverside County to another location·View the California trash & recycling overview
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