Costa Mesa, CA Trash & Recycling: Recycling Rules (2026)

Section 8-84 implements the California Integrated Waste Management Act (Public Resources Code § 40000 et seq.) at the local level. Under subsection (b), every permittee and franchisee must take all necessary steps to divert solid waste from landfills as required by their permit terms and CALGreen, and must file quarterly reports with the public services department identifying tonnage collected, tonnage recycled, the percentage recycled, the materials recycled and the facilities that received the waste, due 30 days after each calendar quarter ends. Late or incomplete reports draw a fine set by city council resolution, and an incomplete report is treated as late until it is fully completed.

Contractor self-haul permit holders face their own numeric standard under subsection (c): they must apply for a per-project permit, pay the established per-project fee, and divert 65% of the solid waste their project activity generates, or otherwise document the maximum diversion achieved. Falling short carries specific penalties: three times the per-project fee for failing to submit a required form or weight ticket, and two times the per-project fee for missing the 65% diversion rate or failing to substantiate maximum diversion, with the city holding sole discretion over what counts as 'maximum.' Subsection (d) backs the whole scheme with civil penalties under Public Resources Code § 41954 for any permittee that fails to comply, and subsection (e) separately protects a property owner's right to compost material on site regardless of these franchisee-facing rules.