Fountain Valley, CA Trash & Recycling: Recycling Rules (2026)

Section 6.08.110 of the Fountain Valley Municipal Code sets the sorting rule for every person disposing of solid waste in the City of Fountain Valley. It has four parts. Recyclable materials shall only be deposited in the blue recyclable container. Organic and other organic waste shall only be placed in the organic container. Solid waste that is not recyclable material or green waste, and that is not prohibited material, shall be placed in the non-organic gray container. The last clause closes the loop: persons shall not place their solid waste in containers except as provided.

The word only matters. A pizza box of trash in the blue cart or a bag of grass clippings in the gray cart is a violation of the section, not a courtesy problem. Section 6.08.120 lists what cannot be set out at all, including ammunition or explosives, hazardous chemicals, paints and liquids, drugs or medicines, lube oils, items longer than four feet or more than eighteen inches in diameter, and hypodermic needles unless broken and sealed in a pierce-proof plastic container. Section 6.08.070 prohibits scavenging, so nobody outside the city's contractor can remove cans, bottles, newsprint or cardboard from a recycling cart once it is set out. Section 6.08.060 explains why: once material is in a curbside cart or commercial dumpster, title passes to the city or its franchisee.

Cart mechanics sit next door. Section 6.08.090 requires lids to be closed and carts to be plastic, watertight, two-wheeled and no larger than ninety-five gallons, and Section 6.08.090(b) says no refuse will be collected from the curb in a non-compliant cart. Sections 6.08.200 and 6.08.210 add the SB 1383 organics program for households and businesses.