Norwalk, CA Trash & Recycling: Recycling Rules (2026)
Key Facts
- Governing law
- NMC § 8.48.030
- Accepted materials
- Glass, aluminum, steel cans, PET/HDPE, paper
- Excluded items
- Ceramics, chemical/detergent/bleach containers
- List authority
- City Council may add materials
- Container
- Blue recycling cart under § 8.48.470
Summary
Norwalk's solid waste ordinance spells out exactly which materials qualify as recyclables for curbside pickup. Municipal Code Section 8.48.030 lists glass bottles and jars, aluminum, small steel or bimetal cans, PET and HDPE plastic bottles, newspaper, cardboard, computer printout and white ledger paper, plus whatever additional materials the City Council later designates.
"Recyclables" means the following materials generated on or emanating from residential or commercial/industrial premises and no longer useful or wanted thereon: glass bottles and jars—any food or beverage container (excluding ceramics and chemical containers); aluminum—cans, foil, pie tins and similar items (excluding dirt or organic material); steel or bimetal cans not to exceed one gallon size; PET—plastic soda bottles or other bottles with the designated "PET" symbol; HDPE—plastic milk and water bottles with the designated "HDPE" symbol (excluding detergent or bleach bottles and other plastic products); newspaper; cardboard—separated and not having waxed surfaces; computer printout (excluding carbon); white ledger—white bondpaper, office paper, white envelopes (excluding coated paper); and such additional materials as the City Council may designate from time to time.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: rev 4609620; v5 updated 2025-12-16).
Full Breakdown
030. Qualifying recyclables include glass bottles and jars used as food or beverage containers (ceramics and chemical containers are excluded), aluminum cans, foil, pie tins and similar items (but not aluminum carrying dirt or organic material), steel or bimetal cans up to one gallon in size, PET plastic soda and other bottles bearing the PET symbol, HDPE plastic milk and water bottles bearing the HDPE symbol (excluding detergent and bleach bottles and other plastics), newspaper, cardboard that is separated and free of waxed surfaces, computer printout excluding carbon paper, and white ledger paper such as bond paper, office paper and white envelopes, excluding coated paper.
The City Council retains authority to add further materials to the list at any time. 50 builds on for the three-container sorting system now used citywide. 030 list, such as ceramics, chemical containers, detergent bottles or waxed cardboard, do not belong in the recycling cart and should go into the regular solid waste container instead, since including them risks the container being flagged as contaminated under the City's organic waste enforcement program.
Violations & Fines
Norwalk does not fine residents directly for a stray item in the recycling cart under Section 8.48.030 itself, but persistently placing non-recyclable or prohibited material in a collection container can trigger the contamination process under Chapter 8.50, and any general failure to comply with the solid waste chapter is punishable, absent a more specific penalty, as a misdemeanor of up to $1,000 under Section 1.16.010.
Frequently Asked Questions
What materials does Norwalk actually consider recyclable?
Can I recycle detergent or bleach bottles in Norwalk?
What happens if I put the wrong items in my recycling bin?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Norwalk
California rules heatmap·Compare Norwalk to another location·View the California trash & recycling overview
See something wrong?
Help us keep this page accurate. If you notice an error or outdated information, let us know.
Recycling Rules in Nearby Cities
How other cities in Los Angeles County handle recycling rules.