Pismo Beach, CA Trash & Recycling: Recycling Rules (2026)

Chapter 8.13, adopted by Ord. O-2021-004 in 2021, requires generators to comply with the Short-lived Climate Pollutant Reduction Act of 2016 and the Senate Bill 1383 Regulations (§ 8.13.010). For single-family premises, § 8.13.030 A requires subscribing to and paying for the city's three-container collection services and participating in them: source separated green container organic waste goes in the green container, source separated recyclable materials in the blue container, and gray container waste in the gray container. Prohibited container contaminants stay out of collection containers, and materials designated for the green or blue containers stay out of the gray containers. The city and its designees can review the number and size of a generator's containers, and generators adjust service levels when the city asks.

Multi-family generators follow the same three-container rule and, under § 8.13.040 B, must supply and allow access to an adequate number, size and location of containers, provide information to employees, contractors, tenants and customers annually, and give new tenants education information before or within fourteen days of occupation. Commercial businesses under § 8.13.050 must place customer containers for recyclables and organics adjacent to disposal containers, visible and easily accessible. Those containers need a body or lid matching the city's container colors, or labels showing the primary materials accepted and prohibited; functional containers that do not match need not be replaced before the end of their useful life or January 1, 2036, whichever comes first, and labeling is required on new containers commencing January 1, 2022.

Enforcement is in § 8.13.130. Compliance is monitored through compliance reviews, route reviews, complaint investigation and inspections. A generator found with prohibited container contaminants gets an informational notice, by cart tag or other communication immediately or within fifteen days. If contaminants appear on more than two consecutive occasions, the city or its designee can assess contamination processing fees or penalties. For other violations the city issues a notice of violation requiring compliance within sixty days, then pursues an administrative citation and fine under Chapters 1.24 and 1.28. The city can extend deadlines for extenuating circumstances such as natural disasters or delays in obtaining permits.