Tustin, CA Trash & Recycling: Yard Waste Collection (2026)

Tustin's solid waste chapter, rewritten by Ordinance No. 1519 in December 2021 to satisfy the state's SB 1383 organic waste mandate, defines "yard trimmings" in Section 4311 as tree and shrub trimmings, grass cuttings, leaves, branches and similar materials, grouped together with food scraps, food soiled paper and wood waste as "organic materials." Section 4360(b) requires every single-family generator in Tustin to participate in the City's collection service by placing organic materials, including yard trimmings, only in the designated organic materials container, never mixed into the recyclables or municipal solid waste container, and to subscribe to a service level sized to hold everything the household generates.

Generators may reduce the amount they need to have hauled by managing yard trimmings on site, including through composting, or by using a community composting site, under Section 4311's cross-reference to 14 CCR Section 18984.9(c). The requirement applies to every household unless it separately qualifies as a self-hauler under Section 4366, in which case the resident must instead haul organics to a permitted composting or processing facility rather than subscribing to hauler pickup.