Residential Organics Recycling
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Changes Have Been Made to Your Waste and Recycling Services
Starting in early 2022, Orange County residents saw a new change to residential waste and recycling bin services. Residents are required to begin sorting organic waste, including specific food items, into their green waste bin.
What's going on now?
Organics like food scraps, yard trimmings, paper, and cardboard make up half of what Californians throw away in landfills. Organic waste can be recycled through various methods of composting, such as vermi-composting and windrow composting, to create a nutrient-rich soil. Diverting organic material, as well as other recyclable materials from landfills is key in preserving landfill capacity and reducing greenhouse gas emissions. Senate Bill (SB) 1383 set methane emissions reduction targets for California in a statewide effort to reduce emissions of short-lived climate pollutants (SLCP). This requires jurisdictions to implement mandatory organic waste collection and recycling in an effort to divert organic waste from landfills with goals to:
- Reducing organic waste disposal 50% by 2020 and 75% by 2025
- Recovering at least 20% of currently disposed surplus edible food by 2025
What is organic waste?
Organic material comes from anything living – plants and animals. Organic waste includes grass clippings, leaves, twigs, shrubbery, weeds, and garden trimmings, which can be placed in the organic waste bin. Food items that may be placed in the organic waste bin include meat, fish, dairy products, fruits, vegetables, breads, pastas, grains, and plate scrapings. Your waste hauler will provide very specific instructions on how to properly sort waste and meet recycling requirements. If in doubt, consult your local hauler, as instructions may vary from one hauler to another and by city.
Ongoing/Future Changes
SB 1383 requires that containers be uniform in color across the state by 2036. In a three-container system, residents and businesses must separate organic waste, traditional recyclables, and items destined for a landfill. Each container will be designated a colored lid for each waste stream: green for organics, blue for recycling, and black for landfill. The outside of the container will either match the lid color or be gray or black in color. Your waste hauler will replace your existing container with one that meets the new requirements once your current container reaches the end of its functional life or by 2036.
OC Unincorporated Waste Haulers
The County of Orange provides waste and recycling hauler services to the below unincorporated areas. For details regarding your services, please contact the service provider below. All other Cities and Special Districts have separate services. Contact information for City and Unincorporated waste haulers is available at oclandfills.com/about-us/contact-us/city-recycling-contacts.
| Waste Hauler | Unincorporated Service Area(s) | Guides |
| CR&R | Rossmoor, Orange Islands, El Modena, Rancho Mission Viejo, Sendero, Ortega Highway/San Juan Capistrano | Residential |
| Republic Services | Yorba Linda Islands, Buena Park Islands, Fountain Valley Islands | Residential |
| Waste Management | Orange Park Acres, Coto De Caza, Wagon Wheel, Modjeska Canyon, Silverado Canyon, Lemon Heights, North Tustin, Cowan Heights, Emerald Bay, Ladera Ranch, Las Flores | Residential |
ENFORCEMENT
OC Waste & Recycling’s (OCWR) exclusive waste haulers, along with OC Public Works Code Enforcement, are conducting required reviews of residential and commercial waste recycling and organics containers for cross-contamination. These reviews are required by SB 1383 and enable the County to conduct targeted outreach, better educating residents and business owners on how to properly sort waste and meet recycling requirements. We request that residents and business owners cooperate with personnel conducting inspections.
Please submit questions and comments to the SB 1383 Inbox.
What happens if I do not properly sort my organic waste?
Unincorporated non-compliant businesses and residents may receive notices of violation, penalties, and/or possible denials of service if contamination is seen during inspections. Inspections in OC Unincorporated residential areas will be conducted when carts are placed in public areas for waste hauler pickup. Carts will not be inspected when stored on private property.
For details on your specific City policy, please contact your City Recycling Coordinator. A listing is available on our website at www.oclandfills.com/about-us/contact-us/city-recycling-contacts.
Will I be fined if I receive multiple Notice of Violations?
SB 1383 requires jurisdictions to have an enforceable ordinance in place. Residents and business owners will be provided with warnings and educational materials to aid in compliance prior to fines being issued. County of Orange Unincorporated Ordinance.
I received a notice from my City or waste hauler, who should I contact?
OC residents who live within a city in Orange County should always contact their city recycling coordinator or waste hauler:
- For details on your specific city policy, contact your City Recycling Coordinator. A listing is available on our website at www.oclandfills.com/about-us/contact-us/city-recycling-contacts
- For details regarding your waste hauler services, please contact them directly. A listing is available on our website at www.oclandfills.com/residential-haulers.
Click below for FAQs in various languages:
Frequently Asked Questions
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Orange County residents are required by law (Senate Bill 1383) to recycle organic waste. Your waste hauler has begun gradually making adjustments to your service to ensure compliance and minimize disruptions in your community. All residents should have already received information from their waste hauler regarding the new changes, along with specific instructions on how to sort their waste properly. To find the waste hauler for your area, a listing is available on our website at www.oclandfills.com/residential-haulers.
Keep an eye out for information regarding community meetings in your area, bill inserts from your waste hauler, and other information that may be sent by mail. Follow @OCWaste on Facebook, X, and Instagram for updates available from the county.
Links in this section relate to BodyOrganic material comes from anything living – plants and animals. Organic waste includes grass clippings, leaves, twigs, shrubbery, weeds, and garden trimmings as usual. In general, foods that may now go into the organic waste bin include meat, fish, dairy, fruit, vegetables, breads, pastas, grains and plate scrapings. Your waste hauler will provide very specific instructions.
Residents will receive specific instructions from their waste hauler regarding any changes to existing bins. Changes are occurring on varying schedules and may require residents to place existing carts out for servicing. Keep an eye out for notices with your hauler billing, by mail and online, such as your hauler website or city page.
Check with your property manager or landlord for instructions. Multifamily housing units may treat organic waste disposal very differently in each area or complex.
A variety of factors impact these new changes and may result in bill changes depending on your location and contracted waste hauler. You should have received information regarding any changes from your hauler.
Links in this section relate to BodySpecific instructions may vary by hauler or city. Residents and business owners are encouraged to seek specific information from your waste hauler’s website or by phone. The County of Orange provides hauler contracts to unincorporated areas. Service guides for County unincorporated areas may be found in the chart above.
For residents who live in cities within OC, click the following link to view a list of Residential Waste Haulers.
For business owners who operate within a city in OC, click the following link to view a list of Commercial Haulers.
Links in this section relate to BodyEach hauler has its own processes, so we recommend you read the information provided by your specific waste hauler. Many haulers are providing service guides, town halls and other mailings or website information to help answer these details.
Links in this section relate to BodyPaper products such as newspapers or lightly soiled napkins may be allowed in your organic waste bin. Your waste hauler will provide specific details on these items. For many waste haulers, compostable-labeled items and bags may not be accepted due to various processing-related reasons.
Links in this section relate to BodyThere are many optional measures residents can take to help reduce odors or pests. Waste haulers will provide information specific to the bins and service provided for your area. There are various resources available online, including how to reduce food waste at home, freezing food for leftovers, and how to safely store food waste until it is placed in your bins on your regularly scheduled pickup days.
Links in this section relate to BodyNo. This is a mandated requirement by the State of California.
Waste haulers will be required to conduct audits to monitor contamination and report compliance with organic waste recycling. Most cities and haulers will work with residents to educate them on proper organics recycling and may initially provide notifications as needed. All cities, special districts, and unincorporated areas are required to meet state-mandated compliance or risk financial penalties, which may result in fines to non-compliant residents or possible denial of service for contaminated bins.
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