What items are accepted in curbside recycling?

Accepted items commonly include paper, cardboard, metal cans, glass bottles, and certain rigid plastics; check your local collection rules for exceptions and prohibited items.

How do I report contamination or a missed recycling pickup?

Contact City of Sacramento Public Works through the official contact channels to report service issues or contamination concerns.

Are businesses required to separate organics and recyclables?

State law (SB 1383) and local programs require certain commercial generators to separate organics and recyclables; consult City and CalRecycle guidance for applicability and compliance steps.

Sacramento Recycling Rules & Accepted Materials

Public Health and Welfare California 3 Minutes Read · published February 08, 2026

Sacramento, California requires residents and businesses to follow local recycling collection rules administered by the City of Sacramento Public Works and related programs. This guide summarizes accepted materials, basic preparation rules, compliance steps for homes and businesses, and how enforcement and appeals are handled. Use the official City pages for account setup, collection schedules, and program updates City of Sacramento Public Works^[1] and state organics rules for composting and edible food recovery CalRecycle SB 1383^[2].

Accepted Materials

The City of Sacramento separates materials for curbside recycling and compost collection. Typical accepted categories include:

Paper and cardboard: clean office paper, newspapers, magazines, corrugated cardboard (flattened).
Metal containers: empty steel and aluminum cans; rinse when possible.
Glass: bottles and jars (check local glass collection rules).
Plastics: rigid plastics labeled #1 and #2 are commonly accepted; rules for other resin codes vary by program.
Organics: yard waste and food scraps in the green cart where organics collection is available per state requirements.

Not all plastics, foams or film bags are accepted curbside; check your service guidelines.

How to Prepare Materials

Empty containers and remove food residue; a light rinse helps reduce contamination.
Flatten cardboard to save space and avoid contamination from oil or grease.
Do not bag recyclables in plastic bags unless your program explicitly allows them.
Place organics in approved compostable bags if required by your service rules.

Penalties & Enforcement

Enforcement and compliance are overseen by the City of Sacramento Public Works and associated code enforcement teams. Specific fines and penalty schedules for improper recycling, contamination, or failure to comply are not specified on the cited City pages City of Sacramento Public Works^[1]. Below is a summary of enforcement topics and what the official pages do and do not state.

Fine amounts: not specified on the cited page; the City page does not publish a fixed dollar schedule for recycling violations.
Escalation: not specified on the cited page for first versus repeat offences; escalation protocols are not published there.
Non-monetary sanctions: abatement orders, service warnings or referral to code enforcement may occur; precise remedies are not specified on the cited page.
Enforcer and inspection: City of Sacramento Public Works and Code Enforcement handle inspections and complaints; submit concerns through the City Public Works contact channels.
Appeals and review: specific appeal routes and time limits are not specified on the cited page; contact Public Works or the City Clerk for appeal procedures.

If you receive a notice or citation, contact City Public Works quickly to learn deadlines and appeal options.

Applications & Forms

The City publishes service sign-up, account and special collection request forms on official pages; specific enforcement appeal forms are not published on the main recycling page and may require contacting Public Works or the City Clerk for procedural forms City of Sacramento Public Works^[1].

Action Steps — What Residents and Businesses Should Do

Check your curbside schedule and permitted items on the City site and your hauler account.
Reduce contamination: empty, dry, and sort materials before collection.
Report missed pickups or illegal dumping to Public Works via the official contact page.
For business or multi-family properties, verify whether organics collection and recycling service requirements apply under state law and local ordinances.

FAQ

What items are accepted in curbside recycling?: Accepted items commonly include paper, cardboard, metal cans, glass bottles, and certain rigid plastics; check your local collection rules for exceptions and prohibited items.
How do I report contamination or a missed recycling pickup?: Contact City of Sacramento Public Works through the official contact channels to report service issues or contamination concerns.
Are businesses required to separate organics and recyclables?: State law (SB 1383) and local programs require certain commercial generators to separate organics and recyclables; consult City and CalRecycle guidance for applicability and compliance steps CalRecycle SB 1383^[2].

How-To

Identify which containers your household or business receives (recycling, organics, trash).
Clean and sort recyclables by type; flatten cardboard and keep glass separate if required.
Place materials at the curb on the scheduled collection day in approved carts or containers.
If you need a new service, report a missed pickup, or request a special collection, contact City Public Works or your franchised hauler.
For business compliance, document your collection contracts and training; keep records in case of inspection.

Key Takeaways

Follow City of Sacramento rules to avoid contamination and service disruptions.
SB 1383 affects organics collection and some business requirements; review state guidance.