Recycling Organics

Recycling Right Today for a Cleaner Tomorrow

We are committed to protecting our environment, reducing landfill waste, and supporting a cleaner, more sustainable community. Through recycling, composting, and responsible waste disposal, residents play an important role in conserving natural resources, reducing greenhouse gas emissions, and helping California meet its environmental goals. 

This page provide information about recycling and organics collection, California Senate Bill 1383 (SB 1383), proper waste sorting practices, and the City's Flip the Lid education program. 

NEW: Flip the Lid Education Program 

Each year, from June through August, the City launches the Flip the Lid education program to help residents sort waste correctly and reduce contamination in trash, recycling, and organics carts. 

As required by California SB 1383 and CalRecycle regulations, City staff will conduct random curbside cart inspections throughout the community to help educate residents on proper waste sorting practices. 

What to Expect

Resides may notice City staff conducting inspections on collection days between: 

Monday - Friday
Approximately 5:30 a.m. to 8:30 a.m. 

During inspections, staff may briefly examine materials visible at the top of carts and leave educational tags that provide sorting guidance and helpful reminders. 

Education, Not Enforcement 

The Flip the Lid program is designed to educate residents and reduce contamination in collection carts. Residents will NOT receive fines or penalties as part of these inspections. The goal is to help ensure recyclable and compostable materials are placed in the collection carts and kept out of the landfill. 

What Happens During a Cart Inspection? 

If your cart is selected for inspection, City staff may place an educational tag on your container. These tags are intended to: 

• Recognize proper sorting
• Provide helpful reminders
• Identify contamination issues
• Offer sorting guidance and resources

Receiving a tag does not mean you have violated a rule or will receive a citation. The Flip the Lid program is intended to educate residents and improve community-wide recycling and composting efforts. 

What is SB 1383? 

California Senate Bill 1383 is a statewide law aimed at reducing organic waste disposal and lowering greenhouse gas emissions from landfills. Organic materials such as food scraps, food-soiled paper, and yard waste can be composted and transformed into valuable resources instead of being buried in landfills. 

SB 1383 requires California jurisdictions to: 

• Expand organics recycling programs
• Increase recycling and composting efforts
• Educate residents about proper waste sorting
• Reduce contamination in waste collection containers
• Support edible food recovery programs 

The City's recycling, organics, and education programs help American Canyon comply with these statewide requirements while protecting the environment. 

Know Your Carts 

Correct sorting begins with knowing what belongs in each cart. 

Gray Cart = Trash 

Items that cannot be recycled or composted belong in the gray cart. 

Examples include: 

• Pet waste
• Disposable diapers
• Broken ceramics
• Non-recyclable plastics
• Vacuum dust
• Ashes (cooled and bagged)
• Other landfill materials 

When in doubt, only place items in the trash cart if they cannot be recycled or composted. 

Blue Cart = Recycling

The blue cart is for clean recyclable materials. 

Examples include: 

• Cardboard
• Newspapers and magazines
• Office paper
• Junk mail
• Aluminum cans
• Steel food cans
• Plastic bottles and containers
• Glass bottles or jars 

Recycling Tips 

• Empty containers before recycling. 
• Keep recyclables loose in the cart. 
• Do not bag recyclable materials. 
• Keep food and liquids out of recycling containers. 

Green Cart = Organics 

The green cart is for food scraps, yard waste, and compostable materials. 

Food Scraps. All food scraps belong in the green cart, including: 

• Fruits and vegetables
• Meat and poultry
• Seafood and shells
• Dairy products 
• Bread and grains
• Leftovers
• Coffee grounds and filters

Yard Waste

• Leaves
• Grass clippings
• Flowers
• Plant trimmings
• Small branches

Food-Soiled Paper

• Greasy pizza boxes
• Paper napkins
• Paper towels
• Coffee filters
• Food-stained paper products 

Composting these materials help reduce landfill waste and creates valuable compost used in agricultural and landscaping. 

Why Proper Sorting Matters

When recyclables and compostable materials are placed in the correct carts, they can be transformed into new resources instead of ending up in the landfill. 

Proper sorting helps: 

• Reduce landfill waste
• Lower greenhouse gas emissions
• Create compost and recyclable materials
• Conserve natural resources
• Support California's environmental goals
• Protect the environment for future generations 

Every correctly sorted cart contributes to a cleaner and more sustainable American Canyon. 

Not Sure Where an Item Goes? 

One of the most common questions residents have is whether an item belongs in the trash, recycling, or organics cart. Fortunately, you don't have to guess. Recolgoy offers the WhatBin search tool, an easy-to-use resource that helps residents determine the proper disposal method for thousands of common household items. Simply type the name of the an item, such as a pizza box, coffee cup, batteries, plastic bag or food scraps, and WhatBin will tell you where it belongs. 

Search before you toss to help reduce contamination and improve recycling and composting efforts throughout the community. 

Frequently Asked Questions

Recycling & Organic Resources 

For questions about recycling, organics collection, SB 1383, or the Flip the Lid program? Contact our Environmental Services team. 

Environmental Services Division 

Phone: (707) 647-4360 

Need additional assistance beyond our team, Contact Recology. 

Recology American Canyon