Mandatory Trash Bins Coming to San Bernardino? What Residents Need to Know

San Bernardino residents may soon notice changes to their waste collection system. These changes are not just a local initiative; they stem from California’s Senate Bill 1383, a statewide law aimed at reducing organic waste in landfills and cutting greenhouse gas emissions. The legislation has triggered new requirements for cities and counties, including San Bernardino, to ensure all households and businesses have access to proper trash, recycling, and organic waste bins.

Background: The Push Behind the Policy

Passed in 2016, SB 1383 is California’s most ambitious recycling law to date. Its goal is to reduce organic waste disposal, comprising food scraps, yard waste, and paper products, by 75% by 2025. Organic waste in landfills produces methane, a powerful climate pollutant, and state officials see diversion as key to California’s climate strategy.

As a result, every jurisdiction in the state is required to implement organics collection and educate residents about separating waste correctly. For San Bernardino, this means that the traditional single trash bin system is no longer enough.

How It Affects San Bernardino County and City

• Countywide: The San Bernardino County Solid Waste Management Division is rolling out new programs to meet the law’s mandates. This includes expanded curbside organics collection and monitoring to ensure residents and businesses comply.
• City of San Bernardino: The city already requires mandatory garbage collection for improved parcels. Under the new framework, residents and commercial property owners will also need properly labeled bins for trash, recycling, and organics. Burrtec Waste Industries, the city’s contracted hauler, has been tasked with distributing containers, monitoring for contamination, and ensuring compliance.

What “Mandatory Bins” Really Means

The phrase “mandatory bins” does not mean that every household will suddenly receive three new containers overnight. Instead, it refers to:

• Mandatory service: All residents and businesses must subscribe to waste collection.
• Container requirements: Households will need bins for trash, recycling, and organics.
• Compliance checks: Haulers like Burrtec will perform contamination monitoring checks to make sure waste goes in the right bin.

In practice, this means that San Bernardino residents will need to separate food scraps, yard waste, and recyclables from their regular trash.

Timeline and Enforcement

The state deadline for compliance is 2025, but cities and counties have been phasing in requirements since 2022. In San Bernardino, residents may already have noticed new organics bins rolling out in some neighborhoods. Businesses, multifamily units, and commercial properties are also being required to participate.

While the focus right now is on education and outreach, enforcement measures, including fines, are possible if compliance does not improve.

Community Impact

For residents, the shift may feel like another responsibility, but officials stress the long-term benefits:

• Environmental: Diverting organic waste reduces methane emissions.
• Economic: Compost and renewable natural gas created from organic waste can support green jobs.
• Public health: Cleaner waste streams reduce landfill burden and improve air quality.

Conclusion

Mandatory bins are coming to San Bernardino, not as a sudden change, but as part of a statewide effort to reshape how Californians handle waste. Residents and businesses alike should prepare to adjust to the new system, which emphasizes separation, recycling, and organics collection. While the transition may take time, the changes are designed to move the region toward a cleaner and more sustainable future.