Residential

Organics + Food Recycling

Food Waste Recycling

Green waste recycling now includes food waste.
City of Desert Hot Springs residents are REQUIRED to recycle
all organic waste (green waste and food waste).

What is Organic Waste?

Organic waste consists of Yard Waste (like tree and shrub trimmings, palm fronds, and grass clippings) and Food Scraps (such as cooked meat, produce, and dairy, as well as food-soiled paper plates and pizza boxes, along with coffee grounds, tea bags, and the like). See full list below.

Do I Have to Participate?

City of Desert Hot Springs: Required to recycle all organic waste.

Riverside Unincorporated County Area: CalRecycle has issued a waiver from the requirement to recycle organic waste in the unincorporated county area. Therefore, green waste and organic waste recycling is not available at this time, except by special arrangement with homeowner associations.

State of California SB 1383 - Organic Waste

The State of California passed Senate Bill 1383 (SB 1383) to decrease greenhouse gas emissions and slow climate change. SB 1383 requires every city in California to provide organic waste collection services to all residents and businesses. This mandate is intended to reduce the amount of organic waste going to landfills by 75% by 2025. Read more at CalRecycle.com

Your recycled organic waste will be transported to a processing facility located in the Coachella Valley. Not only will this diverted waste be credited to Desert Hot Springs' goal of recycling 50% of their waste, but the green waste will be transformed into a soil amendment that can be applied back into the ground. These soil amendments retain moisture and therefore reduce your water usage.

residential organics recycling container

You are being provided a 96-gallon green wheeled cart for the disposal of your organic waste. SB 1383 also requires businesses, multifamily complexes, and residences to recycle food scraps and yard waste.

Download Organics Brochure (English) Download Organics Brochure (Spanish)

When is My Organics and Food Recycling Waste Picked Up?

Be sure to set out your green cart by 6am on your collection day.

Place your food waste in a clear plastic bag. Place the bag in your green cart along with any loose yard waste. Bagging your food will help with odor as well as with the sorting process at the processing facility.

View Map for Pick-up Schedule
View Holiday Schedule

Contaminated Organics carts will not be collected and may be subjected to additional charge for pick up.
For compliance and assistance, please call us at (760) 329-5030.

Request a Kitchen Pail

  • Set your pail on your kitchen counter
  • Line your pail with clear bag or compostable bag
  • Place food scraps into pail
  • Toss your bag of food scrap into the green organics cart
residential organics recycling container

Proper Sorting

DVD and the City of Desert Hot Springs are working in partnership to achieve the State-mandated waste diversion goals and promote best recycling practices. We invite you to join us in this important effort by doing your part by placing waste materials in their proper containers.

You will now have three carts for your waste: GREY for general waste, BLUE for recycling, and GREEN for organic waste. Material that is improperly placed in the wrong cart can contaminate the entire load of recycling or organics. And, material that could be recycled but ends up in the trash cart contributes to greenhouse gas emissions.

3 waste and recycling containers

What about Cactus?

WARNING. Cactus won't be collected with your green waste. Instead, it must be placed in your gray wheeled trash bin. This will prevent any loose stickers from causing harm to our drivers by blowing onto their skin or eyes.

We appreciate your cooperation.

Cactus Disposal

Items You Can Place in Your Organics Cart

These Items are NOT Acceptable

  • Aluminum Cans
  • Animal Waste
  • Concrete
  • Dirt
  • Electronic Waste
  • Foam or Plastic Food Containers
  • Glass Jars & Containers
  • Plastic Food Containers
  • Raw Meat
  • Rocks + Gravel

Roles

DVD is responsible for providing outreach and education and for monitoring participation and compliance.

The City of Desert Hot Springs is responsible for program oversight and for enforcement. Enforcement actions for non-participation and/or non-compliance can include notices, citations, and fines or penalties.

We have added a team of Recycling Ambassadors who will discreetly monitor carts at random. Initially, their findings will result in courtesy notices and will be used to help us and the City design and target public outreach campaigns to educate customers. Later, their findings will e followed up by outreach and possible enforcement actions by the City.

Proper Separation, Monitoring and Enforcement

SB 1383 requires cities to implement a monitoring and inspection program to ensure that organic waste generators comply with the mandate. The City of Desert Hot Springs has assigned DVD with the responsibility of monitoring participation. In turn, the City will follow-up with public education guidance and enforcement of the regulations.

How to Use Your Carts

how to use each cart

Additional Organics Recycling Information

For additional waste reduction educational resources, composting tips, videos and classes,
please visit the Riverside County Department of Waste Resources

Riverside Unincorporated County Area Residents

CalRecycle has issued a waiver from the requirement to recycle organic waste in the unincorporated county area.  Therefore, green waste and organic waste recycling is not available at this time, except by special arrangement with homeowner associations.

Commercial Organics Waste

DVD offers Commercial Organics Recycling Services for disposal of large quantities of green waste and food waste.

Dispose of Green Waste Yourself

Coachella Valley Compost Facility
87011 Landfill Road, Coachella
760-863-4364

S/A Recycling
29250 Rio Del Sol, Thousand Palms
760-343-0499

Edom Hill Transfer Station
70-100 Edom Hill Road, Cathedral City
760-340-2113

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