Folsom generates about 200 tons of waste every day. Part of the Folsom Solid Waste Division’s mission is to develop, promote, and maintain sustainable practices that conserve resources and reduce the amount of solid waste going to our landfills. We are proud to provide residential, multifamily, and business recycling services.

Route Review Information

The City of Folsom Waste and Recycling Staff began route reviews in 2023 and will continue on an ongoing basis. Route reviews are random visual audits of curbside garbage, recycling, and organics cans to encourage residents to recycle right.

The city prioritizes an education-first approach to recycling compliance. There are no fines associated with the residential route review process. 

Watch a video about Route Reviews

About Route Reviews

California state law SB 1383 requires jurisdictions to conduct route reviews. Route reviews are an opportunity to educate the community about recycling and leave real-time, actionable feedback through bin tags. Tags will either indicate that waste sorting has been done correctly or signal that some form of contamination was identified.

City ordinance 8.32 requires recyclables, organic waste, and garbage to be placed in associated collection cans. Households where visible contamination exceeds the 10% threshold may need to coordinate extra pickups or special disposal services via the Household Hazardous Waste or Bulky Waste pickup programs.

Here’s What Will Happen During Route Reviews:

• Staff will open lids to review materials and may slightly adjust items on top.
• Staff will leave “Keep up the good work” tags on cans that contain accepted recyclables and organics.
• Cans with more than 10% visible contamination will receive an “Oops” tag.
• If your household receives an “Oops” tag, your can will be serviced as normal unless otherwise specified on the tag. 
• Material will never be removed from the cans, and cans will only be reviewed when they are placed curbside for service.
• Neighborhoods for route reviews will be randomly selected, and neighborhoods will be reviewed on different days depending on service days.
• Waste & Recycling staff members will work in groups or pairs, wearing high visibility vests and identification badges.
• View the City of Folsom’s Waste and Recycling Division’s Route Review Tags

Why Recycle Right?

 Contamination compromises solid waste and recycling operations, lowers the quality of recyclable material available, and prevents natural resources from reaching their next best use. When recycling or organics cans are too contaminated, a separate truck must be sent out to service as trash. Sometimes facilities reject whole loads of material if contamination levels are too high.

Not Sure What to Recycle?

 Download the City of Folsom’s free Waste Collection app by searching ‘waste collection’ in the app store or use the online Waste Wizard search tool.

More Information

More information about SB 1383 and the City of Folsom’s new Green Bin Program is available at www.folsom.ca.us/organics. Questions? Email recycle@folsom.ca.us.

California state law SB 1383 requires jurisdictions to conduct route reviews. Route reviews are an opportunity to educate the community about recycling and leave real-time, actionable feedback through bin tags.

There are no fines associated with the route review process in 2023. City ordinance 8.32 requires recyclables, organic waste, and garbage to be placed in associated collection cans. Households where visible contamination exceeds the 10% threshold may need to coordinate extra pickups or special disposal services via the Household Hazardous Waste or Bulky Waste pickup programs.

Why Recycle Right?
Contamination compromises solid waste and recycling operations, lowers the quality of recyclable material available, and prevents natural resources from reaching their next best use. When recycling or organics cans are too contaminated, a separate truck must be sent out to service as trash. Sometimes facilities reject whole loads of material if contamination levels are too high.

Not Sure What to Recycle?
Download the City of Folsom’s free Waste Collection app by searching ‘waste collection’ in the app store. More information about route reviews is available at www.folsom.ca/wastecollection.

Questions? Email recycle@folsom.ca.us

State Recycling Laws and Requirements

State law (AB 939) requires that every jurisdiction in California divert from landfill disposal at least 50% of the waste stream by source reduction, recycling, and composting. Since the city’s Curbside Recycling Program began in 2005, the city has consistently met or exceeded the state's 50% landfill diversion requirements.

State Assembly Bill 341, known as the Mandatory Commercial Recycling law enacted in 2012, includes a statewide goal of 75% recycling by the year 2020. It requires that the city provide a recycling program and that certain businesses subscribe to its use.

State Assembly Bill 1826 know as the Mandatory Commercial Organics Recycling Law requires that the City provide a recycling program to certain businesses to remove organic materials from the waste stream (food and green waste) and from landfill disposal. Multifamily complexes of five or more units are exempt from food waste recycling, but must recycle their green waste.

State Assembly Bill 827 requires that certain businesses provide containers for recyclable materials sold and consumed on the premises and provide signing to identify those containers and what goes in them.

Senate Bill 1383, requires that by January 1, 2022, the city must provide a program to collect and recycle food and green waste from all residential and commercial customers. SB 1383 includes provisions for penalties and fines for those not in compliance with the law.