City of Palmdale will inspect resident's waste bins to be in compliance with state law SB 1383

PALMDALE, Calif. — The City of Palmdale, in partnership with Go2Zero Strategies, will conduct brief visual inspections of residential trash, recycling and organics carts from Monday, Aug. 24 through Friday, Sept. 18, to help residents sort their waste correctly and reduce contamination.

The inspections are part of the City’s SB 1383 compliance and education program. The goal is to provide residents with helpful information about what belongs in each cart, not to issue citations or fines.

Inspections will take place citywide from 6 to 10 a.m. on residents’ regularly scheduled collection days. Routes will be randomly selected, so not every cart will be inspected. Residents do not need to be home during the inspection.

Authorized inspection staff from Go2Zero Strategies will conduct the inspections wearing safety vests and badges; they are not affiliated with WM (Waste Management). Inspectors will visually check cart contents to see if items are placed in the correct trash, recycling and organic waste container. They will not open bags, remove or add items or enter private areas.

If contamination is found, an OOPS! sticker may be placed on the cart. The sticker is an educational notice, not a citation or fine, and the cart will be collected as scheduled. Residents are encouraged to review the information on the sticker and properly sort materials before the next collection day.

To document inspection results, inspectors will record the address, cart type, visible contents and any educational notice provided. Photographs will be taken to document the inspection and visible contamination.

Placing materials in the correct cart helps prevent otherwise recyclable or compostable items from ending up in the landfill. It also helps reduce contamination, which can make recycling and organic waste more difficult to process.

For more information about the SB 1383 Cart Inspection Program, including FAQs and sorting guidance, visit www.CityofPalmdaleCA.gov/SB1383 or call the City’s Environmental division at 661-267-5300.