San Leandro's Trash & Recycling: The Rules That Matter

Every city handles trash & recycling a little differently. In San Leandro, California, there are 6 distinct rules that residents and property owners should be aware of. Some are stricter than what neighboring cities enforce, and others are more relaxed. Here is what you need to know.

Recycling Requirements

San Leandro Municipal Code Chapter 3-24 adopts the Alameda County Organics Reduction and Recycling Ordinance (ORRO), requiring all residents and businesses to sort recyclables, organics, and trash into the correct containers in compliance with California SB 1383.

Key details: Local code: SLMC Chapter 3-24. Adopted ordinance: ACWMA Ord. 2021-001 (ORRO). State law: California SB 1383 (Pub. Res. Code §42652 et seq.). Effective date: January 1, 2022. Three-stream sort: Blue (recycling), Green (organics), Gray (trash).

ORRO is enforced by the Alameda County Waste Management Authority (StopWaste). Compliance reviews of carts may result in contamination notices; repeat contamination can trigger fines under the County ordinance and the State CalRecycle SB 1383 enforcement structure. Local violations may also be cited under SLMC Chapter 3-1 administrative citations ($100/$200/$500).

This is not one of those rules that cities tend to ignore. San Leandro actively enforces its recycling requirements requirements.

Pickup Rules & Schedules

San Leandro uses exclusive franchised haulers (Alameda County Industries and Waste Management of Alameda County). Carts must be at the curb by 6:00 a.m. on collection day with at least 3 feet between carts.

Key details: Set-out time: By 6:00 a.m. on collection day. Spacing between carts: 3 feet minimum. Franchised haulers: ACI and WMAC (by zone). Self-hauling allowed?: Yes, for own generated waste only. Holiday delays: New Year's Day, Thanksgiving, Christmas (1-day delay).

Hiring an unfranchised hauler violates SLMC §3-6-320 and is enforced under the City's Community Preservation Ordinance: $100 first administrative citation, $200 second, $500 for continuing violations, with a 10-day cure period at each stage (per the City's Enforcement Process). The franchisee may also refuse service after two warnings for improper set-out.

Illegal Dumping

Dumping refuse, garbage, or discarded objects on any street, alley, sidewalk, or public/private property is prohibited. Local administrative fines start at $100 and California Penal Code §374.3 imposes mandatory criminal fines starting at $250 (doubled for tires).

Key details: Local code: SLMC Chapter 3-1 (Community Preservation). State statute: Cal. Penal Code §374.3. Local fine ladder: $100 / $200 / $500. State infraction fine (1st): $250–$1,000 (doubled for tires). Commercial quantity threshold: >1 cubic yard = misdemeanor.

Local enforcement (SLMC Ch. 3-1): $100 first administrative citation, $200 second, $500 ongoing — with 10-day cure windows; unpaid amounts become a property lien after a Judicial Warrant to Abate. State enforcement (Cal. Penal Code §374.3): infraction fine $250–$1,000 (1st), $500–$1,500 (2nd), $750–$3,000 (3rd+); fines DOUBLED if waste includes used tires. Commercial-quantity dumping (>1 cu yd) is a misdemeanor: $1,000–$3,000 (1st), $3,000–$6,000 (2nd), $6,000–$10,000 (3rd+), plus up to 6 months in county jail.

This is not one of those rules that cities tend to ignore. San Leandro actively enforces its illegal dumping requirements.

Bin Placement Rules

Garbage, recycling, and green-waste carts cannot be visible from the street except on regular collection day. All containers must have tight-fitting lids and be removed from the curb immediately after pickup.

Key details: Code section: SLMC §3-1-200(d)(1)–(2). Permit required: No. Carts visible from street: Only on collection day. Lid requirement: Tight-fitting cover required. Removal after pickup: Immediately.

Cart-storage violations are addressed through the Community Preservation enforcement ladder: Courtesy Notice → Notice of Violation → $100 first administrative citation → $200 second → $500 for ongoing violations, each with a 10-day compliance window. Unpaid fines and abatement costs become a lien on the property.

Compared to other cities, San Leandro takes a harder line on bin placement rules. The enforcement and penalty structure reflects that.

Yard Waste Collection

Yard waste (grass, leaves, weeds, branches under 6 inches) must go in the green organics cart along with food scraps, per SLMC Ch. 3-24 and SB 1383. Palm fronds, dirt, rock, concrete, brick, and treated wood are NOT accepted.

Key details: Container: Green organics cart (combined yard + food). Branch size limit: Under 6 inches diameter. Not accepted: Palm fronds, dirt, rock, concrete, brick, treated wood. Treated wood: Hazardous waste — take to ACWMA HHW facility. Authority: SLMC Ch. 3-24 / ACWMA ORRO / SB 1383.

Contaminating the green cart with prohibited items (palm fronds, treated wood, dirt, concrete) or placing yard waste in the trash cart violates SLMC Ch. 3-24 / ORRO. Repeat contamination is tracked by the franchised hauler and reported to StopWaste under the County ordinance; local administrative citations ($100/$200/$500) may also be issued under Chapter 3-1.

Bulk Item Disposal

Single-family residents receive one free Enhanced On-Call/Bulky Item Clean-Up pickup per 12-month period from their franchised hauler. Additional pickups require pre-paid tags or scheduling fees.

Key details: Free pickups: 1 per 12-month period (single-family). Program name: Enhanced On-Call / Bulky Item Clean-Up. Scheduled with: ACI or WMAC (your franchised hauler). Hazardous waste: Not accepted — use ACWMA HHW (1-800-606-6606). Treated wood: Banned from all carts and bulky pickup (since 2021).

Setting out bulky items without scheduling a pickup, or placing prohibited items (hazardous waste, treated wood, construction debris) at the curb, is treated as illegal dumping under SLMC Chapter 3-1 and California Penal Code §374.3 — see the Illegal Dumping section for fine ranges.

The rules around bulk item disposal in San Leandro lean permissive, but that does not mean anything goes.

The Bottom Line

San Leandro is tougher than many cities when it comes to trash & recycling. Out of the 6 rules covered here, 3 are rated strict. If you are a homeowner, renter, or business owner in San Leandro, take the time to understand these requirements before they become a problem. Most violations come with fines, and some repeat violations can escalate.

Keep in mind that San Leandro can amend these rules at any council meeting. For the most current version of any rule mentioned here, check the specific ordinance page, where we track updates as they happen.