Santa Clarita's Trash & Recycling: The Rules That Matter

Every city handles trash & recycling a little differently. In Santa Clarita, California, there are 4 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.

Bin Placement Rules

Bins must be placed curbside on collection day. Burrtec provides three-cart system: black (garbage), blue (recycling), green (organics) per SB 1383 requirements.

Key details: Provider: Burrtec Waste Industries. Carts: Black, blue, green. SB 1383: Organics diversion mandatory. Placement: Curbside on collection day.

Bins left out past deadline: warning first, then $25 to $100 per occurrence. Improperly placed bins may be skipped by haulers.

Bulk Item Disposal

Residents get 4 bulky item pickups per year: 3 large items or 10 bags (32-gallon) per pickup. Service provided through Burrtec.

Key details: Pickups Per Year: 4. Items Per Pickup: 3 large items or 10 bags. Bag Size: 32-gallon max. Provider: Burrtec Waste Industries.

Illegal dumping: $500 to $5,000 fines. Placing bulk items out before scheduled date may result in $50 to $200 code enforcement citation.

Pickup Rules & Schedules

Burrtec provides exclusive residential trash and recycling collection per SCMC 15.44. Transition to Burrtec occurred July 1, 2023.

Key details: Provider: Burrtec Waste Industries. Start Date: July 1, 2023. Code Section: SCMC 15.44. Service: Residential and multi-family.

Failure to follow schedule may result in missed pickup. Repeated violations of bin rules may incur $50 to $200 fines from code enforcement.

Recycling Requirements

SB 1383 requires organics diversion. AB 341 mandatory commercial recycling applies. All residents must use the three-cart system provided by Burrtec.

Key details: SB 1383: Organics diversion mandatory. AB 341: Commercial recycling required. Three Carts: Garbage, recycling, organics. Enforcement: City/Burrtec.

Contaminated bins may be tagged and skipped. Repeat contamination: $25 to $100 fine. Failure to recycle where mandatory: warning then fine.

The Bottom Line

Santa Clarita's trash & recycling rules are a mixed bag. Some areas are strict, others are relaxed, and the details matter. The best approach is to check the specific rule that applies to your situation rather than assuming Santa Clarita is broadly strict or permissive.

This guide is based on Santa Clarita's current municipal code. Local rules can and do change, so check the individual ordinance pages for the latest details, penalties, and FAQs.