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Trash & Recycling in Alameda, CA (2026)

10 verified trash & recycling rules for Alameda, California, sourced directly from the municipal code and official government pages.

Verified from official government sources

Pickup Rules & Schedules

Only Alameda's franchised hauler, or a permittee under a narrow list of exceptions, may pick up trash, recycling or organics a customer has set out. Municipal Code Sec. 21-3.7 bars anyone else from removing materials from a container placed at the curb or an agreed collection spot.

Alameda Franchise-Only Trash Pickup Rule

Significant Restrictions

Alameda, CA, Municipal Code Sec. 21-3.7 (Unauthorized Collection)

No person, other than the franchisee or a permittee, shall remove solid waste, recyclable materials, or organic materials from a container that has been placed by a customer or occupant at the curb or the collection location agreed upon by the customer and the franchisee or permittee.

Bin Placement Rules

Alameda homeowners cannot leave trash and recycling carts at the curb around the clock. Municipal Code Sec. 21-2.4(a) lets residents set carts out no earlier than 5:00 p.m. the evening before pickup and requires pulling them back in before midnight on collection day, unless the household pays for backyard service.

Alameda Garbage Cart Set-Out Times

Some Restrictions

Alameda, CA, Municipal Code Sec. 21-2.4(a) (Placement and Removal of Containers for Collection)

Single-Family and Multi-Plex Premises. Single-family and multi-plex occupants shall be responsible for placing carts or bags of solid waste, recyclable materials, and organic materials curbside as directed by the franchisee, unless the customer has contracted with the franchisee for backyard service or has qualified for a disabled person service location exemption as described in subsection 21-...

Bulk Item Disposal

Every residential customer in Alameda gets scheduled clean-up collection events through the city's franchised hauler, with up to three cubic yards of bulky waste and three bulky items, one of which may be an e-waste item, picked up free of charge. Larger amounts cost extra at franchisee rates approved by the City.

Alameda Bulky Item Curbside Collection Rules

Some Restrictions

Alameda, CA, Municipal Code Sec. 21-2.6 (Clean-up Services, Ord. No. 3310 N.S., 11-16-2021)

Each residential customer shall be entitled to clean-up collection event(s) as described in the franchise agreement. The customer shall contact franchisee to schedule an on-call clean-up collection event and franchisee shall provide such service to the premises on its regularly scheduled collection day within five (5) business days of a request. For each clean-up collection event, each resident...

Recycling Requirements

Recycling in Alameda is not optional curbside courtesy. Municipal Code Sec. 21-2.1(b) makes it mandatory for every owner or occupant to contract with the city's franchisee for recyclable-materials collection and to sort materials into the correct container by the franchisee's instructions, on top of separate mandatory trash service.

Alameda Mandatory Recycling Enrollment

Some Restrictions

Alameda, CA, Municipal Code Sec. 21-2.1(b) (Solid Waste, Recyclable Materials, and Organic Materials Collection Required)

Recyclable Materials and Organic Materials. It is mandatory that the owner or occupant of any premises contract with and pay the franchisee for recyclable materials and organic materials collection services, unless otherwise exempt as per subsections 21-20.4(d). The owner or occupant shall pay the franchisee at rates established by the franchisee that comply with City-established policies and d...

Mandatory Organics Recycling

Alameda requires households and businesses alike to keep food scraps and other organic material out of the trash. Municipal Code Sec. 21-2.8(b) obligates single-family and multi-plex generators to place source-separated organic materials, including food scraps, in the organic materials container, implementing the state's SB 1383 mandate.

Alameda Mandatory Organics Separation Rule

Significant Restrictions

Alameda, CA, Municipal Code Sec. 21-2.8(b) (Requirements for Single-Family and Multi-Plex Generators)

Participate in the organic waste collection service(s) approved by the City by placing designated materials in designated containers as described below, and not placing prohibited container contaminants in collection containers. Generator shall place source separated organic materials, including food scraps, in the organic materials container; source separated recyclable materials in the recycl...

Illegal Dumping

Alameda bans using any land in the city, owned or merely occupied, as a dumping ground for solid waste or any other material. Municipal Code Sec. 21-3.2 makes both the property holder who allows it and the person who dumps liable, backed by fines and civil penalties under Sec. 21-30.2.

Alameda Illegal Dumping Penalties

Heavy Restrictions

Alameda, CA, Municipal Code Sec. 21-3.2 (Dumping Ground for Garbage)

No person shall permit any land owned, leased, occupied or controlled by him/her in the City to be used as a dumping ground for solid waste or other material of any kind whatever, and no person shall deposit any solid waste or other material upon any land in the City, except as otherwise authorized by law.

Yard Waste Collection

Alameda residents get scheduled bulky and yard-waste pickups on top of regular cart service. Municipal Code Sec. 21-2.6 entitles each residential customer to on-call clean-up collection events, letting up to three cubic yards of yard trimmings, recyclables and reusable materials go out at no extra charge.

Alameda Yard Waste Clean-Up Collection

Light Restrictions

Alameda, CA, Municipal Code Sec. 21-2.6 (Clean-up Services)

Each residential customer shall be entitled to clean-up collection event(s) as described in the franchise agreement. The customer shall contact franchisee to schedule an on-call clean-up collection event and franchisee shall provide such service to the premises on its regularly scheduled collection day within five (5) business days of a request. For each clean-up collection event, each resident...

Dumpster Rules

Alameda businesses cannot wheel a dumpster or roll-off box wherever is convenient. Municipal Code Sec. 21-2.4(b) requires commercial and multi-family containers to sit in a location the customer and the franchisee agree on, and bans storing any container in a public street, sidewalk, footpath or other public place.

Alameda Commercial Dumpster Placement Rules

Some Restrictions

Alameda, CA, Municipal Code Sec. 21-2.4(b) (Placement and Removal of Containers for Collection)

Multi-Family and Commercial Premises. Multi-family and commercial occupants shall be responsible for placing all solid waste, recyclable materials, and organic materials containers in a location on their premises agreed upon by the customer and the franchisee. Occupants shall not place or store containers on or in any public street, sidewalk, footpath, or public place.

Collection Schedule

Alameda requires every occupied property to sign up for weekly solid waste pickup through the city's exclusive franchise hauler, with no opt-out for generating trash. Municipal Code Sec. 21-2.1 makes disposal at least once a week mandatory, and Sec. 21-23.3 confines residential collection to 6 a.m. to 6 p.m., Monday through Friday, unless the Public Works Director approves extended hours.

Alameda Weekly Trash Collection Mandate

Some Restrictions

Alameda, CA, Municipal Code Sec. 21-2.1(a) (Solid Waste, Recyclable Materials, and Organic Materials Collection Required)

The occupant or owner of any premises in the city in, upon, or from which solid waste is created, produced, or accumulated, shall dispose of the solid waste at least once each week through the solid waste collection service of the franchisee, unless otherwise exempt as per subsection 21-20.4. The customer of the premises shall pay the franchisee for such removal at rates established by the fran...

Recycling Rules

Every owner or occupant of property in Alameda must subscribe to the franchised hauler's recycling and organic-waste collection and sort discarded material into the correct container. Mixing solid waste into the recycling or organics bin, or vice versa, violates Sec. 21-2.8, and the City began enforcing this rule against single-family and multi-plex households on January 1, 2024.

Alameda Mandatory Recycling Source Separation

Some Restrictions

Alameda, CA, Municipal Code Sec. 21-2.1(b), 21-2.8(b) (Ord. No. 3310 N.S., 11-16-2021)

It is mandatory that the owner or occupant of any premises contract with and pay the franchisee for recyclable materials and organic materials collection services... ... It is mandatory that the customer ensure that recyclable and organic materials are placed in the proper collection containers in accordance with franchisee's instructions... ... Generator shall place source separated organic ma...

Looking for Alameda County county-wide rules?

County ordinances apply to unincorporated areas and may supplement Alameda city rules.

Trash & Recycling in Alameda County