Trash & Recycling in Alhambra, CA (2026)
10 verified trash & recycling rules for Alhambra, California, sourced directly from the municipal code and official government pages.
Verified from official government sources
Pickup Rules & Schedules
Alhambra Municipal Code § 6.16.180 lets solid waste subscribers order special collections for bulky goods, brown and white goods, Christmas trees and other oversized items, plus household hazardous waste pickup through authorized service providers.
Alhambra Special and Bulky Item Pickup Rules
Light RestrictionsAlhambra Municipal Code § 6.16.180
Subscribers to a solid waste collection service may order: special collections of such things as bulky goods, brown goods, white goods, Christmas trees and other items too large to fit in standard containers; and pickup of household hazardous wastes (from service providers authorized to collect household hazardous wastes).
Bin Placement Rules
Alhambra Municipal Code § 6.16.160 caps curbside containers at 65 pounds, bars setting them out before noon the day before collection, requires them hidden from the right-of-way otherwise, and requires removal by 6:00 a.m. the day after pickup.
Alhambra Trash and Recycling Cart Placement Rules
Some RestrictionsAlhambra Municipal Code § 6.16.160(B)-(E)
(B) No person shall place a container adjacent to a street or public right-of-way for collection if the container and its contents weigh more than 65 pounds. (C) To minimize interference with public rights-of-way, no person shall place a container or any bulky goods adjacent to a street or public right-of-way for collection service before noon on the day preceding the regularly scheduled co...
Bulk Item Disposal
Alhambra residents cannot set bulky goods like furniture or appliances at the curb without first scheduling pickup with the city's licensed collector. Once arranged, items go out no earlier than noon the day before collection under Municipal Code Chapter 6.16.
Alhambra Bulky Item Pickup Rules
Some RestrictionsAlhambra Municipal Code § 6.16.250(C)
(C) Bulky goods. To protect public health, safety and well-being and to minimize interference with public rights of way, no person shall place bulky goods adjacent to a street or public right-of-way without first having made arrangements with a collector for the pickup of the bulky goods.
Recycling Requirements
Alhambra Municipal Code § 6.16.050 requires every premises' operator to contract with a licensed collector for solid waste, or obtain a self-haul permit, and to implement measures meeting the diversion goals of the California Integrated Waste Management Act of 1989 (AB 939).
Alhambra Mandatory Waste and Recycling Service
Some RestrictionsAlhambra Municipal Code § 6.16.050
In order to protect the public health, safety and well-being and to prevent the spread of vectors, the person responsible for the day-to-day operation of every place or premises in the city shall make arrangements with a collector for the collection of solid wastes, as set forth in this chapter, or obtain a self-haul permit from the city, as provided for in § 6.16.210, below, and to implement m...
Mandatory Organics Recycling
Every Alhambra household and business must subscribe to organics collection and sort waste into green, blue and gray/black containers under Chapter 6.18, the city's SB 1383 compliance ordinance. Contamination and non-compliance draw escalating fines up to $250 per violation.
Alhambra Mandatory Organic Waste Separation
Significant RestrictionsAlhambra Municipal Code § 6.18.020
Single-family organic waste generators shall comply with the following requirements: (A) Shall subscribe to the city's organic waste collection services for all organic waste generated... (B)(2) Generator shall place source separated green container organic waste, including food waste, in the green container; source separated recyclable materials in the blue container; and gray/black container ...
Illegal Dumping
Alhambra Municipal Code § 6.16.250(K) makes it unlawful to dump, deposit, release, spill, leak, pour, bury or otherwise dispose of solid or liquid waste on any premises in the city outside an authorized container or permitted facility. The rule covers vacant lots, alleys and private yards alike, and the City Manager's Code Enforcement Officers and Police Department enforce it as a misdemeanor under the city's general penalty section.
Alhambra Bans Illegal Dumping
Heavy RestrictionsAlhambra Municipal Code § 6.16.250(K) (Ord. 4321, passed 6-9-97; Am. Ord. 4325, passed 6-23-97)
(K) Unlawful dumping prohibited. No person shall dump, deposit, release, spill, leak, pump, pour, emit, empty, discharge, inject, bury or dispose into the environment (including by abandonment or discarding of barrels, containers and other closed receptacles of solid or liquid waste of any kind whatsoever) any solid or liquid waste upon any premises within the city, or to cause, suffer, or pe...
Yard Waste Collection
Alhambra Municipal Code § 6.16.160(G) requires green waste to be cut no longer than four feet and no thicker than four inches before set-out, placed in a designated container or tied in bundles under 80 pounds, and kept free of trash or hazardous material.
Alhambra Green Waste and Yard Trimming Rules
Some RestrictionsAlhambra Municipal Code § 6.16.160(G)
(G) To minimize interference with public rights-of-way, green waste shall be cut into pieces not to exceed four feet in length and four inches in diameter, before being placed adjacent to a street or public right-of-way for collection. Green waste shall be placed in containers designated for the collection of green waste, or tied securely in bundles not exceeding 80 pounds and shall not be co...
Dumpster Rules
Alhambra requires a screened, roofed enclosure for waste and recycling containers at nearly every commercial and multi-unit property, sized for city or contract pickup and kept out of front setbacks, parking areas and public view. Individual bins are allowed only for small residential buildings, or where the Director finds a business is adequately served without an enclosure.
Alhambra Commercial Dumpster Enclosure Rules
Some RestrictionsAlhambra Municipal Code § 23.12.120(B)(2)
(2) Waste and recycling container enclosures. Waste and recycling container enclosures are required for all new residential developments of four or more residential units and non-residential development except where the Director finds the development will be adequately served with individual waste and recycling containers pursuant to division (B)(1)(a) above. ... The waste and recycling conta...
Collection Schedule
Alhambra Municipal Code § 6.16.170 sets a once-a-week minimum for solid waste collection and bars residential and commercial pickups between 5:00 p.m. and 6:00 a.m. to protect residents' quiet enjoyment of their homes.
Alhambra Trash Collection Frequency and Hours
Some RestrictionsAlhambra Municipal Code § 6.16.170(A), (D)
(A) To protect public health, safety and well-being, and to protect the city against the growth and spread of vectors, persons m charge of the day-to-day operation of each premises in the city shall make arrangements to have all solid waste on the premises (other than construction and demolition debris) collected and removed not less frequently than once a week. ... (D) In order to protect ...
Recycling Rules
Alhambra Municipal Code § 6.16.230 protects the right to sell or donate recyclable material outside the city's collector, but material mixed with trash counts as discarded solid waste, and a paid 'sale' that really covers disposal costs is treated as regulated waste.
Alhambra Recyclable Material Sale and Donation Rules
Some RestrictionsAlhambra Municipal Code § 6.16.230(A)-(C)
(A) Except as provided below, nothing in this chapter shall limit the right of any person, organization, or other entity to sell recyclable material owned by that person, organization or other entity or to donate recyclable material to a charity or any other entity other than a solid waste enterprise or collector. (B) Recyclable material which is mixed with solid waste shall be considered t...
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