Trash & Recycling in Carson, CA (2026)
9 verified trash & recycling rules for Carson, California, sourced directly from the municipal code and official government pages.
Verified from official government sources
Pickup Rules & Schedules
Carson requires weekly trash and recycling pickup for every residential address and bars collection before 7 a.m. or after 6 p.m., and on Sundays without written City approval.
Carson Sets Weekly Trash Pickup Hours
Some RestrictionsCarson Municipal Code § 5262
Unless otherwise approved by the City Council, collection of solid waste shall take place no less than once in each calendar week. Collection of recyclable materials shall take place no less than once in each calendar week. Not more than seven (7) days shall elapse between solid waste collections, nor between recyclable material collections. When the collection day falls on a holiday, the coll...
Bin Placement Rules
Carson, California residents must set trash and recycling carts at the curb no earlier than 6:00 p.m. the day before pickup and pull them back in by 10:00 p.m. on collection day itself.
Carson Trash Cart Set-Out Rules
Some RestrictionsCarson Municipal Code § 5265
Every residential householder shall place each solid waste container, recycling container or bundle for collection at the curb in front of the premises, or at the curb at the side of the premises where the premises are adjacent to more than one (1) street. When the premises are adjacent to a paved alley with a minimum width of fifteen (15) feet, the residential householder shall place the conta...
Recycling Requirements
Carson's exclusive residential trash franchise must supply every household with at least one free recycling container, adding a second if needed, and pick up recyclables at least once a week under Carson Municipal Code Chapter 2.
Carson Curbside Recycling Container Rule
Some RestrictionsCarson Municipal Code § 5264
The collector shall provide each residential premises with one (1) recycling container, at no cost to the residential householder. If one (1) recycling container is inadequate, the collector shall provide a second recycling container for each residential premises, at no cost to the residential householder. Such containers shall be the property of the collector.
Mandatory Organics Recycling
Carson commercial businesses and multifamily properties must subscribe to three-container organics collection and separate food scraps and green waste under the City's SB 1383 organics-recycling ordinance.
Carson Mandatory Commercial Organics Recycling
Some RestrictionsCarson Municipal Code § 51105
Generators that are commercial businesses, including multifamily residential dwellings, shall: ... Subscribe to City's three (3) container collection services and comply with requirements of those services... 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 co...
Holiday Pickup Schedule
When a Carson, California collection day falls on a holiday, the city's exclusive residential trash and recycling hauler either collects on the holiday itself or shifts pickup one day earlier or later, keeping weekly service intact.
Carson Holiday Trash Collection Schedule
Light RestrictionsCarson Municipal Code § 5262(a)
When the collection day falls on a holiday, the collector shall choose one (1) of the following options: (1) Collect on the holiday. (2) Collect one (1) day prior to or one (1) day after the holiday, providing regular weekly collection can be maintained as provided in the first paragraph of this Section. (b) Hours. No collection shall take place between the hours of 6:00 p.m. and 7:00 ...
Illegal Dumping
Carson bans dumping trash, debris or dead animals on any public or private property, with jail time possible for commercial-quantity dumping.
Carson Illegal Dumping Penalties
Heavy RestrictionsCarson Municipal Code § 4105
No person shall place, deposit, throw or dump, or cause to be placed, deposited, thrown or dumped any garbage, swill, cans, bottles, paper, ashes, dirt, sand, rock, cement, glass, metal, carcass of any dead animal, offal, refuse, plants, cuttings or trash, or rubbish of any nature whatsoever, or any nauseous, offensive matter in or upon any public or private road, highway, street, alley, public...
Yard Waste Collection
Every Carson home must subscribe to three-container trash service and put yard trimmings and other green waste in the green organics container, not the trash or recycling bin.
Carson Green Container Yard Waste Rule
Some RestrictionsCarson Municipal Code § 51104
Organic waste generators shall subscribe to a three (3) container collection service which includes a blue container, green container and gray container... 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 container waste in the gray container.
Dumpster Rules
Carson requires every commercial or industrial business to designate a solid waste container location on-site and keep that area clean, repaired, and free of refuse outside the container.
Carson Commercial Dumpster Placement Rules
Some RestrictionsCarson Municipal Code § 5274
Every commercial/industrial business owner shall provide a solid waste container location on the commercial/industrial premises and shall keep said area in good repair, clean and free of refuse outside of the container. Every collector shall remove any solid waste or litter that is spilled or deposited on the ground as a result of the collector's emptying of the container or other activities of...
Collection Schedule
Every Carson residential household must use the City's exclusive-franchise trash and recycling collector: hiring any other hauler for regular residential collection is against city code.
Carson Requires Exclusive Trash Service
Heavy RestrictionsCarson Municipal Code § 5260
Every residential householder shall utilize the services of the collector having the exclusive franchise therefor. No residential householder shall enter into an agreement for residential refuse or recyclable material collection services with a vendor other than the exclusive franchisee.
Looking for Los Angeles County county-wide rules?
County ordinances apply to unincorporated areas and may supplement Carson city rules.
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