Trash & Recycling in Carson, CA (2026)
6 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 awards an exclusive solid-waste / residential-recycling franchise under Carson Municipal Code Article 5, Chapter 2 (Collection of Solid Waste and Recyclable Materials). Waste Resources is the current franchised hauler for all residential, multi-family and commercial accounts in the city; using any other paid hauler is a code violation. Standard 1-4 unit service includes a 96-gallon black-lid trash cart, 96-gallon blue-lid recycling cart, and 96-gallon green-lid organics cart, with weekly curbside collection on an assigned day.
Trash & Recycling Pickup Rules in Carson
Some RestrictionsBin Placement Rules
Waste Resources requires Carson residents to place carts at the curb by 6:00 a.m. on the scheduled service day, with wheels against the curb, lids closed, and at least 3 feet of clearance from neighboring carts, parked cars, mailboxes and other obstructions. Overfilled carts (lid not fully closed) may be refused. The franchise hauler operates under Carson Municipal Code Article 5 Chapter 2, so cart-placement rules carry the force of the franchise agreement and city code enforcement.
Trash Cart / Bin Placement Rules in Carson
Some RestrictionsBulk Item Disposal
Carson single-family residents get one free bulky-item pickup of up to 5 items per calendar quarter (4 free pickups/year), scheduled through Waste Resources. Multi-family complexes get one free pickup of up to 5 items per unit per year. Pickup happens on the unit's regular collection day and must be requested by phone before noon the day before, up to 7 days in advance. Eligible items are anything that does not fit in the carts but can be safely handled by two people — furniture, mattresses, appliances, large yard waste, wood, clothing. Setting bulky items at the curb without scheduling is illegal dumping.
Bulky Item Pickup in Carson
Few RestrictionsRecycling Requirements
Recycling is mandatory in Carson under three layered authorities: (1) the city's exclusive residential recycling franchise (CMC Art. 5 Ch. 2), (2) California AB 341 mandatory commercial recycling for businesses generating 4+ cubic yards/week and multifamily of 5+ units (PRC §42649 et seq.), and (3) California AB 1826 / SB 1383 mandatory organics recycling for ALL residents and businesses (PRC §42649.8 et seq., §42652 et seq.). Every Carson home gets a 96-gallon blue-lid recycling cart and 96-gallon green-lid organics cart from Waste Resources; food scraps and food-soiled paper go in the green organics cart along with yard trimmings.
Recycling Requirements in Carson
Heavy RestrictionsIllegal Dumping
Illegal dumping in Carson is prosecuted under Cal. Penal Code §374.3 (mandatory fines $250-$1,000 first offense, escalating to $750-$3,000 third offense; doubled if waste is tires; commercial-quantity dumping is a misdemeanor with $1,000-$10,000 fines and up to 6 months county jail) and locally as a public-nuisance / CMC Art. 5 Ch. 2 violation enforced by Carson Code Enforcement and the LA County Sheriff's Carson Station. Report illegal dumping through the city's Code Enforcement Division (codeenforcement@carson.org) or the Carson 311 / Connect portal.
Illegal Dumping in Carson
Heavy RestrictionsYard Waste Collection
Yard waste in Carson goes in the 96-gallon GREEN-lid organics cart along with food scraps — that is the SB 1383 organics stream. Branches, leaves, grass clippings, prunings and small wood are all accepted. Items too large to fit in the cart can be scheduled as a free bulky pickup with Waste Resources ("large yard waste" is an eligible bulky category). Open burning of yard waste is prohibited under South Coast Air Quality Management District Rule 444 and Health & Safety Code §41800 et seq.; stockpiling green waste so it becomes a nuisance is a CMC code-enforcement violation.
Yard Waste / Green Waste Rules in Carson
Some RestrictionsLooking for Los Angeles County county-wide rules?
County ordinances apply to unincorporated areas and may supplement Carson city rules.
Trash & Recycling in Los Angeles County →