Trash & Recycling in Chico, CA (2026)
6 verified trash & recycling rules for Chico, California, sourced directly from the municipal code and official government pages.
Verified from official government sources
Pickup Rules & Schedules
Chico Municipal Code Title 8 mandates that every residential premises subscribe to franchised curbside collection for garbage, recyclables, and organics (3-cart system). Service is provided by city-franchised haulers Waste Management (North Valley Waste) and Recology Butte Colusa, with one weekly collection day per address covering all three streams.
Chico Garbage, Recycling & Organics Pickup Rules
Some RestrictionsBin Placement Rules
Chico Municipal Code Ch. 8.08 governs storage and curbside placement of solid waste containers. Carts must be at the curb by 6 a.m. on collection day, removed the same day, and stored out of public view between pickups. The central business district has separate receptacle screening rules under CMC §8.12.085.
Chico Trash Cart Placement Rules
Some RestrictionsBulk Item Disposal
Chico residents served by Waste Management get two free on-call bulky item pickups per year (up to 3 large items per pickup). Recology Butte Colusa customers can schedule bulky pickups Monday/Wednesday/Friday with charges by trip and item type. Items must be set out only on the scheduled day — not in advance — per CMC Ch. 8.08.
Chico Bulky Item Pickup
Few RestrictionsRecycling Requirements
Chico Municipal Code Chapter 8.13 (adopted to implement California SB 1383) requires every residence and business to subscribe to recycling AND organics collection service. CMC §8.08.030 prohibits disposing recyclables in the trash. CMC §8.12.110 makes it unlawful to remove recyclables from another person's container (anti-scavenging).
Chico Recycling & SB 1383 Organics Requirements
Heavy RestrictionsIllegal Dumping
Illegal dumping in Chico is prohibited under CMC Chapters 8.04 (Solid Waste General Provisions) and 9.20 (Litter), with state backstops at Cal. Penal Code §374.3 (misdemeanor dumping) and Cal. Vehicle Code §23111 (throwing from a vehicle). Penalties range from $250 to $3,000 per occurrence with additional clean-up cost recovery and possible misdemeanor charges. Chico Code Enforcement runs periodic 'Drop and Dash' events.
Chico Illegal Dumping Enforcement
Heavy RestrictionsYard Waste Collection
Yard waste is collected in the mandatory organics (green) cart under Chico Municipal Code Ch. 8.13 implementing California SB 1383. Subscription is required for all residences; the organics cart accepts grass clippings, leaves, prunings, and food scraps. Open burning of yard waste is restricted by CMC Ch. 9.35 and Butte County Air Quality Management District burn-day rules.
Chico Yard Waste & Organics Collection
Some RestrictionsLooking for Butte County county-wide rules?
County ordinances apply to unincorporated areas and may supplement Chico city rules.
Trash & Recycling in Butte County →