Trash & Recycling in Costa Mesa, CA (2026)
8 verified trash & recycling rules for Costa Mesa, California, sourced directly from the municipal code and official government pages.
Verified from official government sources
Bin Placement Rules
Placing solid waste collection containers on public property in Costa Mesa without a city permit or agreement is unlawful under Municipal Code § 8-83(i). The city can impound an unpermitted hauler's containers 48 hours after a first violation is observed, only 24 hours after a second, and confiscate immediately for any further violation.
Costa Mesa Trash Container Placement Rules
Significant RestrictionsCosta Mesa, CA, Municipal Code § 8-83(i)
It is unlawful for any person, contractor or solid waste enterprise to place solid waste collection containers on public property without the appropriate city permit or agreement. For the first violation of this subsection, the city may impound container(s) of non-permitted persons, contractors or solid waste enterprises 48 hours after such container(s) are observed by the city or the city's ag...
Recycling Requirements
Costa Mesa residents must separate recyclable materials into the blue recycling cart and organic waste into the green organics cart per California SB 1383 requirements. Accepted recyclables include paper, cardboard, glass bottles, metal cans, and rigid plastics numbered 1 through 5 and 7. Plastic bags, Styrofoam, and food-soiled paper are prohibited in recycling carts. Organic waste including food scraps and yard trimmings must be placed in the green cart.
Costa Mesa Recycling Requirements
Some RestrictionsCal. Pub. Resources Code § 42652.5 (SB 1383, CalRecycle SLCP)
Landfilled food and other organic waste rotting in landfills emits methane climate pollution contributing to California’s hotter summers, more frequent droughts, and more wildfires. 3 MILLION CARS worth of climate pollution will be cut by reaching SB 1383’s recycling and food rescue targets SB 1383 Progress Program News...
Mandatory Organics Recycling
Costa Mesa residents in single-family homes and buildings of four units or fewer must subscribe to organic waste collection through the Costa Mesa Sanitary District under Municipal Code § 8-83(m). Residents must sort organics, recyclables and other solid waste into the designated CMSD containers and keep prohibited contaminants out of each bin.
Costa Mesa Mandatory Organic Waste Separation
Significant RestrictionsCosta Mesa, CA, Municipal Code § 8-83(m)
Generators that are persons residing in single-family homes or multi-family properties of four units or less are considered residential organic waste generators for the purposes of this chapter. Residential organic waste generators shall comply with the following requirements: (1) Subscribe to organic waste collection services provided through the Costa Mesa Sanitary District franchise (CMSD pr...
Holiday Pickup Schedule
When a recognized holiday falls on a normal route day, Costa Mesa Municipal Code § 8-81(a) pushes that collection one day later rather than skipping it. The ordinance names six observed holidays: New Year's Day, Memorial Day, Independence Day, Labor Day, Thanksgiving and Christmas Day, and the shift applies citywide to every solid waste permittee and franchisee, including CMSD residential routes.
Costa Mesa Holiday Trash Pickup Schedule
Light RestrictionsCosta Mesa, CA, Municipal Code § 8-81(a)
In the event of a holiday, pickups shall be completed one day later than the regularly scheduled collection day. The following are considered to be holidays: New Year's Day, Memorial Day, Independence Day, Labor Day, Thanksgiving and Christmas Day. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the director may grant a temporary waiver from these service standards for good cause or as otherwise required by law.
Illegal Dumping
Dumping solid, hazardous or infectious waste on private or public property in Costa Mesa without the owner's consent, or on any street, alley or sidewalk, is unlawful under Municipal Code § 8-83(a). The ordinance separately bars dumping within 1,000 feet of a public highway or 500 feet of any home without a zoning use permit, and forbids burning, scavenging or burying waste anywhere in the city.
Costa Mesa Illegal Dumping Rules & Penalties
Heavy RestrictionsCosta Mesa, CA, Municipal Code § 8-83(a)-(b)
It is unlawful for any person to place, deposit, dump or cause to be placed, deposited or dumped any solid waste, hazardous waste or infectious waste in or upon any private property or in or upon any public property which the public is admitted by easement or license without the consent of the owner, or in or upon any public highway, street, alley, sidewalk, gutter, parkway or upon any private ...
Dumpster Rules
Costa Mesa requires anyone who rents out dumpsters or other storage containers to hold a permit from the director of public services before offering them for rent. Applicants post a cleanup-and-repair deposit of $300 to $1,000 alongside a nonrefundable application fee, and must carry at least $1,000,000 in public liability insurance naming the city as an additional insured.
Costa Mesa Dumpster Rental Permit Rules
Some RestrictionsCosta Mesa, CA Municipal Code §§ 9-295, 9-296
No person or business entity shall rent or offer for rent any dumpster or other storage container or device without having first obtained a permit from the director of public services and having complied with all the requirements set forth in this article. ... The amount to be deposited shall be not less than $300 nor more than $1,000.
Collection Schedule
Costa Mesa Municipal Code § 8-81(a) requires curbside and commercial recurring collection at least once a week citywide. Pickups run only between 7:00 a.m. and 8:00 p.m., Monday through Saturday, with no collection allowed on Sundays. The Costa Mesa Sanitary District (CMSD) holds the exclusive residential curbside franchise, while the city's own permit and franchise system covers commercial and multi-family accounts.
Costa Mesa Trash Collection Schedule Rules
Some RestrictionsCosta Mesa, CA, Municipal Code § 8-81(a)
In all areas of the city recurring services shall be provided at least once per week, unless the terms of an agreement provide otherwise. Pickups shall not be made between the hours of 8:00 p.m. and 7:00 a.m., unless otherwise approved by the enforcement official or CMSD. No collection will be allowed on Sundays. On Monday through Saturday, there will be no collection between the hours of 8:00 ...
Recycling Rules
Costa Mesa Municipal Code § 8-84 requires every solid waste permittee and franchisee to divert collected waste from landfills and file quarterly diversion reports with the public services department. Contractor self-haul permit holders must divert 65% of the waste generated on each project or document the maximum diversion achieved.
Costa Mesa Franchisee Recycling & Diversion Rules
Some RestrictionsCosta Mesa, CA, Municipal Code § 8-84(c)
A contractor self-haul permittee, as a condition of the permit, shall comply with the following requirements to show compliance with section 8-84: ... (4) Divert 65% of the solid waste generated by the contractor's business activity on that project, or present the city with evidence showing the maximum amount of solid waste was diverted from landfills. (5) Pay any penalty assessed by the city f...
Looking for Orange County county-wide rules?
County ordinances apply to unincorporated areas and may supplement Costa Mesa city rules.
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