Trash & Recycling in Fountain Valley, CA (2026)
9 verified trash & recycling rules for Fountain Valley, California, sourced directly from the municipal code and official government pages.
Verified from official government sources
Pickup Rules & Schedules
In the City of Fountain Valley, California, trash and recycling collections happen only between 6:30 a.m. and 6:30 p.m. unless the city manager gives permission. Collection equipment must be watertight, quiet and safe, and spills onto city streets must be cleaned immediately.
Fountain Valley CA Waste Pickup Standards for Haulers
Some RestrictionsFountain Valley Municipal Code § 6.08.150
§ 6.08.150. Standards for collections. (a) Equipment used by the contractor for collection and hauling of garbage and trash shall be such as to assure, in the opinion of the city manager, that adequate standards of collection will be maintained. ... Equipment used shall be watertight. Complete metal operating covers must be a part of the design of equipment employed. No material shall be permit...
Bin Placement Rules
In the City of Fountain Valley, California, carts go to the curb before 6 a.m. on collection day but not before 6 p.m. the day before, and must be back in storage by 9 p.m. Between pickups they stay in a garage, enclosure or side yard, out of public view.
Fountain Valley CA Trash Cart Placement Rules
Some RestrictionsFountain Valley Municipal Code § 6.08.140
§ 6.08.140. Storage and placement of carts for collection. (a) Carts shall be stored in a garage, trash enclosure, or in the side yard and away from public view except when the containers are placed out for collection. (b) Placement for Collection. (1) Carts shall be placed for collection in a location easily accessible to the refuse collector in the street adjacent to the curb. ... (3) Carts s...
Recycling Requirements
Single-family households in the City of Fountain Valley, California must subscribe to the city's organic waste collection service and sort material into the green, blue and gray containers. The city can review container capacity and require a household to change its service level.
Fountain Valley CA Single-Family Recycling Requirements
Significant RestrictionsFountain Valley Municipal Code § 6.08.200
§ 6.08.200. Single-family organic waste generators. Single-family organic waste generators shall comply with the following requirements except single-family generators that meet the self-hauler requirements in Section 6.08.260 of this chapter: (a) Shall subscribe to jurisdiction's organic waste collection services for all organic waste generated as described below. ... (c) Shall place source se...
Mandatory Organics Recycling
In the City of Fountain Valley, California, every single-family household must subscribe to the city's organic waste collection service and sort food waste into the green container, recyclables into the blue container and everything else into the gray container. Businesses and multi-family properties face a longer list of duties under Section 6.08.210.
Fountain Valley Mandatory Organic Waste Separation
Significant RestrictionsFountain Valley Municipal Code § 6.08.200
Single-family organic waste generators shall comply with the following requirements except single-family generators that meet the self-hauler requirements in Section 6.08.260 of this chapter: (a) Shall subscribe to jurisdiction's organic waste collection services for all organic waste generated as described below. ... (b) Shall participate in the jurisdiction's organic waste collection service(...
Illegal Dumping
In the City of Fountain Valley, California, Chapter 6.04 makes it unlawful to dump, place or deposit trash, refuse, vegetable trimmings or rubbish on any private or public property. A violation is a misdemeanor with a fine of up to $500, up to six months in the County Jail, or both, and each act is a separate offense.
Fountain Valley Illegal Dumping Ban and Misdemeanor Penalty
Some RestrictionsFountain Valley Municipal Code §§ 6.04.010, 6.04.030
It is unlawful for any person, firm, copartnership or corporation to dump, place or deposit any trash, refuse, vegetable trimmings or rubbish of any kind whatsoever upon any private or public property in the city other than trimmings from vegetables grown on said property, except as hereinafter provided. ... Any person, firm, copartnership or corporation violating any of the provisions of this ...
Yard Waste Collection
In the City of Fountain Valley, California, nobody who owns, controls or occupies a property can let refuse or cuttings pile up for more than fifteen days. Yard trimmings belong in the organic cart, which has to be at the curb on schedule, and logs and tree stumps are refused. Violations carry criminal and civil penalties under Chapter 1.16.
Fountain Valley Yard Waste and Cuttings Rules
Some RestrictionsFountain Valley Municipal Code § 6.08.130
No person who owns, controls, or occupies any premises shall permit solid waste to accumulate for a period in excess of one calendar week, or refuse or cuttings to accumulate for a period of fifteen days, or fail, refuse or neglect to place such solid waste and such refuse and cuttings for collection in accordance with schedules established therefor, the provisions of this chapter, and rules an...
Dumpster Rules
Multi-family properties and businesses in the City of Fountain Valley, California that use commercial refuse bins need lidded bins, closed lids, no overfilling, pickup at least once per week, and clean bins and enclosures. The property owner is responsible for the lids.
Fountain Valley CA Commercial Refuse Bin Rules
Some RestrictionsFountain Valley Municipal Code § 6.08.100
§ 6.08.100. Commercial refuse bin requirements. Any multi-family commercial or multi-family residential property, which utilizes commercial refuse bins for the storage of garbage or refuse, shall utilize a bin with a lid or cover sufficient to prevent: (a) odor from escaping the container; (b) flies and other insects from coming into contact with the contents of the container; (c) the contents ...
Collection Schedule
In the City of Fountain Valley, California, no owner or occupant can let solid waste sit for more than one calendar week, or refuse and cuttings for more than fifteen days. Waste must go out on the collection schedules the city sets under Chapter 6.08 of the Municipal Code.
Fountain Valley CA Trash Collection Schedule Rules
Some RestrictionsFountain Valley Municipal Code § 6.08.130
§ 6.08.130. Accumulation limitation. No person who owns, controls, or occupies any premises shall permit solid waste to accumulate for a period in excess of one calendar week, or refuse or cuttings to accumulate for a period of fifteen days, or fail, refuse or neglect to place such solid waste and such refuse and cuttings for collection in accordance with schedules established therefor, the pro...
Recycling Rules
In the City of Fountain Valley, California, recyclables go only in the blue container, organic waste only in the organic container, and remaining solid waste in the gray non-organic container. Section 6.08.110 bars putting solid waste in any container except as it assigns.
Fountain Valley CA Cart Contents and Sorting Rules
Some RestrictionsFountain Valley Municipal Code § 6.08.110
§ 6.08.110. Contents of carts. Persons disposing of their solid waste shall place the same as follows: (a) Recyclable materials shall only be deposited in the blue recyclable container. (b) Organic and other organic waste shall only be placed in the organic container. (c) Solid waste that is not recyclable material or green waste, and that is not prohibited material, shall be placed in the non-...
Looking for Orange County county-wide rules?
County ordinances apply to unincorporated areas and may supplement Fountain Valley city rules.
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