Trash & Recycling in Modesto, CA (2026)
8 verified trash & recycling rules for Modesto, California, sourced directly from the municipal code and official government pages.
Verified from official government sources
Pickup Rules & Schedules
Modesto collects the black trash and green organics carts weekly and the blue recycling cart every other week (odd/even addresses) on the same day. Look up your day online or call 209-577-5494; four holidays delay service one day.
Modesto Trash Pickup Schedule & Rules
Some RestrictionsCal. SB 1383 (2016) — Public Resources Code Sec. 42652.5 (Organic Waste Reduction; Mandatory Curbside Organics Collection)
42652.5. (a) The department, in consultation with the State Air Resources Board, shall adopt regulations to achieve the organic waste reduction goals for 2020 and 2025 established in Section 39730.6 of the Health and Safety Code. The regulations shall comply with all of the following: (1) May require local jurisdictions to impose requirements on generators or other relevant entities within thei...
Bin Placement Rules
Modesto Code § 5-5.121 tells residents exactly where garbage, recycling, and organic-waste carts must sit for pickup: within four feet of where the collection truck parks, clear of obstructions on all sides, and screened from public view except in the twenty-four hours immediately before and after service day.
Modesto Sets Rules for Garbage Cart Placement
Some RestrictionsModesto Code of Ordinances § 5-5.121
(4)All containers shall be placed no more than four (4) feet from an area where the collection vehicle can reasonably park. All residential containers set out for collection shall have the necessary clearance from obstructions on either side of the container as well as overhead clearance needed for the collection vehicle to empty contents of the container without causing damage to public or pri...
Bulk Item Disposal
Modesto runs a Residential Bulky Item Collection Program through the Public Works Director, letting residential customers schedule pickup of large items twice a year by appointment. Strict size, weight, and placement rules under § 5-5.156 govern what qualifies and how it must be set out.
Modesto Bulky Item Collection Program Rules
Some RestrictionsModesto Code of Ordinances § 5-5.156
"Bulky Item Collection Program" means a program for customers of residential and multi-family units to participate twice annually by appointment in the collection of Bulky Items ... Items unacceptable for bulky item collection include, but are not limited to, glass, liquids, tires, engine parts, large and small green waste, hazardous waste, items over eight (8) feet in length; items weighing in...
Recycling Requirements
Modesto Code § 5-5.154 requires any business generating more than four cubic yards of solid waste a week, or any multifamily residential dwelling of five or more units, to arrange for recycling service under state law AB 341, either through source separation or an equivalent diversion program.
Modesto Mandatory Commercial Recycling (AB 341)
Some RestrictionsModesto Code of Ordinances § 5-5.154
Per Public Resources Code Section 42649.2, the owner or operator of a business that contracts for solid waste services and generates more than four (4) cubic yards of total solid waste per week or is a multifamily residential dwelling of five (5) units or more shall arrange for recycling services, consistent with state or local laws or requirements, including a local ordinance or agreement, app...
Illegal Dumping
Dumping garbage, recycling, organic waste, green waste, hazardous waste, or bulky items on public or private property without the owner's consent is an abatable nuisance under Modesto Code § 5-5.106, with fines starting at $1,000.00 and climbing to $2,000.00 for repeat violations.
Modesto Illegal Dumping Fines Reach $2,000
Heavy RestrictionsModesto Code of Ordinances § 5-5.106
It is unlawful and shall constitute an abatable nuisance for any person to place garbage, recycling, organic waste, large green waste, small green waste, hazardous waste, and bulky items as defined in Sections 5-5.103(49), 5-5.103(80), 5-5.103(67) 5-5.103(61) 5-5.103(93), 5-5.103(52), 5-5.103(9), upon any public property or private property without the consent of the property owner, unless appr...
Yard Waste Collection
Modesto's Public Works Department picks up large green waste once a month from January through November under Modesto Code of Ordinances § 4-7.1103, switching to leaves-only pickup every December. Residents must stack limbs at the curb or alley within strict size and distance limits, and small green waste goes in the green organic recycling container instead.
Modesto Green Waste and Leaf Collection Rules
Some RestrictionsModesto Code of Ordinances § 4-7.1103
The following regulations shall govern the placement of large green waste, small green waste and leaves for collection by the City. Failure to comply with any regulation shall be unlawful and punishable as an infraction.(a)Placement.(1)Large Green Waste:(i)Alley Collection: Where alleys in which garbage containers are serviced exist, green waste shall be placed in the alley for collection. Larg...
Dumpster Rules
Modesto requires commercial premises and multi-family buildings built, enlarged, or structurally altered after January 1, 2023 to have a dedicated Solid Waste Enclosure or Solid Waste Room under Section 5-5.113 of the Municipal Code. The enclosure must fit garbage, recycling, and organics containers, stay secured against tampering, and remain reachable by the hauler's collection vehicle.
Modesto Commercial Dumpster Enclosures Required Since 2023
Some RestrictionsModesto Code of Ordinances § 5-5.113
5-5.113 - Enclosures required.(a)All Solid Waste, Recyclable, or Organics produced on a Commercial Premises, or Multi-Family Dwellings with a Solid Waste Enclosure or Solid Waste Room shall be stored in the Solid Waste Enclosure or Solid Waste Room when such material is not set out for collection by an authorized Collector.(b)All Commercial Premises, or Multi-Family Dwellings constructed, enlar...
Recycling Rules
Modesto requires every premises to keep enough approved garbage, recycling, and organics containers on hand, and it is unlawful to put anything but recyclables in the blue container. Standard containers, including recycling carts, cannot exceed 100 pounds when full for collection.
Modesto Blue Container Recycling Rules
Some RestrictionsModesto Code of Ordinances § 5-5.110
It shall be unlawful for any person occupying any premises within the City, or for any person, controlling or maintaining any premises within the City where solid waste is generated, produced, or accumulated, to fail or neglect to provide a sufficient number of each approved type of standard containers for receiving and holding, without leakage or escape of odors, all solid waste produced, gene...
Looking for Stanislaus County county-wide rules?
County ordinances apply to unincorporated areas and may supplement Modesto city rules.
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