Trash & Recycling in Ontario, CA (2026)
9 verified trash & recycling rules for Ontario, California, sourced directly from the municipal code and official government pages.
Verified from official government sources
Pickup Rules & Schedules
Ontario requires the City's Integrated Waste Collector to pick up non-organic waste, recycling, green waste and other organic material from every residential unit at least once a week. Section 6-3.307 lets the City set how many carts a household needs and which types, and Section 6-3.301 makes the property owner or occupant responsible for arranging removal in accordance with the chapter.
Ontario Residential Trash Pickup Frequency
Some RestrictionsOntario Municipal Code § 6-3.307 (Residential collection frequency)
All non-organic waste, recycling, green waste and other organics shall be collected from residential units a minimum of one (1) time per week. The City shall specify the number and different types of carts required.
Bin Placement Rules
Ontario Municipal Code Section 6-3.308 tells residents exactly when and where to put out trash, recycling and green waste carts: by 6 a.m. on collection day, no earlier than the evening before, and removed by the evening after. Carts go along a usable alley if one exists, otherwise at the curb or three feet clear of mailboxes and obstructions. Objects that block collection can be tagged and, after a second notice, impounded.
Ontario Residential Cart Placement Rules
Some RestrictionsOntario Municipal Code § 6-3.308(a) (Residential containers, placement)
Residential, non-organic waste, recycling, and green waste carts shall be placed for collection by 6:00 a.m. on the scheduled collection day, but not prior to the evening preceding the collection day. Carts shall be removed no later than the evening after collection day. Such carts shall be placed for collection along the alley where a useable alley exists. Where there is no useable alley, such...
Bulk Item Disposal
Ontario residential customers get four free bulky item pickups a year under Section 6-3.309, scheduled by appointment at least a week ahead as part of the regular monthly service fee. Each pickup is capped at five individual items two people can carry. Extra pickups, or hauls over five items, are billed at the special service rate in Section 6-3.401(a).
Ontario Bulky Item Pickup Rules
Some RestrictionsOntario Municipal Code § 6-3.309(a)-(b) (Residential collections of bulky items)
Residential customers are entitled to four (4) bulky item pick-ups per calendar year as part of the regular residential monthly service fees, on an appointment basis that is to be made one (1) week prior to the desired collection day. Items are to be identified to ensure efficient and proper collection. Additional collections are subject to charges listed in § 6-3.401(a) of this chapter. Materi...
Recycling Requirements
Ontario residents and businesses must separate recyclables and organics per California AB 341, AB 1826, and SB 1383, using blue recycling and green organics carts provided by Burrtec.
Ontario Recycling Requirements
Some RestrictionsCalifornia SB 1383 (Lara, 2016) — Short-Lived Climate Pollutant Reduction Strategy (CalRecycle)
California's Organic Waste Reduction — SB 1383 Short-Lived Climate Pollutant Reduction Strategy. 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. To reduce methane pollution and other short-lived climate pollutants, California passed SB 1383 (Lara, 2016). The law ...
Mandatory Organics Recycling
Ontario requires every single-family household to subscribe to organic waste collection and separate food waste and green waste from trash and recyclables, under Article 8 of the Solid Waste chapter implementing state law SB 1383. Non-compliance draws escalating administrative fines from $50 up to $500 per violation, with civil penalties enforceable starting January 1, 2024.
Ontario Mandatory Organic Waste Rules
Significant RestrictionsOntario Municipal Code Sec. 6-3.801 (Mandatory Organic Waste, Single-Family Generators); Sec. 6-3.811 (Enforcement)
Sec. 6-3.801 Requirements for single-family generators (standard compliance approach). (a) Single-family organic waste generators shall comply with the following requirements: (1) Shall subscribe to the City's green waste or organic waste collection services for all organic waste generated... Generators may additionally manage their organic waste by preventing or reducing their org...
Illegal Dumping
Ontario Municipal Code Section 6-3.206 bans dumping, placing or burying solid waste, condemned substances or any deleterious or offensive material on any lot, land, street, alley, water or waterway in the city. The only exception covers land used as a properly permitted landfill, transfer station, materials-recovery facility or organic waste-processing facility. Code Enforcement and the Integrated Waste Department investigate complaints, and violators face the general Title 1 penalty schedule set out at Section 1-2.01.
Illegal Dumping Prohibited in Ontario, CA
Heavy RestrictionsOntario Municipal Code § 6-3.206 (Dumping and burying)
No person shall dump, place or deposit upon, or bury in any lot, land, street, alley, water or waterway within the City, any solid waste or substance condemned by the San Bernardino County Health Department, or any other deleterious or offensive substance; provided, however, the provisions of this section shall not apply to any land used as a properly-permitted landfill, transfer station, mater...
Dumpster Rules
Commercial properties in Ontario must use City-approved bins, roll-offs or carts for non-organic waste, recycling, green waste and organics, sized and scheduled by the Administrator under Section 6-3.311. Section 6-3.313 requires every container to sit in a location the City approves and the Integrated Waste Collector can easily reach, with any placement dispute decided in writing by the Administrator, whose decision is final.
Ontario Commercial Dumpster Placement Rules
Some RestrictionsOntario Municipal Code §§ 6-3.311, 6-3.313(a) (Commercial collection containers; placement)
All commercial establishments shall utilize one (1) of the various sizes of bins, roll-offs or other containers available through the City for the collection of non-organic waste, recyclables, green waste and other organics. The commercial establishment may utilize cart service with the Administrator's consent... All commercial collection carts, bins, roll-offs or other containers shall be plac...
Collection Schedule
Ontario requires every residential property owner or occupant to subscribe to the city's integrated waste collection service and place non-organic waste, recycling, green waste, and other organics for pickup at least once a week. Carts must go out by 6 a.m. on collection day, not before the evening before, and be pulled back in by the evening after collection.
Ontario Residential Trash Collection Rules
Some RestrictionsOntario Municipal Code Sec. 6-3.304 (Mandatory Integrated Waste Collection); Sec. 6-3.307 (Residential Collection Frequency)
Sec. 6-3.304. Responsibility to provide for and use integrated waste collection services. (a) Every person owning or occupying a residential unit within the City shall provide for integrated waste collection services in accordance with the provisions of this chapter. (b) It shall be unlawful for the owner or occupant of any residential unit within the City to fail or neglect to provid...
Recycling Rules
Ontario businesses generating four or more cubic yards of solid waste a week, and multifamily buildings of five units or more, must recycle under Section 6-3.604. Covered customers arrange recycling service through the City's Collector or a permitted Non-Waste Dealer and either source-separate recyclables or use mixed-waste processing that hits comparable diversion. Businesses with no viable recyclables can apply to the Administrator for an exemption.
Ontario Mandatory Business Recycling Rule
Some RestrictionsOntario Municipal Code § 6-3.604(a)-(b) (Mandatory business recycling)
The following commercial customers shall recycle and divert from the landfill recyclable materials generated by the customer in accordance with this § 6-3.604: (1) A commercial business that generates four (4) cubic yards or more of solid waste per week; (2) A multi-family dwelling of five (5) units or more. Businesses subject to this § 6-3.604 shall arrange for recycling services from the Coll...
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County ordinances apply to unincorporated areas and may supplement Ontario city rules.
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