Trash & Recycling in San Ramon, CA (2026)
10 verified trash & recycling rules for San Ramon, California, sourced directly from the municipal code and official government pages.
Verified from official government sources
Pickup Rules & Schedules
Waste Management of Alameda County / Contra Costa is the exclusive franchise hauler for San Ramon, providing once-weekly curbside pickup of garbage, recycling, and organics. Collection day depends on address; carts must be curbside by 6 AM and removed within 24 hours. Missed pickups are reported to Waste Management directly.
Trash: Collection Day
Some RestrictionsCal. Pub. Resources Code § 42652.5 (SB 1383, Short-Lived Climate Pollutants)
The state board is also required to complete a comprehensive strategy to reduce emissions of short-lived climate pollutants, as defined, in the state. This bill would require the state board, no later than January 1, 2018, to approve and begin implementing that comprehensive strategy to reduce emissions of short-lived climate pollutants to achieve a reduction in methane by 40%, hydrofluorocarbo...
Bin Placement Rules
San Ramon Municipal Code Section B6-11 bans leaving trash, organics, or recycling containers on any public street, sidewalk, or footpath except during a narrow curbside window: no earlier than 5 p.m. the evening before pickup, and off the curb by 11 p.m. on collection day. Commercial and multifamily properties face separate enclosure and signage rules.
San Ramon Trash Bin Placement Rules
Some RestrictionsSan Ramon Municipal Code § B6-11(A)
No Solid Waste, Organic Materials, or Recyclable Materials container or receptacle, other than one owned by the City and designated for public use, shall be placed, stored, or kept in or on any public street, sidewalk, footpath or any public place whatsoever, except as follows: 1. Containers may be placed curbside, in a location accessible for removing and emptying by the Authorized Collector, ...
Bulk Item Disposal
San Ramon residents get large, bulky items like furniture, mattresses and old appliances picked up only through the city's neighborhood clean-up days or its on-call bulky item collection program, not on the regular weekly route. Municipal Code Section B6-11 limits how early those items can hit the curb: no more than 24 hours before the scheduled pickup.
San Ramon Bulky Item Pickup Rules
Some RestrictionsSan Ramon Municipal Code § B6-11(A)(5)
5. In the event that the City authorizes periodic collection of un-containerized Solid Waste, Organic Materials, Recyclable Materials, and/or large, bulky items (furniture, appliances, mattresses, rolls of carpet, etc.) through a neighborhood clean-up day, on-call bulky item collection or similar program, those items may not be placed curbside more than twenty-four (24) hours before the schedul...
Recycling Requirements
Every occupied property in San Ramon must subscribe to three-stream collection service, separate containers for solid waste, organic materials, and recyclable materials, under Municipal Code Section B6-2(A). Solid waste and organics must be collected at least weekly, and generators must keep prohibited contaminants out of the recycling and organics carts.
San Ramon Curbside Recycling Requirements
Some RestrictionsSan Ramon Municipal Code § B6-2(A)(2), (3), (6)
Each Occupied Property shall maintain an Adequate Level of Collection Services for three types of collection service which must include Solid Waste, Organic Materials, and Recyclable Materials unless granted a waiver for one or more Collection Services per sub-section D below. ... At a minimum, an Adequate Level of Collection Services shall include three separate collection containers - one eac...
Mandatory Organics Recycling
San Ramon requires every occupied property to keep a separate green bin for food scraps and other organic waste alongside its trash and recycling containers. Municipal Code Section B6-2 bans mixing organics into the solid waste stream and lets only small commercial generators skip the green bin through a Director-approved de minimis waiver.
San Ramon Mandatory Organics Separation Rule
Significant RestrictionsSan Ramon Municipal Code § B6-2(A)(2), (5)
2. Each Occupied Property shall maintain an Adequate Level of Collection Services for three types of collection service which must include Solid Waste, Organic Materials, and Recyclable Materials unless granted a waiver for one or more Collection Services per sub-section D below. ... 5. Generators shall place source separated Organic Materials, in the designated Organic Materials collection con...
Illegal Dumping
Illegal dumping in San Ramon is prohibited under the municipal code and California Penal Code 374.3. Fines start at $250 for a first offense and escalate to $3,000+ plus cleanup costs and possible jail time. Report dumping to San Ramon Public Services or the Contra Costa County non-emergency line.
Trash: Illegal Dumping
Heavy RestrictionsCalifornia Penal Code § 374.3
374.3. (a) It is unlawful to dump or cause to be dumped waste matter in or upon a public or private highway or road, including any portion of the right-of-way thereof, or in or upon private property into or upon which the public is admitted by easement or license, or upon private property without the consent of the owner, or in or upon a public park or other public property other than property ...
Yard Waste Collection
San Ramon treats yard trimmings as part of the Organic Materials stream defined in Municipal Code Section B6-1, which every occupied property must subscribe to collect under Section B6-2. Landlords must give both residential and commercial tenants convenient access to the organics container, and yard waste must be source-separated from trash and recycling.
San Ramon Yard Waste Collection Rules
Some RestrictionsSan Ramon Municipal Code §§ B6-1 ("Organic Materials"), B6-2(A)(10)
Organic Materials means plants, yard trimmings, food scraps, compostable paper, and clean wood, individually or collectively. Organic Materials may also include manure from herbivores (horses, cows, goats, sheep, rabbits, etc.). Organic Materials may include Compostable plastic bags, utensils, cups, containers, or other Compostable plastic products if such products are delivered to a facility t...
Dumpster Rules
Commercial and multi-family properties in San Ramon must keep their solid waste, recycling and organics dumpsters together in one enclosure with clear signage, not scattered around the site. Municipal Code Section B6-11(B) sets the placement and signage rules, and Section B6-21 lets the City impound any unauthorized debris box or roll-off left in the public right-of-way.
San Ramon Commercial Dumpster Placement Rules
Some RestrictionsSan Ramon Municipal Code § B6-11(B)(1)-(3)
1. Collection containers for both Organic Materials and Recyclable Materials shall be placed reasonably close to every Solid Waste collection container such that the Organic Materials and Recyclable Materials collection containers are no more difficult to access than the Solid Waste collection container. 2. Collection containers must bear prominent signage on or near the containers clearly desc...
Collection Schedule
San Ramon requires the owner of every occupied property to subscribe to trash, recycling and organics pickup from the city's authorized hauler. Municipal Code Section B6-2 sets a three-container minimum, weekly pickup for solid waste and organics, and a seven-day deadline to start service after move-in. There is no opt-out for full-time residents without a Director-approved waiver.
San Ramon Mandatory Trash Service Rules
Significant RestrictionsSan Ramon Municipal Code § B6-2(A)(1), (6)-(7)
1. Except as otherwise provided by this Chapter, the property owner for each Occupied Property shall subscribe to an Adequate Level of Collection Services for the separate collection of Solid Waste, Organic Materials, and Recyclable Materials from an Authorized Collector(s) and shall pay the Authorized Collector for the collection service at the rates provided therefor. ... 6. Solid Waste and O...
Recycling Rules
San Ramon Municipal Code Section B6-7 bars anyone from collecting, transporting, or conveying Recyclable Materials, Organic Materials, Solid Waste, or C&D debris unless the City has designated them an Authorized Collector. Unauthorized haulers commit an infraction and can be cited administratively, though property owners retain a limited right to self-haul their own recyclables.
San Ramon Recycling Collection Rules
Some RestrictionsSan Ramon Municipal Code § B6-7
No person shall collect, transport or convey, or cause or permit to be transported or conveyed, any Recyclable Materials, Organic Materials, Solid Waste, or C&D Debris unless the City has designated that person as an Authorized Collector. Persons in violation of these requirements shall be guilty of an infraction and may be cited with an administrative citation issued under TITLE A of this code...
Looking for Contra Costa County county-wide rules?
County ordinances apply to unincorporated areas and may supplement San Ramon city rules.
Trash & Recycling in Contra Costa County →