Trash & Recycling in Santa Maria, CA (2026)
9 verified trash & recycling rules for Santa Maria, California, sourced directly from the municipal code and official government pages.
Verified from official government sources
Pickup Rules & Schedules
Santa Maria Municipal Code Section 8-11.14 tells residents exactly where carts belong: behind the required front yard setback every day except pickup day, and out in the public right-of-way only on the scheduled collection date. Carts set out more than 40 feet from the right-of-way trigger a special, higher rate unless the Director of Utilities has approved the distance.
Santa Maria Curbside Set-Out Location and Timing
Some RestrictionsSanta Maria Municipal Code § 8-11.14(b)-(c) (Automated Service: Generally)
(b) Location for Pickup. Except on the date the City is collecting refuse for disposal, all refuse, recycling, and organics containers for them shall be kept to the rear of any front yard setback required by the City. On days of pickup, such containers shall be placed within the public right-of-way unless a contrary arrangement has been made with the Director of Utilities. (c) Special Rates for...
Bin Placement Rules
Santa Maria Municipal Code Section 8-11.06 requires every occupant to keep refuse and recycling carts on the premises in a spot the Director of Utilities can readily access, and bars letting trash pile up outside a proper container. Section 8-11.07 adds that apartment, motel and business complexes billed on one account must consolidate carts at a single Utilities-designated pickup spot.
Santa Maria Cart Placement and Multi-Unit Rules
Some RestrictionsSanta Maria Municipal Code § 8-11.06 (Placement for Collection: Generally)
(a) All refuse and recycling automated, bin or can containers shall be kept on the premises for which they are provided in a place readily accessible for removing and emptying the same. In case of dispute as to the place where they shall be kept, the Director of Utilities shall forthwith designate such place, and his decision thereon shall be final. (b) It shall be the duty of every occupant of...
Bulk Item Disposal
Santa Maria Municipal Code Section 8-11.13 handles bulky waste an unusual accumulation regular weekly collection cannot practicably handle, by having the Utilities Department pick it up on request. The property owner or person in control of the pile requests the special pickup, and the Director of Utilities sets the rate charged for it.
Santa Maria Bulk Item Pickup by Request
Light RestrictionsSanta Maria Municipal Code § 8-11.13 (Unusual Accumulations)
In the case of any unusual accumulation of refuse or recycling; that is to say, an accumulation that cannot be practicably removed by means of the regular collection service provided, the accumulation shall be collected and disposed of by the Utilities Department, at the request of the person owning or in charge or control of the accumulation, at such rates as may be set by the Director of Util...
Recycling Requirements
Santa Maria Municipal Code Section 8-11.04 makes trash and recycling service mandatory for every occupied premises, or any premises with a water account, inside city limits. Refusing to accept a cart does not excuse the minimum solid waste charge; the fee applies automatically unless a City-franchised area hauler already serves the property.
Santa Maria Mandatory Trash and Recycling Service
Some RestrictionsSanta Maria Municipal Code § 8-11.04(a) (Mandatory Service)
All premises within the limits of the City which are occupied or which have a water service account shall have refuse and recycling service, and the election by any person not to accept such service shall not exempt him from the payment of the minimum charge for solid waste service, except that this requirement for mandatory service shall not apply to any premises within any areas within the Ci...
Mandatory Organics Recycling
Santa Maria requires every single-family home, business and multifamily property of five or more units to subscribe to the City's organic waste collection service and sort food scraps and yard trimmings into the green container under Chapter 8-21. The ordinance implements state law SB 1383 and imposes civil penalties for noncompliance.
Santa Maria Mandatory Organic Waste Separation
Significant RestrictionsSanta Maria Municipal Code §§ 8-21.04(a)-(b)
(a) Shall subscribe to Jurisdiction's Organic Waste collection services for all Organic Waste generated as described below in Section 8-21.4(b). Jurisdiction shall have the right to review the number and size of a generator's containers to evaluate adequacy of capacity provided for each type of collection service for proper separation of materials and containment of materials; and Single-Family...
Illegal Dumping
Santa Maria makes it unlawful to deposit rubbish, paper, tree trimmings, earth, rock, garbage, ashes or other debris on public or private property anywhere in the City under Municipal Code Section 5-8.01. Hazardous debris that creates a fire menace or shelters rodents must be removed after City notice under Section 5-8.03, and violating either section is a misdemeanor under Section 5-8.07.
Santa Maria Bans Illegal Dumping of Rubbish
Some RestrictionsSanta Maria Municipal Code §§ 5-8.01, 5-8.03, 5-8.07
Section 5-8.01. Deposit of rubbish. It is unlawful for any person, firm or corporation to deposit or permit or cause to be deposited any rubbish, paper, tree or brush trimmings, earth, rock, garbage, ashes or other debris upon public or private property in the City. Section 5-8.03. Allowing hazardous debris. It is unlawful for any person, firm or corporation to allow debris which is of such a n...
Dumpster Rules
Santa Maria Municipal Code Section 8-11.16 governs bin-type dumpster service for businesses and multifamily properties. Containers with wet garbage must be emptied at least twice a week, all bins must stay clean and tightly covered except while being loaded or emptied, and a contaminated recycling bin gets billed the current Extra Haul fee and serviced as trash.
Santa Maria Commercial Dumpster Service Rules
Some RestrictionsSanta Maria Municipal Code § 8-11.16 (Bin Service)
(a) Rates. There shall be a charge made to each person receiving disposal service for refuse and recycling from the City which shall be applicable where bin-type containers (dumpsters) are provided by the City. (c) Compactor Bins. Rates shall be charged as shown in the published schedule of fees and charges. (d) Wet Garbage. All containers holding wet garbage shall be picked up not less than tw...
Collection Schedule
Santa Maria Municipal Code Section 8-11.10 sets the pickup calendar: residential trash goes out at least once every calendar week, residential recycling comes every other week on the same day as trash, and commercial recycling and all organics collection are scheduled as needed at the Director of Utilities' discretion.
Santa Maria Weekly Trash, Biweekly Recycling Pickup
Some RestrictionsSanta Maria Municipal Code § 8-11.10 (Frequency of Collection)
All refuse shall be collected from every occupied dwelling house or residence within the City at least once each calendar week, and as many times per week from all other premises within the City as may be found necessary by the Director of Utilities for proper cleanliness. All residential recycling shall be collected every other week on the same day as residential trash collection, or at such o...
Recycling Rules
Santa Maria Municipal Code Section 8-11.05 gives the City the exclusive right to collect, transport and dispose of every bit of refuse and recycling generated within city limits. Only City-operated vehicles or haulers approved in writing by the City Manager may move it, and it is unlawful for anyone else, including curbside scavengers, to collect recycling set out for pickup.
Santa Maria Recycling: City Holds Exclusive Right
Significant RestrictionsSanta Maria Municipal Code § 8-11.05 (Unlawful Collection or Transport)
(a) It is unlawful for any person to move or transport through the City any refuse or recycling except in vehicles owned and operated by the City or approved in writing by the City Manager. (b) It is also unlawful for any person to collect refuse or recycling within the City, and it is unlawful to bury or otherwise dispose of refuse or recycling except as provided in this chapter. All collectio...
Looking for Santa Barbara County county-wide rules?
County ordinances apply to unincorporated areas and may supplement Santa Maria city rules.
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