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Trash & Recycling in Simi Valley, CA (2026)

9 verified trash & recycling rules for Simi Valley, California, sourced directly from the municipal code and official government pages.

Verified from official government sources

Pickup Rules & Schedules

Simi Valley Municipal Code Section 6-3.13 requires households and businesses to prepare discards for pickup exactly as the city directs, kept free of all liquids, and a collector may skip anything not prepared to spec. Once materials are set out, ownership passes to the franchised hauler, and residents remain responsible for any spilled or scattered debris until the truck removes it.

Simi Valley Trash Pickup Preparation Rules

Some Restrictions

Simi Valley Municipal Code § 6-3.13; § 6-3.04(e); § 6-3.21(g)-(h)

For the protection of the collector and efficient handling, all discards shall be placed in containers, roll-off drop boxes, or bins, unless otherwise provided for in this section. All discards shall be kept free of all liquids and further prepared in the following manner: (a)Discards shall be prepared for collection according to the guidelines established by the City. Any discards not prepared...

Bin Placement Rules

Simi Valley bars residents from putting trash carts at the curb early or leaving them out late: containers may go out no earlier than 4:30 p.m. the day before collection and must come back in by 10:00 p.m. on pickup day, per Municipal Code Section 6-3.12(b). Between collection days, carts and composting bins must stay screened from the street behind a fence, gate, or wall.

Simi Valley Trash Cart Placement and Screening

Some Restrictions

Simi Valley Municipal Code § 6-3.12(b)-(c)

(b)Time. No person shall place or cause to be placed any discards container, bin, or bundled discards on any sidewalk, road, street, or highway at any time other than on the day established for the collection of discards on the particular route or before 4:30 p.m. on the day immediately prior to such collection, or permit such container to remain thereon not later than 10:00 p.m. on the designa...

Recycling Requirements

Every single-family household and commercial generator in Simi Valley must participate in the City's three-container system, sorting recyclables into the blue container, organic waste into the green container, and everything else into the gray container.

Simi Valley Mandatory Three-Container Recycling

Some Restrictions

Simi Valley Municipal Code Sec. 6-3.14(c)

Single-family organic waste generators shall participate in the City's three-container system for source separated recyclable materials, source separated green container organic materials, and gray container waste collection services. Generator participation in the collection programs requires that generators place source separated green container organic waste, including food waste, in the gre...

Mandatory Organics Recycling

Simi Valley requires every single-family household to sort waste into three carts: green for food scraps and yard waste, blue for recyclables, and gray for trash, under Municipal Code Section 6-3.14(c). Adopted to meet the state's SB 1383 organic-waste mandate, the rule bars residents from dumping food waste or recyclables into the gray cart, and commercial generators face parallel three-container and food-recovery duties.

Simi Valley Mandatory Organics Separation

Some Restrictions

Simi Valley Municipal Code § 6-3.14(c)

(c)Single-family organic waste generators shall participate in the City's three-container system for source separated recyclable materials, source separated green container organic materials, and gray container waste collection services. Generator participation in the collection programs requires that generators place source separated green container organic waste, including food waste, in the ...

Illegal Dumping

Simi Valley prohibits dumping discards, solid waste, or recyclables on the ground, in water, or in any place where they may be exposed to flies, mosquitoes, or rodents, except at an approved sanitary landfill or recycling facility.

Simi Valley Illegal Dumping Rules

Significant Restrictions

Simi Valley Municipal Code sec. 6-3.06

Every person who places, deposits, or dumps discards, solid waste, recyclables, or recyclable commodities on the surface of the ground on any public or private premises; in any standing water or watercourse; in any open pit or excavation; in any place mentioned in Section 4476 of the Health and Safety Code of the State; or in any place whatsoever where such discards, solid waste, recyclables, o...

Yard Waste Collection

Simi Valley requires single-family households to sort yard waste into the green organics container under the City's three-container collection system (SVMC 6-3.14(c)). Sweeping clippings, prunings, or brush into a gutter, street, or watercourse is banned outright, and yard waste must be kept in an enclosed container until pickup (SVMC 6-12.504).

Simi Valley Yard Waste Collection Rules

Some Restrictions

SVMC §§ 6-3.14(c), 6-12.504(a)-(b)

6-3.14(c) Single-family organic waste generators shall participate in the City's three-container system for source separated recyclable materials, source separated green container organic materials, and gray container waste collection services. Generator participation in the collection programs requires that generators place source separated green container organic waste, including food waste, ...

Dumpster Rules

Businesses in Simi Valley cannot drop a bin or roll-off box on public property without an encroachment permit, and every business owner must keep an accessible, clean storage area for its dumpster under Municipal Code Sections 6-3.12(d) and 6-3.21(a). Commercial haulers also face a collection-hours curfew and a 200-foot no-collection buffer around schools during drop-off and dismissal.

Simi Valley Commercial Dumpster Placement Rules

Significant Restrictions

Simi Valley Municipal Code §§ 6-3.21(a),(g); 6-3.12(d); 6-3.11(b)

(a)No person shall place any bin or drop box on any public property without first obtaining an encroachment permit from the City pursuant to this Code. ... Every business owner shall provide an accessible location for bins and roll-off drop boxes and shall keep said area in good repair, clean, and free from discards, solid waste, recyclables, or recyclable commodities outside of the bins and ro...

Collection Schedule

Every Simi Valley property owner must arrange discards collection through a city-franchised hauler, not an outside company, under Municipal Code Section 6-3.14(a)-(b). Solid waste must leave the premises at least once a week, and commercial food establishments must have it hauled away at least twice a week under Section 6-3.04(e), or the hauler can cut off service for nonpayment.

Simi Valley Mandatory Trash Collection Service

Some Restrictions

Simi Valley Municipal Code § 6-3.14(a)-(b)

(a)The owner, occupant, or other person responsible for the day-to-day operation of any property in the City shall make arrangements with a collector for the collection of discards generated at the property as set forth in this chapter. The failure of any subscriber to promptly remit the service charges when due and payable shall entitle the collector to cease service to that residential or com...

Recycling Rules

Simi Valley bars recyclables collectors from charging owners for picking up recyclable materials and makes it a crime to take recyclables already set out for collection. Only the City's franchised collector may pick up recyclable commodities.

Simi Valley Recycling Collection and Scavenging Rules

Some Restrictions

Simi Valley Municipal Code Sec. 6-3.32(b), 6-3.16

It shall be unlawful for a recyclables collector to charge the residential, commercial, or industrial owner of recyclables for removal or recycling of recyclable materials. Such charge is in violation of the City's right to regulate solid waste collection to protect public health, safety, and welfare. ... It is unlawful for any person, other than a person holding a license or franchise for the ...

Looking for Ventura County county-wide rules?

County ordinances apply to unincorporated areas and may supplement Simi Valley city rules.

Trash & Recycling in Ventura County