Trash & Recycling in Stockton, CA (2026)
7 verified trash & recycling rules for Stockton, California, sourced directly from the municipal code and official government pages.
Verified from official government sources
Pickup Rules & Schedules
Stockton requires every residence to subscribe to weekly curbside collection through one of two franchised haulers — Waste Management (green carts) or Republic Services (brown carts) — with a gray-lid trash, blue-lid recycling, and green-lid organics cart. Unauthorized collection of solid waste inside city limits is prohibited under SMC 8.04.240.
Weekly Three-Cart Curbside Service Through Franchised Haulers
Some RestrictionsBin Placement Rules
Carts must be placed curbside, in front of the property, after 6 p.m. the day before the scheduled collection day, and removed from the curbside no later than 11 p.m. on the collection day. Carts must sit clear of obstructions so the automated truck arm can lift them.
6 PM Set-Out / 11 PM Removal Curbside Cart Window
Some RestrictionsBulk Item Disposal
Every single-family, duplex, or triplex Stockton household receives one free Clean Sweep bulky-item pickup per year (February through October) plus 12 free overflow stickers. Additional bulky-item pickups are available year-round for a fee through Waste Management or Republic Services.
Clean Sweep — One Free Annual Bulky Pickup + 12 Overflow Stickers
Few RestrictionsRecycling Requirements
Stockton residents and businesses must separate recyclables (blue cart) and organics including food scraps (green cart) from trash (gray cart). This implements three state mandates — SB 1383 (organics), AB 341 (commercial recycling at 4+ cu yd/week), and AB 1826 (commercial organics) — enforced locally via SMC Ch. 8.04.
Mandatory Three-Stream Separation Under SB 1383, AB 341, and AB 1826
Heavy RestrictionsMandatory Organics Recycling
California SB 1383 requires Stockton residents and businesses to separate food scraps, food-soiled paper, and yard waste from regular trash. The city's franchised hauler provides green organics carts, and CalRecycle audits jurisdiction compliance with statewide diversion targets.
SB 1383 mandatory organics recycling
Heavy RestrictionsCalifornia Health & Safety Code §39730.6 / PRC §42652.5 (SB 1383) — Mandatory organics recycling
39730.6. (a) Consistent with Section 39730.5, methane emissions reduction goals shall include the following targets to reduce the landfill disposal of organics: (1) A 50-percent reduction in the level of the statewide disposal of organic waste from the 2014 level by 2020. (2) A 75-percent reduction in the level of the statewide disposal of organic waste from the 2014 level by 2025. 42652.5. (a)...
Illegal Dumping
Under SMC 8.04.210 it is unlawful to throw or deposit any recyclable material, green waste, rubbish, or waste matter on any Stockton street. The 2024 illegal-dumping ordinance imposes fines of $1,000 (first), $2,000 (second), and $3,000 (subsequent) within a 12-month period, and pays tipsters $50 for a reported tip plus $200 once the case is resolved.
$1,000 / $2,000 / $3,000 Escalating Fines + $50/$200 Tipster Reward Program
Heavy RestrictionsYard Waste Collection
All yard waste — grass clippings, leaves, branches, weeds — must go in the 90-gallon green-lid organics cart along with food scraps and food-soiled paper. Loose-pile or bagged yard waste at the curb is not collected; it must be inside the green cart with the lid able to close.
Green-Lid Organics Cart for Yard Waste + Food Scraps (SB 1383)
Some RestrictionsLooking for San Joaquin County county-wide rules?
County ordinances apply to unincorporated areas and may supplement Stockton city rules.
Trash & Recycling in San Joaquin County →