Trash & Recycling in Stockton, CA (2026)
9 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 limits when carts can hit the curb: containers cannot go out before 6:00 p.m. the night before collection and must be pulled back out of street view by 11:00 p.m. on collection day. Section 8.04.060 also bars blocking travel lanes, parking areas or gutters, and containers must stay clean and sanitary under Section 8.04.050.
Stockton Trash Cart Set-Out Times
Some RestrictionsStockton Municipal Code § 8.04.060
On collection days, all containers and parcels of discarded materials shall be placed adjacent to the roadway in a manner that does not block any travel way, parking area, or gutter. Loaded containers ready for collection shall not be set out before 6:00 p.m. on the day prior to the regular collection day. Containers shall be returned to a proper storage location on private property and not vis...
Bin Placement Rules
Stockton requires collection bins to sit on a hard, accessible outdoor surface and be kept inside an enclosure meeting Public Works Director standards, with waivers available only in writing for good cause. Section 8.04.080 also makes it unlawful to place a bin in any public street, alley or right-of-way without the Director's written permission.
Stockton Commercial Bin Placement Rules
Some RestrictionsStockton Municipal Code § 8.04.080
Bins shall be placed in an accessible, outside location, on a hard surface. Bins shall be kept in enclosures meeting standards approved by the Public Works Director. The Public Works Director may waive the requirement for enclosure of a bin on the premise or may establish a time schedule for implementation of the enclosure requirement upon application by the person responsible for the premise a...
Bulk Item Disposal
Stockton bans setting large household or bulky items out in the containers used for regular garbage, recycling, and organics pickup. Under Stockton Municipal Code § 8.04.070(E), bulky items go out only under the administrative and operational rules the Public Works Director sets and the terms of the City's current residential discarded-materials franchise agreement, not on a self-service curb schedule.
Stockton Bulky Item Curbside Collection Rules
Some RestrictionsStockton Municipal Code § 8.04.070(E)
E. Large household or bulky items shall not be placed for collection through the collection services containers, but rather shall be placed in accordance with any administrative or operational requirements established by the Director or their designee and applicable law, and in accordance with the current franchise agreement as applicable.
Recycling Requirements
Stockton requires recyclable and organic materials to be separated from solid waste before collection under Section 8.04.070, part of the mandatory three-container service every property owner must carry under Section 8.04.020. Hazardous waste, used motor oil, medical waste, and bulky items each have their own separate handling rule inside the same section.
Stockton Mandatory Recycling Separation Rule
Some RestrictionsStockton Municipal Code § 8.04.070
Recyclable materials and organic materials shall be separated from other solid waste for collection. However, the collector shall not refuse to collect solid waste from containers properly placed according to this article because it contains incidental amounts of recyclable materials or organic materials. ... Waste consisting of flammable liquids, anti-freeze, insecticides, poisons, caustics, a...
Mandatory 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
Some 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
Stockton's illegal dumping ordinance, Chapter 8.104, makes it an infraction to deposit, drop, or throw waste matter onto public or private property not designated for disposal. First violations draw a $1,000 fine, second violations within a year cost $2,000, and each additional violation costs $3,000, on top of cleanup and enforcement costs.
Stockton Illegal Dumping Fines
Some RestrictionsStockton Municipal Code §§ 8.104.030, 8.104.060
It is a violation of this chapter for any person to illegally dump or to cause waste matter to be disposed of in violation of this chapter, this code, or State or Federal law. ... A violation of this chapter is punishable by the following: 1. A fine/penalty of $1,000.00 for a first violation; 2. A fine/penalty of $2,000.00 for a second violation of this chapter or of any statute or City or Coun...
Yard Waste Collection
Stockton collects grass, leaves, branches and other yard trimmings through its mandatory three-container program, not through a separate brush pickup. Municipal Code Section 8.04.010 defines yard trimmings as a subset of organic materials, and every property owner must subscribe to weekly organics collection under Section 8.04.020, keeping yard debris out of the solid waste cart.
Stockton Yard Trimmings Collection Rules
Some RestrictionsStockton Municipal Code §§ 8.04.010, 8.04.020
"Yard trimmings" means those discarded materials that will decompose and/or putrefy, including, but not limited to, green trimmings, grass, weeds, leaves, prunings, branches, dead plants, brush, tree trimmings, dead trees, small pieces of unpainted and untreated wood, and other types of organic materials resulting from normal yard and landscaping maintenance that may be specified by the City or...
Dumpster Rules
Stockton requires refuse and recycling storage areas sized by unit count or building square footage, screened on at least three sides with masonry walls, and kept out of front yards, street-side yards, parking spaces and within 20 feet of neighboring doors or windows.
Stockton Dumpster & Trash Enclosure Rules
Some RestrictionsStockton Development Code § 16.36.130
§ 16.36.130. Solid waste/recyclable materials storage. This section provides standards for the provision of solid waste (refuse) and recyclable material storage areas in compliance with State law (California Solid Waste Reuse and Recycling Access Act, Public Resources Code Sections 42900 through 42911) and Chapter 8.04 of the Municipal Code... A. Residential Projects. 1. Single-Unit, Duplexes, ...
Collection Schedule
Every Stockton property owner must sign up for the City's three-cart collection program, which guarantees at least weekly pickup of recyclable materials, organic materials, and solid waste. Section 8.04.020 makes the service mandatory, and Section 8.04.030 lets the Public Works Director start service automatically if an owner does not arrange it within 10 days of a notice.
Stockton Mandatory Weekly Trash Service
Some RestrictionsStockton Municipal Code §§ 8.04.020, 8.04.030
It shall be mandatory for the record owner of any property in the City in and from which solid waste is created, accumulated, or produced, unless requirements are otherwise waived or exempted subject to Section 8.04.190, to: A. Subscribe to and pay for City's three container collection services for at least weekly collection of recyclable materials, organic materials, and solid waste; ... When ...
Looking for San Joaquin County county-wide rules?
County ordinances apply to unincorporated areas and may supplement Stockton city rules.
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