Yard Waste Collection: Fairfield vs Vacaville
How do yard waste collection rules compare between Fairfield, CA and Vacaville, CA?
Vacaville has fewer restrictions than Fairfield.
Fairfield, CA
Solano County
Yard waste in Fairfield must go in the green organics cart under Fairfield Municipal Code Chapter 9 and California SB 1383 (Public Resources Code §42652+). Backyard burning of yard debris is prohibited by Bay Area Air Quality Management District (BAAQMD) Regulation 5 and the California Health and Safety Code; only the franchise green-cart stream and approved composting are allowed.
View full Fairfield rules →Vacaville, CA
Solano County
Yard trimmings in Vacaville go in the green organics cart along with food scraps, under California SB 1383. The cart is collected weekly by Recology Vacaville Solano and processed at Jepson Prairie Organics. Open burning of landscape debris is regulated by the Yolo-Solano Air Quality Management District (YSAQMD), which has jurisdiction over agricultural and open burning in northeastern Solano County including Vacaville, Dixon, and Rio Vista.
View full Vacaville rules →Key Facts Comparison
| Fact | Fairfield | Vacaville |
|---|---|---|
| Required Stream | Green organics cart | - |
| Allowed Materials | Grass, leaves, prunings, small branches, food scraps | - |
| Burning Yard Debris | Prohibited (BAAQMD Reg. 5) | - |
| Sorting Mandate | CA SB 1383 (PRC §42652+) | - |
| Home Compost | Allowed, SB 1383 source-reduction credit | - |
| Yard Waste Cart | - | Green organics cart (Recology) |
| Frequency | - | Weekly |
| Processor | - | Jepson Prairie Organics |
| Air District | - | Yolo-Solano AQMD (YSAQMD) |
| Burning | - | Permit + burn day required; residential urban burning generally not allowed |
Highlighted rows indicate differences between cities.
Fairfield FAQ
Where does yard waste go in Fairfield?
In the green organics cart. Fairfield's combined-organics program under Fairfield Municipal Code Chapter 9 and California SB 1383 accepts grass clippings, leaves, small branches, hedge prunings, and food scraps together. The cart is collected weekly by Republic Services / Solano Garbage Company and delivered to a composting facility.
Can I burn leaves in my Fairfield backyard?
No. Fairfield is inside the Bay Area Air Quality Management District, and BAAQMD Regulation 5 — together with California Health & Safety Code §41800+ — prohibits open burning of yard debris in residential areas. Use the green organics cart, drop off at the Republic Services Recycle & Waste Center, or home-compost the material.
Vacaville FAQ
Where do grass clippings go in Vacaville?
Grass clippings and other yard trimmings go in your green organics cart provided by Recology Vacaville Solano. The same cart accepts food scraps under California SB 1383. Place trimmings loose or in approved kraft paper bags (no plastic bags), and set the cart out by 6:00 a.m. on your collection day.
Can I burn yard waste in Vacaville?
Open burning of landscape debris in urban Vacaville is generally prohibited. The Yolo-Solano Air Quality Management District (YSAQMD) has jurisdiction over open and agricultural burning in northeastern Solano County (Vacaville, Dixon, Rio Vista), and any allowed burn requires a YSAQMD permit, must take place on a declared burn day during burn hours, and may not cause a nuisance. The Vacaville Fire Department enforces fire-code restrictions on outdoor burning.
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