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Trash & Recycling in Contra Costa County, CA (2026)

6 county-level rules, plus city-specific rules for 9 cities in Contra Costa County, California.

Verified from official government sources

Note: These county rules apply to unincorporated areas of Contra Costa County. If you live within an incorporated city, that city's own rules apply: see the city list below.

Pickup Rules & Schedules

Contra Costa County requires every home and business in the unincorporated area to subscribe to organic waste collection or haul it themselves under the county's own rules. Ordinance Code Chapter 418-20 implements the state's organics law locally, and skipping the service can draw escalating fines starting at $100.

Contra Costa Organic Waste Pickup Rules

Some Restrictions

Contra Costa County Ordinance Code §§ 418-20.206, 418-20.222 (Organic Waste Disposal Reduction Ordinance, Ord. No. 2021-38)

(a)Subject to Section 418-20.210, organic waste generators shall do at least one of the following:(1)Subscribe to and comply with the requirements of an organic waste collection service that is provided to the organic waste generator... (2)Self-haul organic waste in a manner that complies with Subsection 418-20.212(b). ... The amount of the fine will be $100.00 for a first violation, $200.00 fo...

Recycling Requirements

SB 1383 mandates organics recycling for all residents and businesses. Contra Costa County requires separation of recyclables (blue cart) and organics including food scraps (green cart) with enforcement beginning 2024.

Trash: Recycling

Some Restrictions

CalRecycle (SB 1383)

Air pollutants like PM 2.5, which contributes to health conditions like asthma. Organics like food scraps, yard trimmings, paper, and cardboard make up half of what Californians dump in landfills. Cutting short-lived climate pollutants can have the fastest impact on the climate. *Click on the boxes below to go to the topic page. Collections All jurisdictions need to provide organic waste collec...

Mandatory Organics Recycling

Unincorporated Contra Costa County requires every organic waste generator, homes and businesses alike, to either subscribe to an organic waste collection service or self-haul under the county's own program. Placing garbage or recyclables in the wrong cart is a separate 'prohibited contaminant' violation. The Department of Conservation and Development enforces the mandate under Ordinance Code Chapter 418-20, adopted to satisfy the state's SB 1383 organics law.

Contra Costa County Organic Waste Separation Mandate

Some Restrictions

Contra Costa County Ordinance Code §§ 418-20.206(a)-(b), 418-20.222(e)(2)

(a)Subject to Section 418-20.210, organic waste generators shall do at least one of the following:(1)Subscribe to and comply with the requirements of an organic waste collection service that is provided to the organic waste generator. An organic waste generator will be deemed to be in compliance with the subscription requirement if a property owner or commercial business subscribes to an organi...

Illegal Dumping

Contra Costa County Code Chapter 418-10 and Penal Code 374.3 make illegal dumping a misdemeanor with fines up to $10,000, possible jail time, and mandatory cleanup costs. County operates illegal dumping hotline.

Trash: Illegal Dumping

Some Restrictions

California Penal Code § 374.3(a)-(c)

(a) It is unlawful to dump or cause to be dumped waste matter in or upon a public or private highway or road, including any portion of the right-of-way thereof, or in or upon private property into or upon which the public is admitted by easement or license, or upon private property without the consent of the owner, or in or upon a public park or other public property other than property designa...

Collection Schedule

Every home and business in unincorporated Contra Costa County must subscribe to weekly trash pickup, not just own a can. Chapter 418-6 requires owners of rented houses, apartments and commercial premises to pay a licensed collector for service at least once a week or face a presumed nuisance and a county-ordered subscription.

Contra Costa Mandatory Trash Subscription

Some Restrictions

Contra Costa County Ordinance Code § 418-6.008

Every owner and/or person required by Section 418-6.006 hereof to provide and keep containers shall, except as provided in Section 418-6.012, subscribe with a collector for the collection and disposal of solid waste, such service to be provided on a basis not less frequent than once each week, except that in the case of any leased or rented single-family dwelling house, or any leased or rented ...

Recycling Rules

Contra Costa County won't let a landfill operator accept solid waste from a hauler whose local agency isn't running a certified recycling program. Chapter 418-10 has required haulers to divert twelve specific materials, from aluminum cans to yard waste, since the program phased in fully back in 1996.

Contra Costa Landfill Recycling Rules

Some Restrictions

Contra Costa County Ordinance Code §§ 418-10.602, 418-10.604

Beginning January 1, 1993, an operator of a landfill shall not accept solid waste from the haulers of a local agency that is not implementing a recycling program approved and certified by the board as satisfying the requirements of this chapter. ... The recycling program shall include collection or diversion of the following materials: (a) aluminum cans, (b) glass containers, (c) newsprint, (d)...

Trash & Recycling by City in Contra Costa County

9 cities in Contra Costa County have their own trash & recycling rules. Each link goes to that city's dedicated page with code citations.

All Contra Costa County ordinances

See every category we cover for Contra Costa County: parking, noise, fences, fires, animals, pools, and more.

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