5 rules for unincorporated Imperial County, California.
Verified from official government sources
Unincorporated Imperial County historically had no curbside collection; residents self-hauled waste to county disposal sites. Effective July 1, 2026, the county's Solid Waste Franchise Zone program makes weekly three-cart collection mandatory in franchised unincorporated areas at about $26.51 per month, billed annually on the property tax roll, with no residential waivers.
Because unincorporated Imperial County had no curbside service until 2026, there is no detailed numeric set-out ordinance. Under the new franchise program, set-out time and cart placement are governed by the assigned hauler (CR&R or Republic Services). Containers left to accumulate refuse can still be abated as a Title 9 nuisance.
Unincorporated Imperial County residents have traditionally self-hauled bulky items and household trash to county disposal sites, several of which offer limited free drop-off with valid ID and a matching water bill. The county operates nine landfills/disposal sites, and the new franchise program adds collection service; illegal dumping of bulky items is separately prohibited.
Recycling in unincorporated Imperial County is driven primarily by California state law - AB 341 mandatory commercial recycling and SB 1383 - rather than a detailed county recycling code. The new franchise program adds a blue recycling cart to every covered home effective July 1, 2026, alongside the trash and organics carts.
California's SB 1383 requires organic-waste (food scraps and yard waste) collection statewide. With ~180,000 residents, Imperial County exceeds the 70,000 rural-county threshold, so there is no blanket waiver - though low-density desert census tracts may qualify for CalRecycle waivers. The county's mandatory green-cart program takes effect July 1, 2026, with no residential waivers.
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