Trash & Recycling in Mendocino County, CA (2026)
6 rules for unincorporated Mendocino County, California.
Verified from official government sources
Pickup Rules & Schedules
In unincorporated Mendocino County, every owner or tenant must arrange satisfactory refuse removal under County Code Sec. 9A.08.040, either by subscribing to the franchised hauler or by self-hauling to a permitted facility without compensation. The County provides franchised collection in all unincorporated areas.
Mendocino County Garbage Collection and Self-Haul Rules
Some RestrictionsMendocino County Code Sec. 9A.08.040 (General Refuse Removal Requirement)
The owner or tenant shall effect the removal of solid waste by one of the following means: (A) Collection Service. A person may elect to use the waste hauling services provided by a franchised collector in his/her collection area. (B) Self-Haul Refuse Removal. A person may remove and dispose of refuse created, produced or accumulated without the necessity of a permit for that purpose; provided,...
Bin Placement Rules
Unincorporated Mendocino County requires refuse carts to be kept closed and sanitary, set out no more than 12 hours before pickup, removed within 12 hours after, and stored at least 10 feet from the road. Carts left continuously at the curb can be tagged and service canceled under County Code Sec. 9A.16.010.
Mendocino County Trash Cart Storage and Set-Out Rules
Some RestrictionsMendocino County Code Sec. 9A.16.010(B) (Containers - Requirements)
Containers shall not be placed at the point of collection earlier than twelve (12) hours prior to the date and time of scheduled collection, nor left there longer than twelve (12) hours following collection... When not set out for collection, the Containers shall be removed not less than ten (10) feet away from the vehicular right-of-way. Under no circumstances may the Containers be left contin...
Bulk Item Disposal
Tires, furniture, appliances, and other 'hard-to-handle waste' can't just go in a refuse container or a Mendocino County disposal site: Section 9A.08.090 requires special arrangements first, either with the franchised solid waste collector or directly with the disposal site operator.
Mendocino County Tire and Bulky Waste Rules
Some RestrictionsMendocino County Code § 9A.08.090 (Tires and/or Hard-to-Handle Waste)
No person shall deposit in any container used for refuse any tires and/or hard-to-handle waste or substance without having first made special arrangements for the disposal thereof with the solid waste collector. No person shall knowingly deposit any tires and/or hard-to-handle waste or substance in or at any disposal site without having first made special arrangements with the site operator.
Recycling Requirements
Unincorporated Mendocino County requires source-separated recyclables to be kept out of the trash and placed in the blue recycling container under County Code Title 9A. Commercial businesses must subscribe to recycling service, and contaminating recyclables can draw warnings and fees.
Mendocino County Recycling Requirements
Some RestrictionsMendocino County Code Sec. 9A.16.080 (Recyclables Separation)
All persons who subscribe or voluntarily participate in the recyclable material collection program established by this Title, shall prepare and separate those recyclable materials that the County has contracted for pick-up by the authorized recycling entity from other garbage, rubbish and refuse as required by this Title or any collection franchise agreement.
Mandatory Organics Recycling
Unincorporated Mendocino County Code Sec. 9A.08.050 requires single-family homes to subscribe to three-container service and put food scraps and green waste in the green organics cart, implementing California SB 1383, unless they self-haul or get a waiver. Waivers exist for de minimis, physical-space, and low-density situations.
Mendocino County Mandatory Organic Waste (SB 1383)
Some RestrictionsMendocino County Code Sec. 9A.08.050(A)(1) (Refuse Removal Requirements for Generators Subject to SB 1383)
Single-Family Dwelling Organic Waste Generators shall subscribe to the County's three-container collection services and comply with the requirements of those services as described below, except Single-Family Dwelling Organic Waste Generators that meet the Self-Hauler requirements stated in paragraph (C) below or have been granted a waiver pursuant to Section 9A.24.040.
Illegal Dumping
Dumping refuse on public property, rights-of-way, watercourses, or someone else's land anywhere in unincorporated Mendocino County is unlawful under Section 9A.08.030, and the county can order a private property owner to remove illegally accumulated refuse under Section 9A.24.050 if it threatens public health.
Mendocino County Illegal Dumping Rules
Significant RestrictionsMendocino County Code § 9A.08.030 (Refuse Deposition—Public Property)
No person shall throw or deposit or cause to be thrown or deposited, any refuse or abandon any material whatsoever, in or upon any public property, public right-of-way, watercourse, or banks of any watercourse, or upon the premises of any other person except at a disposal site, container site, materials recovery facility (MRF), transfer station, recycling industry or authorized recycling entity...
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