5 rules for unincorporated Modoc County, California.
Verified from official government sources
Unincorporated Modoc County has no universal curbside garbage franchise. Most residents self-haul household trash to County transfer stations operated through Alturas Disposal — main site in Alturas plus outlying sites (Lake City, Newell, Lookout, Adin, Davis Creek, Fort Bidwell, Eagleville). Disposal is fee-per-can/per-yard. Environmental Health is the solid-waste enforcement agency.
Unincorporated Modoc County has no countywide curbside cart program, so there is no county-wide setout-time or bin-spacing ordinance. Most residents self-haul to transfer stations, where staff direct unloading. Where curbside service exists (mainly Alturas), the hauler asks for a ~33-gallon cart, bagged trash, and a lid that closes; that is a service term, not an unincorporated-county rule.
Unincorporated Modoc County residents dispose of bulky items by self-hauling to a County transfer station, where posted per-item fees apply — for example mattresses and furniture at a set price each and tires (no rims) at a per-tire rate. There is no countywide scheduled curbside bulky pickup. Free household-hazardous-waste drop-off (batteries, oil, oil filters, paint) is offered at select sites.
Unincorporated Modoc County has no countywide household curbside recycling mandate. CRV beverage containers redeem at Blue Water Recycling in Alturas, and the County offers free drop-off of batteries, used oil, oil filters, and paint at select transfer stations. California's AB 341 still requires qualifying businesses and 5-plus-unit apartments to recycle; the statewide CRV bottle bill applies.
California's SB 1383 mandates organic-waste recycling statewide, but Modoc County qualifies as a rural jurisdiction (a county under 70,000 people, Public Resources Code §42649.8) and received a CalRecycle Rural Exemption effective January 1, 2022. So there is no mandatory residential green-organics cart in the unincorporated county. Edible food recovery and other universal SB 1383 duties still apply.
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