Trash & Recycling in San Benito County, CA (2026)
6 rules for unincorporated San Benito County, California.
Verified from official government sources
Pickup Rules & Schedules
Unincorporated San Benito County requires solid waste to be collected and disposed of at least once a week, and the county's Health Officer can order more frequent pickup for heavy generators.
San Benito County Trash Pickup Frequency Rules
Some RestrictionsSan Benito County Code § 15.01.024(A)
(A) Solid waste containers on all premises shall be emptied and solid waste shall be collected and properly disposed of not less than once a week. ... The county's Health Officer may require collection or disposal at a different frequency on premises where solid waste is produced in such quantities, or is of such a nature, that the increased frequency is necessary to prevent the occurrence of...
Bin Placement Rules
Unincorporated San Benito County residents may not set solid waste containers at the curb more than 24 hours before collection and must pull them back within 24 hours after pickup.
San Benito County Trash Bin Placement Times
Some RestrictionsSan Benito County Code § 15.01.023
Solid waste containers shall not be placed adjacent to streets or roadways to facilitate collection, transportation or disposal more than 24 hours prior to scheduled collection, transportation or disposal time. The containers shall be removed from the pickup site within 24 hours after they have been emptied.
Recycling Requirements
In unincorporated San Benito County, every property owner must separate recyclables from other solid waste and use a distinct container, with multi-family properties filing a collection plan for county approval.
San Benito County Recycling Separation Rules
Some RestrictionsSan Benito County Code § 15.01.021(C)
(C) Source separation. All persons in the county shall separate all recyclables from other solid waste generated at their premises and shall place the recyclables into a different container so as to facilitate segregation at a solid waste facility. An owner or agent of an owner of a multi-family rental housing property with three or more units shall comply with its separation responsibilities...
Illegal Dumping
Dumping solid waste, soil, or fill material anywhere in unincorporated San Benito County other than an approved solid waste facility is banned outright and is a misdemeanor.
San Benito County Illegal Dumping Penalties
Heavy RestrictionsSan Benito County Code § 15.01.027
Except as otherwise provided by law and this chapter, no person or entity shall deposit or discharge, or cause to be deposited or discharged any solid waste, soil, or fill material in any place other than an approved solid waste facility. No person shall allow or permit the deposit or discharge of solid waste in violation of this chapter on property owned, controlled or possessed by that person.
Dumpster Rules
Multi-family developments of five or more units in unincorporated San Benito County must enclose shared dumpsters in a screened structure at least six feet tall, hidden from public rights of way.
San Benito County Multi-Family Dumpster Enclosure Rules
Some RestrictionsSan Benito County Code § 25.08.005(I)(2)
In developments with five units or more, shared refuse containers shall be provided, which shall be located within an enclosure or building. The applicant shall provide the County with information from the refuse pickup provider verifying the size and number of dumpsters required by the projects. (c) Refuse enclosures shall be a minimum of six feet tall and an adequate size to accomm...
Collection Schedule
In designated mandatory areas of unincorporated San Benito County, the exclusive franchise collector must pick up trash from every property whether or not the owner requested service, with narrow exemptions.
San Benito County Mandatory Trash Collection
Significant RestrictionsSan Benito County Code § 15.01.040(B)(1)(a)-(b)
(a) The exclusive franchise collector shall collect all solid waste generated from all residential, commercial and industrial properties in the unincorporated county as designated on Exhibit A ... regardless of whether or not these services were requested by the affected property owner or tenant. (b) All residential county service areas consisting of ten lots or more ... shall be designated...
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