Sonoma, CA Property Maintenance: Trash Bin Storage (2026)

Solid waste collection in the unincorporated county is franchised, primarily to Recology Sonoma Marin, which serves dozens of unincorporated communities including Guerneville, Glen Ellen, Forestville, Penngrove, Bodega Bay, Geyserville, and rural Petaluma and Sebastopol. Residents receive three carts collected weekly: a gray cart for garbage, a blue cart for recycling, and a green cart for yard waste and food scraps (compost). Carts are available in 20-, 32-, 64-, and 96-gallon sizes. Recology instructs customers not to 'over-stuff or compact the cart, as all of the material may not be released into the truck.' Extra garbage is not collected loose; customers must call at least one day before their collection day to schedule extra service, and overflow may then be placed in 32-gallon plastic bags. The County's organics service includes delivery of a 32-gallon compost cart and weekly collection of compostable materials such as food scraps, soiled paper, and plant trimmings. Because collection is franchised rather than self-arranged, cart standards (sizes, what goes in each, overflow rules) are set by the hauler's service program rather than a numbered County Code section. Households that maintain carts improperly or let waste accumulate outside carts can also be cited by Permit Sonoma Code Enforcement as a property nuisance.