Del Norte County, CA Trash & Recycling: Bin Placement Rules (2026)

Recology Del Norte, the franchised hauler under the Del Norte Solid Waste Management Authority, sets specific cart-placement instructions for collection throughout the county. Residents must place carts curbside in the street for service by 6 a.m. on their weekly service day. Carts should be positioned with the wheels against the curb and the arrows on the lid pointed toward the street so the automated trucks can reach and empty them. For properties on streets that do not have a curb, carts are placed on the roadside, spaced 3 feet apart from each other, and facing toward the street. Adequate spacing matters because automated collection trucks need room to grab each cart individually; bunched or blocked carts may be missed. For bulky-item pickups, items must likewise be placed near the curb or roadside by 6 a.m. on the scheduled pickup day. Beyond collection-day placement, day-to-day cart storage is governed by the county's general nuisance code (County Code Chapter 7.08), which prohibits conditions amounting to visual blight; carts should not be left to accumulate refuse or create offensive conditions. Residents should keep carts clear of mailboxes, parked cars, low wires, and obstructions, and should retrieve them promptly after collection to avoid blight concerns.