Redwood City, CA Trash & Recycling: Bin Placement Rules (2026)

Section 14.15 puts the placement duty on "every person in possession, charge, or control of any premises," who must provide a sufficient number of containers of sufficient capacity for the garbage, recyclables and organic materials the property produces between successive collections. Anyone who has obtained a self-haul waiver under Section 14.2(B) instead must size containers to cover the gap between self-haul trips. The containers themselves have to meet Section 14.11's standard: watertight, built of material the Building Inspector approves, with bales or handles, and under Section 14.13 the lids must stay on except when refuse is actually being placed in or removed from the can.

Section 14.15(B) bars curbside placement that blocks a driveway, sidewalk or street, or that gets in the way of pedestrians, vehicles or sightlines, and Section 14.15(C) narrows the window for putting a cart out for pickup to between noon on the day before the scheduled collection and noon on the day after, so carts cannot sit at the curb all week. Multi-dwelling properties carry an extra duty under Section 14.16: each unit's receptacles must be plainly marked so ownership is clear. The Health Officer, defined in Section 14.1 as the Public Works Services Director or a designee, may inspect premises under Section 14.3 to confirm compliance, and Section 14.28 lets the Health Officer settle any dispute over exactly where a receptacle should sit awaiting collection.