Santa Cruz, CA Trash & Recycling: Bin Placement Rules (2026)

Cart and bin placement in unincorporated Santa Cruz County is set by County Code Chapter 7.20 (Solid Waste) and the franchised hauler's service rules. The County ordinance provides that discarded-materials containers shall not be placed at the curbside, or adjacent to streets or roadways for collection, more than 24 hours before pick-up time, and they must be removed from the pick-up site within 24 hours after they have been emptied. This keeps carts from lingering in the public view at the street between collection days. GreenWaste Recovery provides three carts: a gray cart for garbage, a blue 64-gallon cart for recycling (96-gallon available on request), and a green 96-gallon cart for organics (64-gallon available on request). All materials must be ready for collection no later than 5 AM on the customer's normal collection day. For proper pickup, carts should be placed at the curb with the lid able to close and positioned so the automated collection vehicle can reach them, typically with clearance from cars, mailboxes, and other carts. Overflow garbage may be placed in black or gray 32-gallon bags next to the garbage cart, and extra yard trimmings in cans or secured bundles no larger than three feet by three feet next to the organics cart. Once segregated materials are set out for collection, they become the property of the County-authorized service provider. Carts should otherwise be stored on the resident's own property.