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

Curbside set-out in all-unincorporated Trinity County follows the County Solid Waste Department's service rules rather than a detailed County code section, since the County operates the system directly. For residents who have curbside collection (available in some areas, not all), containers must be out and ready by 6:00 a.m. on the scheduled collection day, because pickup begins at 6:00 a.m. All trash must be bagged, tied and secured with no loose trash in cans, containers must be no larger than 33 gallons, and no single container may weigh more than 50 pounds. The County's published materials do not state a specific numeric spacing (such as a set number of feet between cans or distance from mailboxes and parked cars), so residents should simply keep containers accessible and clear of obstructions on the collection day. Underlying all of this, Title 8 (Health, Safety and Nuisances), Chapter 8.08, requires that solid waste not be allowed to accumulate or be stored in a way that creates a nuisance — so containers and refuse must not produce odors, attract vermin, or become a public-health problem between pickups. The great majority of Trinity County residents do not have curbside service and instead self-haul to a transfer site, where staff direct vehicles to the correct unloading area and require customers to arrive with enough time to unload before the gate closes. For missed-pickup or placement questions, contact Solid Waste at 530-623-1326; report collection problems within three working days.