San Bernardino County, CA Trash & Recycling: Bulk Item Disposal (2026)
Key Facts
- Governing section
- County Code § 33.0809(a)-(b)
- Bulky waste examples
- Appliances, furniture, tree limbs, stumps
- Prohibited waste examples
- Dead animals over 15 lbs, battery acid, toxic material
- Enforcing agency
- DEHS as Local Enforcement Agency
- Curbside window
- Out 12 hrs before, removed 24 hrs after pickup
- Permit required
- Hauler needs current DEHS health & safety permit
- Misdemeanor penalty
- $500-$1,000 fine or up to 6 months jail
Summary
San Bernardino County bars residents from setting bulky wastes like appliances, furniture, tree limbs, and stumps out for pickup without first arranging collection with their permitted hauler, under County Code § 33.0809(a). Subdivision (b) separately bans mixing prohibited wastes, dead animals over 15 pounds, battery acid, and other caustic or toxic material, into regular rubbish or garbage collected by that hauler.
(a) Bulky wastes shall not be set out for collection without having made prior arrangements with the refuse collection operator for pickup of the waste.
(b) No prohibited wastes shall be mixed or placed with any rubbish or garbage which is to be collected, removed or disposed of by the refuse collection operator.
Full Breakdown
0809 sits in Article 1 of the refuse and collection chapter that the Division of Environmental Health Services (DEHS) administers as the county's Local Enforcement Agency for solid waste. 0802 describe BULKY WASTES as large items of solid waste such as appliances, furniture, trees, branches, stumps and other oversize wastes whose large size precludes or complicates handling by normal collection, processing or disposal methods, and PROHIBITED WASTES as dead animals exceeding 15 pounds in weight, battery acid, poisonous, caustic or toxic material, or other substances capable of damaging clothing or causing injury and dangerous or destructive chemicals.
0809(b) bars mixing any prohibited waste into the rubbish or garbage stream the operator collects, transports, or disposes of. 0808 governs timing for whatever is set out: residential containers may be placed at the curb no more than 12 hours before scheduled pickup and must be removed within 24 hours after pickup, with DEHS approving any other location. 0824(a).
Violations & Fines
Section 33.0811 makes any violation of this Article unlawful and applies the same administration, enforcement, remedies and penalties set out in Chapters 1 through 3 of Division 3, Title 3 of the County Code. Under § 33.0112, a conviction is ordinarily a misdemeanor with a base fine of $500 to $1,000, up to six months in County jail, or both; DEHS can instead charge the violation as an infraction, with fines of $100, $200, and $500 for repeat violations of the same section within a year.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I just leave an old refrigerator at the curb for pickup in San Bernardino County?
What counts as prohibited waste that I can't mix into my trash?
How long can I leave my trash bin at the curb?
What happens if I violate the bulky or prohibited waste rules?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in San Bernardino County
California rules heatmap·Compare San Bernardino County to another location·View the California trash & recycling overview
See something wrong?
Help us keep this page accurate. If you notice an error or outdated information, let us know.