Petaluma, CA Trash & Recycling: Bulk Item Disposal (2026)

010(E) defines a "debris box" (also called a "drop box") as any container of ninety-seven gallons or greater used to collect and deliver materials from property cleanup, clearing, landscaping, yard renovation, pruning or gardening; construction, demolition, remodeling, or excavation debris; or one hundred percent recyclable materials generated by commercial premises. 115(A) then locks down who can move that debris: debris boxes may be collected only by a company holding a valid city business license, and the city will not issue that license unless the hauler has already entered into a non-exclusive franchise agreement with Petaluma for debris box placement and collection.

115(B) invokes City Charter § 46's exception allowing the council to approve identical-form non-exclusive franchise agreements by resolution instead of individual ordinance, finding that repetitive council proceedings for each hauler would delay waste diversion, recycling, and franchise-fee payments; the city manager or a designee is then authorized to execute agreements that match a council-approved form. 090(O) bars that contract from providing for the collection of rubble and debris contained in debris boxes, reserving that service for the non-exclusive franchisees. 010(E); using one for ordinary household garbage or other disposal falls outside its statutory purpose.