Sonoma, CA Trash & Recycling: Bulk Item Disposal (2026)
Key Facts
- Bulky items in regular pickup
- Prohibited, § 7.08.111
- How to dispose of them
- Request special collection, § 7.08.080
- Special collection fee
- Set by the collector, reasonable
- Fee dispute resolver
- City manager's decision is final
- Hazardous waste
- Separately barred, § 7.08.112
Summary
Bulky items, discarded appliances and furniture cannot go out with the City of Sonoma's regular cart pickup. Sonoma Municipal Code § 7.08.111 keeps them out of regular collection, and § 7.08.080 lets a resident or business request a special collection from the franchised hauler for a reasonable fee the collector itself sets.
In addition to the rates for collection of solid waste and source separated materials provided by resolution of the city council, the solid waste collector, when requested by the owner, tenant, or occupant of any residential or business premises to make a special collection of any solid waste or source separated materials in addition to the collection provided by this chapter, shall be entitled to collect and receive a reasonable fee for such service as established by the collector. In case of any dispute between the collector and a customer regarding such additional fees, the determination of the city manager regarding the amount of such fees shall be final.
Official source re-checked September 8, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: current through Ordinance 13-2025, passed December 3, 2025).
Full Breakdown
08 treats oversized waste differently from routine curbside collection. 050, along with discarded appliances and furniture, shall not be placed for regular collection by customers of the city's solid waste collector. 070. 080 makes the city manager's determination of the fee final, giving residents an administrative check on the collector's pricing without going to court. 112 bars it from garbage, recycling or organic waste containers entirely and directs customers to request collection from a firm certified or licensed to handle hazardous materials, rather than from the regular hauler's special-collection service.
Violations & Fines
Setting bulky items, appliances or furniture out for regular collection instead of requesting a special pickup violates § 7.08.111 and is a misdemeanor under the general penalty in § 7.08.130, enforced per Chapter 1.12 SMC. A dispute over a special-collection fee does not excuse nonpayment; under § 7.08.080 the city manager's fee determination is final, and unpaid charges may be recovered civilly with interest and costs under § 7.08.130.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I put an old couch or refrigerator out with my regular trash in the City of Sonoma?
How do I get bulky items picked up in the City of Sonoma?
What if I think the bulky-item pickup fee is too high?
Can I put old paint or batteries out for bulky item pickup?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Sonoma
California rules heatmap·Compare Sonoma to another location·View the California trash & recycling overview
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Bulk Item Disposal in Nearby Cities
How other cities in Sonoma County handle bulk item disposal.