Fremont, CA Trash & Recycling: Collection Schedule (2026)
Key Facts
- Governing section
- FMC 8.40.150 (collection schedule)
- Single-family pickup
- Weekly at curbside
- Backyard/alley service (disabled)
- Free, on application
- Denied backyard-service disputes
- Appeal to hearing officer
- Multifamily/commercial minimum
- Weekly (FMC 8.40.170)
- Subscription
- Mandatory citywide (FMC 8.40.050)
Summary
Fremont Municipal Code Section 8.40.150 sets weekly curbside collection for single-family trash, recycling, and organics carts on a schedule the franchise collector publishes, with free backyard or alley pickup available to residents who can't manage curbside service on their own.
Collection from single-family dwellings shall be at curbside on a weekly basis, in accordance with a schedule published by the franchise collector. Customers who are physically unable to perform the activities necessary to avail themselves of curbside collection service may apply to the franchise collector for provision of collection from backyards or alleys, as appropriate, at no extra charge. Any dispute regarding the denial by the franchise collector of such service to a customer who claims to be entitled to it may be appealed by the customer to, and shall be finally resolved by, the administrative hearing officer. Other single-family dwelling customers may arrange with the franchise collector for backyard or alley collection at an additional charge. Collection from commercial generators that produce sufficiently small quantities of discarded materials so as to practicably utilize the carts provided by the franchise collector shall be from the premises or adjacent alley on a weekly basis.
Official source re-checked September 8, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: current through Ordinance 02-2026, passed May 5, 2026).
Full Breakdown
150. Residents who are physically unable to move their carts to the curb can apply to the collector for backyard or alley pickup at no extra cost; if the collector denies that request to someone who believes they qualify, the dispute goes to the city's administrative hearing officer for a final decision. Other single-family customers who simply prefer not to handle curbside carts can arrange backyard or alley service for an additional fee. Small-volume commercial generators that can practicably use standard carts are also collected weekly, from the premises or an adjacent alley.
170, which requires at least once-a-week service and more often if needed to keep the premises sanitary, and lets the director approve less-frequent pickup only for certain low-putrescible roll-off accounts. 050 makes MSW, recyclables, and organics service mandatory for every single-family home, multifamily building, and commercial generator in the city. 170 require the franchise collector to notify the generator of the need to upgrade service, and failing to fix the shortfall after that notice becomes its own infraction under the chapter.
Violations & Fines
Ignoring the franchise collector's notice to subscribe to a larger cart or more frequent service after routinely producing more waste than the current subscription can hold is an infraction under Sections 8.40.160 and 8.40.170. Chapter 1.15's general penalty schedule applies: up to $100 for a first infraction, $200 for a second within a year, and $500 for a third, or a misdemeanor charge of up to $1,000 and six months in jail.
Frequently Asked Questions
How often does Fremont pick up my trash and recycling?
Can I get my trash picked up from my backyard instead of the curb?
What happens if I don't have a big enough cart for my trash?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Fremont
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