Pasadena, CA Trash & Recycling: Collection Schedule (2026)

Pasadena Municipal Code Section 8.60.025(A) makes the city the exclusive collector of solid waste for every single-family home and every multi-family building with four or fewer units; the city council has found that exclusive city collection service is necessary to protect public health, safety and well-being. The director, designated the enforcement official for the chapter under Section 8.60.020(K), has charge of the collection program and sets the specific routes and days of pickup, and must give the public appropriate notice whenever routes, days or collection methods change.

Larger properties, defined as commercial units, estate residential units (parcels of 20,000 square feet or more), and multi-family buildings with five or more units, are excluded from mandatory city service; the city will only collect from them if the property owner submits a written request to the director for a minimum six-month service term under Section 8.60.025(B). The city may refuse to collect solid waste that is not stored according to the chapter's container rules, and any recyclable material placed in the public right-of-way or in a regulation container for collection becomes city property under Section 8.60.025(C)-(D).

Separately, no responsible person may let solid waste accumulate on their property for more than 7 calendar days without the director's written permission, under Section 8.60.070(A). Businesses that self-haul or use a private hauler instead of the city's service must be licensed as a franchise vehicle operator under Chapter 8.61, per Section 8.60.200.