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

Section 5.20.030, in Article 3 of Chapter 5.20 (Integrated Solid Waste Regulations), requires 'the owner, occupant, or owner-occupant... of every occupied residential dwelling' to pay the established collection rates for refuse, recyclable materials, and organic materials removal, and states plainly that 'Subscription to all services is mandatory.' Residents must place refuse, recyclables, and organics in the designated containers the franchised contractor provides. The companion rule for businesses, section 5.20.040, applies the same mandatory-subscription logic to commercial, industrial, and institutional properties, and made organic-material subscription mandatory for those properties starting January 1, 2022, unless the property qualifies for a de-minimis or physical-space waiver under section 5.20.050.

Frequency for the three waste streams differs: organics are collected weekly under section 5.20.150, while curbside recyclables go out at least once every two weeks, typically weekly or biweekly as arranged between the City and its contractor, under section 5.20.110. There is no self-haul opt-out for residential customers; section 5.20.080 limits self-hauling to specific commercial and industrial situations using the generator's own personnel and equipment, and even then it does not exempt anyone from paying the collection charge. The City bills for this mandatory service directly, acting as the contractor's billing agent under section 5.20.240, and can pursue nonpayment as part of the customer's combined utility account.