Skip to main content
CityRuleLookup
Key FactsOrdinance TextFull BreakdownViolationsFAQSourcesMore in Alameda County

Alameda County, CA Trash & Recycling: Pickup Rules & Schedules (2026)

Significant Restrictions
Compiled from the official code textEditor Martyn O'NeillLast verified August 2026

Key Facts

Authority
Board of Supervisors franchise/permit
No bidding required
For franchise grants
Exceptions
Self-haulers, charities, demolition contractors
Applies to
Designated county service zones

Summary

Only haulers the Board of Supervisors has franchised, permitted, or otherwise authorized may collect trash, recycling, or organic waste within a county collection service zone in unincorporated Alameda County.

City-specific rules exist: San Leandro, Fremont, Berkeley, Hayward, Oakland, and Livermore have their own pickup rules & schedules rules that differ from Alameda County's county-level regulations. If you live in one of those cities, check the city-specific page instead.

Except as provided in Section 6.40.300, no person shall establish, operate or carry on the business of providing collection services within a county collection service zone, unless the Board of Supervisors has granted or issued an exclusive or nonexclusive franchise, permit, or other authorization pursuant to Section 6.40.290(A).

Source: Alameda County Code Ch. 6.04 Solid WasteView official code

Full Breakdown

County Code § 6.40.290(B)-(C) bars anyone from operating a trash, recycling, or organics collection business inside a county collection service zone without a franchise, permit, or other authorization the Board of Supervisors has granted under § 6.40.290(A); it is likewise unlawful for a resident or property owner to let an unauthorized hauler collect those materials. The Board may grant franchises without competitive bidding. Limited exceptions, the county itself, approved self-haulers, charitable recyclable-material drives, and licensed demolition contractors hauling their own debris, are listed at § 6.40.300.

Violations & Fines

Operating as an unauthorized hauler, or knowingly using one, is enforceable through administrative citations and fines under § 6.40.130, in addition to any other legal remedy.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can any private hauler pick up my recycling?
No. Only a hauler the Board of Supervisors has franchised or otherwise authorized may collect within a county service zone; using anyone else is unlawful.
Are there exceptions to the franchise requirement?
Yes: approved self-haulers, charitable recyclable-material collectors, and licensed demolition contractors hauling their own debris are exempted under § 6.40.300.

Sources & Official References

Other rules in Alameda County

Collection ScheduleSome RestrictionsBin Placement RulesSome RestrictionsRecycling RequirementsSome RestrictionsDumpster RulesSome RestrictionsYard Waste CollectionSome RestrictionsIllegal DumpingHeavy RestrictionsMandatory Organics RecyclingSome RestrictionsParking Rules: Commercial & Oversized VehiclesSignificant RestrictionsParking Rules: Preferential Parking DistrictsSome RestrictionsParking Rules: Loading ZonesSome RestrictionsLandscaping Rules: Tree Removal & Heritage TreesSome RestrictionsWater Use Rules: Recycled Water RulesLight RestrictionsHistoric Preservation: Historic-Cultural MonumentsSignificant Restrictions

All Alameda County rules

California rules heatmap·Compare Alameda County to another location·View the California trash & recycling overview

Get notified when Pickup Rules & Schedules in Alameda County, CA changes

We'll email you the moment we detect a change in the code. No spam, unsubscribe anytime.

We'll never sell or share your email. One-click unsubscribe in every email.

See something wrong?

Help us keep this page accurate. If you notice an error or outdated information, let us know.

Pickup Rules & Schedules in Cities Across Alameda County

Oakland, CAFremont, CAHayward, CABerkeley, CASan Leandro, CALivermore, CACastro Valley, CA