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

San Joaquin County does not operate its own collection fleet — residential service in unincorporated areas is provided through exclusive franchise agreements with private haulers, principally Waste Management of San Joaquin County (northern and eastern unincorporated areas including Linden, Lockeford, Clements, Escalon-area unincorporated) and Republic Services (Tracy-area, Mountain House, and southern/western unincorporated). Each household receives three carts: gray/black (trash), blue (recyclables — commingled paper, cardboard, glass, metal, and plastics #1–#5), and green (organics — yard waste plus food scraps as required by state SB 1383 effective January 2022). Weekly pickup occurs on an assigned day; bins must be curbside by 6:00 AM and set 3 feet apart with handles toward the house. Holidays (New Year's, Independence Day, Thanksgiving, Christmas) delay service one day that week. The Lovelace Transfer Station (Stockton) and Foothill Sanitary Landfill accept self-haul and overflow. SB 1383 mandatory organics diversion applies to all residents regardless of city or county. The Mountain House Community Services District operates its own franchise separate from county service.