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

Section 8.12.190 is Highland's pickup schedule in one place. Frequency comes first. Under subsection A, the person in charge of the day-to-day operation of any property other than a commercial food preparation establishment must arrange removal of all refuse from the property not less frequently than once a week. Subsection B doubles that for commercial food preparation establishments: refuse must leave the property not less frequently than twice a week. For commercial and multifamily residential premises, subsection C lets the public works subcommittee specify the frequency of collection and the size and number of bins required.

Hours come next. Collection is allowed only between 6:00 a.m. and 6:00 p.m. of any day, Monday through Saturday. Commercial pickup can begin at 5:00 a.m. if the commercial location is not adjacent to residential uses. Any earlier time is authorized only upon prior written approval of the public works subcommittee, and that approval must include requirements for the contractor to notify the affected customers before implementing the change. Subsection E adds that the subcommittee can regulate the routes, intervals, delivery points and times for collection by all contractors operating within the city, to head off problems of traffic, noise, wear and tear on the highway, or other problems with the potential to affect health, safety or the environment.

The resident-side rules sit next door. Solid waste must be at the curb by 6:00 a.m. on the designated pickup day (§ 8.12.170(H)), containers cannot go out more than 24 hours early or stay more than 12 hours after collection (§ 8.12.170(D) and (E)), and § 8.12.200 says residential containers must be accessible for mechanized pick-up. Collection vehicles are held to 75 decibels at a distance of 25 feet during stationary compaction under § 8.12.290(G).

The City Council can set the hours, days and frequency of service by resolution under § 8.12.030. Nobody but the franchisee or its agents and employees can collect refuse or recyclable waste material for hire from franchised premises under § 8.12.260, and § 8.12.180 makes it unlawful to place refuse in the containers of another person.