Unincorporated Monterey County requires weekly solid-waste collection from every occupied home and business under County Code 10.41.030. Service is provided by the County's franchised hauler under the Unified Franchise Agreement that began January 1, 2025, with residential collection allowed roughly 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. on weekdays.
Trash pickup in the unincorporated county is mandatory and franchise-based. County Code Section 10.41.030 requires that all solid waste be collected from every occupied residence, apartment, or business at least once a week, and the franchised hauler must provide service whether or not the property owner or tenant requested it, unless the property is expressly exempted under the Code. The County awarded a Unified Franchise Agreement, with a Service Commencement Date of January 1, 2025, under which the contractor provides solid waste, recyclables, and organic-waste collection across the unincorporated service area. The agreement sets collection windows: single-family and multi-family residential collection runs no earlier than 6:00 a.m. and no later than 6:00 p.m., Monday through Friday, with no Saturday or Sunday service except in limited circumstances; commercial collection runs no earlier than 4:00 a.m. and no later than 10:00 p.m., Monday through Saturday, but must stay within the 6 a.m.-6 p.m. window within 200 feet of single-family homes. Holidays can shift collection by a day. Because the County does not run its own trucks, residents arrange service, report missed pickups, and ask about schedules and rates through the franchised hauler. Properties may self-haul to a permitted facility only where the Code allows; otherwise mandatory franchise service applies. Skipping required service or accumulating uncollected waste can be enforced as a code violation and nuisance.
Failing to maintain the mandatory weekly service required by 10.41.030, or letting waste accumulate, can be cited as a code violation and public nuisance under Ch. 1.22. The hauler issues non-collection notices for improperly prepared material. Service disputes go to the franchised hauler; code/nuisance issues go to County Code Compliance.
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