Stockton requires every residence to subscribe to weekly curbside collection through one of two franchised haulers — Waste Management (green carts) or Republic Services (brown carts) — with a gray-lid trash, blue-lid recycling, and green-lid organics cart. Unauthorized collection of solid waste inside city limits is prohibited under SMC 8.04.240.
Stockton Municipal Code Title 8, Chapter 8.04 (Collection of Solid Waste, Recyclable Materials, and Green Waste) governs residential and commercial pickup. Per SMC 8.04.240 it is unlawful for any person, firm, corporation, or association to collect garbage, rubbish, waste matter, commercial solid waste, or industrial waste within the City of Stockton without authorization from the City. Service is delivered under exclusive franchise agreements with USA Waste of California, Inc. dba Waste Management and Sunrise Sanitation, Inc. dba Republic Services. Every single-family household receives three carts: a gray-lid trash cart (30, 60, or 90 gallons), a 60-gallon blue-lid single-stream recycling cart, and a 90-gallon green-lid organics cart for yard waste and food scraps (mandated by California SB 1383). All three carts are emptied on the same scheduled day, though by different trucks. Residents may set out the recycling or organics cart only when full. Senior and disabled residents may receive Back Yard Service at no cost with medical verification.
Unauthorized hauling under SMC 8.04.240 is a misdemeanor punishable under SMC Title 1 general penalty provisions. Missed pickups should be reported to the franchised hauler within 24 hours; non-subscription to mandatory service can result in a property-based service lien and administrative citation.
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