Westminster, CA Trash & Recycling: Pickup Rules & Schedules (2026)
Key Facts
- Exclusive hauler
- Midway City Sanitary District franchisee
- Scavenging placed materials
- Unlawful under §8.16.300(A)
- Self-haul exception
- Owner/occupant to an authorized facility
- Emergency substitute permit cap
- 30 days, council approval beyond that
- Recycling sale/donation exception
- Allowed if not commingled or fee-disguised
Summary
Only the Midway City Sanitary District franchisee may collect refuse and recyclables in Westminster; scavenging materials already set out for pickup is unlawful, and the narrow exceptions cover self-haul, incidental gardener or contractor hauling, and donated or sold recyclables.
The collection of refuse and recyclable waste material shall be performed exclusively by the MCSD franchisee. The district may regulate, by ordinance or resolution, all aspects of the commercial refuse service, including, but not limited to, frequency of collection, means of collection and transportation, level of services, charges, fees, and nature, location, and extent of providing such services. The exclusive right of the MCSD franchisee to collect refuse and recyclable waste material is subject to the following exclusions: 1. Self Haul. Any refuse or recyclable waste material that is removed and personally transported from any premises by the owner or occupant thereof for the purpose of lawfully delivering same to a solid waste facility authorized to receive and handle solid waste.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: rev 4982734; v10 updated 2026-06-10).
Full Breakdown
310(A) gives the Midway City Sanitary District (MCSD) franchisee the exclusive right to collect refuse and recyclable waste material citywide, and lets the district regulate frequency, means of collection, service level, and fees. That exclusivity is subject to four carved-out exceptions: self-haul, where the owner or occupant personally transports their own material to an authorized waste facility; gardeners and landscapers removing yard waste incidental to their service without a separate hauling charge; licensed contractors removing inert or demolition debris incidental to a construction job without a separate hauling charge; and recyclable material that is donated or sold to someone other than the franchisee, so long as it isn't commingled with other solid waste or collected for a disguised fee.
300 backs this up by making it unlawful for anyone but the MCSD franchisee to handle, salvage, scavenge, sort or remove refuse already placed for collection, to offer collection service without the director's permission, or to solicit an unpermitted hauler. 310(B)). 310(D)).
Violations & Fines
Operating as an unauthorized hauler, scavenging placed refuse or recyclables, or soliciting an unpermitted collector violates Sections 8.16.300 and 8.16.310, enforceable under the general penalty in Section 1.12.010 as a misdemeanor (up to $1,000 and six months) or an infraction with fines escalating to $500 for repeat violations within a year; emergency substitute permits are strictly capped at 30 days absent council action.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I hire an independent hauler instead of using the city's trash service?
Is it illegal to take items out of someone else's recycling bin in Westminster?
What if the trash company can't collect because of an emergency?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Westminster
California rules heatmap·Compare Westminster to another location·View the California trash & recycling overview
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