Montebello, CA Trash & Recycling: Recycling Rules (2026)
Key Facts
- Governing section
- Municipal Code § 8.12.060
- License required
- Valid city business license, no franchise
- Fee approval
- Discretionary director finding required
- Reporting
- Quarterly reports under § 8.12.150
- Late report fee
- $500 per overdue report
Summary
Montebello lets recyclers serve commercial, industrial and multi-family accounts without the franchise required of trash haulers, but only with a valid city business license under Section 8.12.060. A recycler can charge fees only if the public works director finds the service unique and not already offered by a franchised hauler.
A.Except as otherwise provided herein, any person may provide recycling services to commercial, industrial and multi-family premises within the city without obtaining a franchise, provided that the person has a valid and current business license issued by the city to do so and complies with the provisions of this chapter.B.At the sole discretion of the director of public works or his or her designee and upon petition by a recycler, a recycler may be permitted to charge a fee for commercial, industrial or multi-family unit recycling service without obtaining a franchise from the city where it is found that the recycling service is of a unique and desirable nature, that a comparable level of recycling service is not otherwise offered by a solid waste hauler operating in the city, and the economic viability of the unique recycling service is predicated upon charging a fee for such service.
Full Breakdown
Section 8.12.060(A) opens Montebello's recycling market to any person who wants to provide recycling services to commercial, industrial and multi-family premises, without requiring the non-exclusive franchise that solid waste haulers must obtain, as long as the recycler holds a valid, current business license from the city and follows Chapter 8.12's other requirements. Subsection B adds a gate on charging for that service: a recycler may charge a fee for commercial, industrial or multi-family recycling only at the sole discretion of the director of public works or their designee, and only after the recycler petitions and the director finds the service is of a unique and desirable nature, that no franchised solid waste hauler already offers a comparable level of recycling service, and that the economic viability of the recycler's unique service actually depends on charging that fee.
Licensed recyclers also carry ongoing duties under Section 8.12.110: they must sign a recycling services agreement with the city, supply recycling containers appropriate in type, number and capacity, make sure drivers hold valid California licenses and vehicles are properly registered, cooperate with franchised haulers on required reporting, and file the quarterly reports required by Section 8.12.150, which must show accounts served, materials and tonnage recycled by account type, and the recycling facilities used, including the facility's address and contact. A recycler whose report runs more than forty-five days late is delinquent and owes a five-hundred-dollar processing fee; more than ninety days late is negligently late and can cost the recycler the business license authorization needed to keep operating.
Violations & Fines
Providing recycling service to Montebello commercial, industrial or multi-family accounts without the required business license, or charging a fee without the public works director's discretionary approval under Section 8.12.060(B), is a violation of the recycler licensing scheme, and a negligently late quarterly report under Section 8.12.150 can result in loss of the license used to operate.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do recyclers need a franchise to operate in Montebello?
Can a recycler charge Montebello customers a fee for service?
What reports do licensed recyclers have to file with the city?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Montebello
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