Berkeley, CA Trash & Recycling: Yard Waste Collection (2026)
Key Facts
- Governing definition
- BMC § 12.32.010(G)
- Cart placement window
- Remove cart within 24 hrs of pickup
- Bulk yard waste threshold
- Over 1 cubic yard needs management plan
- Fire-container threshold
- Over 2 cubic yards, Fire Chief-approved container
- Senior exemption age
- 62 and older may request backyard service
- Violation class
- Infraction under Ch. 1.20
Summary
Berkeley collects yard waste (grass, leaves, prunings) through the same City curbside cart system used for garbage and recycling, run by Public Works. Residents place the Organics cart at the curb on collection day; excess brush over one cubic yard needs Environmental Health sign-off, and over two cubic yards must sit in fire-resistant containers approved by the Fire Chief.
"Yard waste" means grass, weeds, leaves, tree trimmings, plants, shrubbery prunings, and such other similar materials which are generated in the maintenance of yards, gardens or landscaping, and which are separated by the generator from other solid waste materials for the purpose of recycling or composting, and which are taken by the hauler to a recycling or composting facility.
Official source re-checked September 8, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: current through Ordinance 8031-NS, passed July 28, 2026).
Full Breakdown
010). In practice, yard waste goes into the City-provided curbside Organics cart alongside food scraps, part of the same cart system that also carries garbage and recyclables. 020, occupants must place the assigned curbside cart in the gutter area, or a clearly accessible curb spot if gutter placement is impossible, on the designated collection day, keep it clear of the sidewalk and traffic right-of-way, and pull it back off the public right-of-way within 24 hours of collection. Carts cannot be left on a stairway or in a garage except under an approved exemption.
010(D), can apply to the City for backyard collection instead of curbside placement, at the same fee. 040 treats it as bulk waste: any accumulation over one cubic yard must be managed as directed by the Environmental Health manager, and anything over two cubic yards must be stored in fire-resistant containers at a location the Fire Chief approves. 130.
Violations & Fines
Violating any provision of Chapter 12.32, including the bulk-waste storage rules for oversized yard debris, is an infraction under BMC § 12.32.110, enforced through the citation process in Chapter 1.20. Leaving a curbside cart in the right-of-way beyond the 24-hour window after collection, or blocking the sidewalk or traffic lane with it, is a separate compliance issue under § 12.34.020(A) that the Public Works Department can cite. Piled yard debris that becomes a rat harbor or fire hazard can also be charged as a nuisance under the separate noxious-vegetation provisions of Chapter 12.40.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I put tree branches in my Organics cart?
How long can my yard waste cart sit at the curb?
Can I hire my own hauler to take away a big pile of yard debris?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Berkeley
California rules heatmap·Compare Berkeley to another location·View the California trash & recycling overview
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Yard Waste Collection in Nearby Cities
How other cities in Alameda County handle yard waste collection.