Yard waste is collected in the mandatory organics (green) cart under Chico Municipal Code Ch. 8.13 implementing California SB 1383. Subscription is required for all residences; the organics cart accepts grass clippings, leaves, prunings, and food scraps. Open burning of yard waste is restricted by CMC Ch. 9.35 and Butte County Air Quality Management District burn-day rules.
Under Chico Municipal Code Chapter 8.13 (Mandatory Organic Waste Disposal Reduction), implementing California SB 1383 (Cal. PRC §§42649.8–42649.87 and CCR Title 14 §§18981–18997), every residence in Chico must subscribe to the franchise hauler's organics collection service. The organics (green) cart accepts: grass clippings, leaves, weeds, small branches and prunings (typically ≤4 inches diameter and ≤4 feet long), untreated wood, food scraps (all types including meat, dairy, bones), food-soiled paper (napkins, pizza boxes, paper plates), and shredded paper. Excluded from the organics cart: plastic bags, dirt/sod/rocks, painted or treated wood, palm fronds (often size-restricted), pet waste, and ash. Larger branches and stumps must go through an extra debris box rental or self-haul to the Neal Road Recycling and Waste Facility (Butte County's regional landfill and recycling site). Open burning of yard waste in Chico is regulated by CMC Chapter 9.35 (Outdoor Warming Appliances and Open Flame) — generally restrictive due to severe wildfire risk from the 2018 Camp Fire footprint just east of the city — and by Butte County Air Quality Management District (BCAQMD) burn-day determinations under California Health & Safety Code §41700 (nuisance smoke). On 'no-burn' days declared by BCAQMD, residential burning is prohibited regardless of any local permit, and indoor wood-burning in some areas is also restricted.
Failure to subscribe to organics service is a CMC §8.13.130 violation enforceable under SB 1383 with fines up to $500/day after the state education period. Improper contents in the organics cart (e.g., plastic bags) trigger contamination notices and may result in cart-pickup fees or fines. Open burning of yard waste without compliance with CMC Ch. 9.35 and BCAQMD burn-day rules can result in citations from both the City and BCAQMD; HSC §41700 nuisance smoke violations can carry civil penalties. Burning during a Red Flag warning or in a restricted wildfire area also implicates Cal. PRC §4423 (uncontrolled fires) with potentially severe penalties.
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