Glendale, CA Trash & Recycling: Yard Waste Collection (2026)
Key Facts
- Green container
- yard trimmings, food scraps, organics
- Accumulation limit
- 15 days for organics/yard waste
- Refuse limit
- 1 calendar week
- Bulky yard debris
- curbside only, 5 ft from objects
- Enforcing agency
- Dept. of Public Works
Summary
Glendale directs residents to place yard trimmings, food scraps and other organic waste in the green container for curbside pickup, never mixed with recyclables or trash. Municipal Code Section 8.44.030 caps how long organic material and yard debris can sit on a property at 15 days, longer than the one-week limit for ordinary refuse.
Waste generators shall source-separate their waste into recyclables, organics, and refuse. Generators shall place source-separated yard trimmings and organic waste, including food scraps, in the green container; source-separated recyclable materials in the blue container; and refuse in the gray container. ... Premises will be kept in a clean and sanitary condition, and any refuse shall not be permitted to accumulate on premises for a period in excess of one calendar week, except as provided for in Section 8.44.040. Organics or other recyclable material shall not be permitted to accumulate on premises for a period of more than 15 days; provided, however, that this provision shall not be construed to interfere with any person keeping building materials upon premises during the construction, reconstruction or repair of a building or structure thereon under a current valid building permit, keeping of wood neatly piled upon such premises for household use, nor managing a backyard composting area that is properly maintained.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: rev 4983441; v20 updated 2026-05-19).
Full Breakdown
080(A) of the Glendale Municipal Code requires waste generators to source-separate their waste and place source-separated yard trimmings and organic waste, including food scraps, in the green container, distinct from recyclables in the blue container and refuse in the gray container. 030 sets the clock on how long that material can sit before it becomes a violation: ordinary refuse cannot accumulate on a property for more than one calendar week, but organics and other recyclable material, which includes yard trimmings, get a longer 15-day window, a carve-out the code explains is meant to accommodate people who keep wood piled for household use or who run a properly maintained backyard composting area.
070: the city collects bulky items from residential customers only, on advance notice, and the material has to be set at the curb, not in the street or alley, at least five feet from any fixed object or parked vehicle. No bulky items are collected from private property, and nothing in the chapter stops a resident from having a landscaper haul green material away directly. 44.
Violations & Fines
Letting yard trimmings or other organics sit for more than 15 days, or dumping them in the gray or blue container instead of green, violates Sections 8.44.030 and 8.44.080. The city issues a notice of violation, and if the property does not come into compliance within the stated deadline, the case moves to an administrative citation and fine under Chapter 1.24, with the fine amount set by council resolution.
Frequently Asked Questions
How long can yard waste sit on my property in Glendale before it's a violation?
Which container does yard waste go in Glendale?
What if I have tree branches too big for my green cart?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Glendale
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