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Moreno Valley, CA Trash & Recycling: Yard Waste Collection (2026)

Some Restrictions
Compiled from the official code textEditor Martyn O'NeillLast verified September 2026

Key Facts

Minimum pickup frequency
Once weekly (twice for food establishments)
Bulky stump/log limit
2 ft diameter, 4 ft length
Chipped stumps/logs
Count as green waste
Self-haul permit issuer
Public works department
Burning yard waste
Prohibited outside permitted incinerator

Summary

Moreno Valley classifies grass clippings and trimmings as "green waste," collected weekly in the standard automated cart alongside other refuse. Whole tree stumps and logs count as bulky waste instead, unless chipped down first, and mixing green waste with other trash strips its special status under Municipal Code Section 6.02.020.

"Green waste" means all forms of biodegradable plant material which can be placed in a covered container, such as tree trimmings, grass clippings, etc. Tree stumps and logs are not to be considered green waste unless they are reduced to a chipped form; they shall be considered bulky waste. Biodegradable plant material which is mixed with other kinds of refuse shall not be considered green waste.

View official code

Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: rev 4887234; v10 updated 2026-04-07).

Full Breakdown

020, green waste is defined narrowly: biodegradable plant material such as tree trimmings and grass clippings that fits in a covered container. Tree stumps and logs are excluded from that definition unless they've been reduced to a chipped form; whole stumps and logs are instead treated as bulky waste, capped at two feet in diameter and four feet in length for regular pickup, with anything larger requiring separate arrangements. If green waste gets mixed into a can with other refuse, it loses its green-waste classification entirely and is handled as ordinary solid waste.

050(A). 111, which requires an enclosed pickup or similar vehicle and quarterly proof of disposal at a licensed Riverside County facility. 070(F) except in a permitted incinerator. 090.

Violations & Fines

Failing to arrange weekly green waste removal makes the occupied property a public nuisance under Section 6.02.040, abatable like any other nuisance. Burning yard waste instead of setting it out, or hauling it yourself without a valid self-haul permit, is an unlawful act under Section 6.02.070. Violations of this chapter are infractions or misdemeanors under Section 6.02.140, punished per Sections 1.01.230(A) and (B).

Frequently Asked Questions

Does my green waste go in a separate container?
It goes in the standard automated container approved by the city's franchise hauler, the same system used for other solid waste under Section 6.02.020's "standard container" definition, collected on the regular weekly schedule rather than a separate truck route.
What happens to a whole tree stump I remove?
A stump or log stays classified as bulky waste, not green waste, unless it's chipped first. If it's under two feet in diameter and four feet long it can go out with a special bulky collection; larger stumps need a separate hauling arrangement with the collector.
Can I burn fallen branches instead of setting them out?
No. Section 6.02.070(F) makes it unlawful to burn solid waste, including yard debris, anywhere in the city except in an approved incinerator with an air-quality permit from the building official.
How often must yard waste be picked up?
Section 6.02.060 requires arrangements for removal not less than once a week for every residence, rising to twice weekly for food-handling establishments that generate waste faster.

Sources & Official References

Other rules in Moreno Valley

All Moreno Valley rules

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