Norwalk, CA Trash & Recycling: Yard Waste Collection (2026)
Key Facts
- Governing law
- NMC §§ 8.48.030, 8.48.470
- Container size
- 65-gallon wheeled greenwaste cart
- Cost
- First two containers free
- Excluded material
- Stumps/branches over 4 in. or 4 ft.
- Placement window
- Curb, 24 hrs before/after pickup
Summary
Norwalk requires every residential household to keep a dedicated greenwaste container separate from trash and recycling. Municipal Code Section 8.48.030 defines "green waste" or "yard waste" as leaves, grass clippings, brush and branches, excluding stumps or branches over four inches in diameter or four feet long, and Section 8.48.470 obligates the collector to supply a 65-gallon greenwaste cart to every home.
"Green waste" or "yard waste" means leaves, grass clippings, brush, branches and other forms of organic materials generated from landscapes or gardens, separated from other solid waste. "Green waste" or "yard waste" does not include stumps or branches exceeding four inches in diameter or four feet in length. ... The collector shall provide each residential premises with at least one sixty-five (65) gallon wheeled recycling container and one sixty-five (65) gallon wheeled greenwaste container. If one recycling or greenwaste container is inadequate, the collector shall provide one additional recycling and greenwaste container upon request, and at no charge to the residential householder. A nominal rental fee set by City Council will apply beyond two recycling or greenwaste containers.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: rev 4609620; v5 updated 2025-12-16).
Full Breakdown
Norwalk's solid waste chapter treats yard trimmings as their own waste stream. 030 defines "green waste" or "yard waste" as leaves, grass clippings, brush, branches and other organic material generated from landscapes or gardens, separated from other solid waste, but the definition excludes stumps and branches wider than four inches or longer than four feet, meaning oversized limbs do not qualify for the standard greenwaste cart and typically need a special collection arrangement instead. 460. If that single container is not enough, the collector must provide one additional greenwaste container on request, still free of charge; only a third or later container carries the nominal rental fee the City Council sets. 450, which for regular yard waste tracks weekly solid waste and recyclables service.
Violations & Fines
Norwalk's greenwaste rules are administered through the collector agreement rather than a standalone fine schedule, but placing oversized branches or non-yard debris in the greenwaste cart, or leaving the cart out past the removal window under Section 8.48.480, is a violation of the municipal code chapter and, like any Code violation not otherwise designated an infraction, is punishable under Section 1.16.010 by a misdemeanor fine of up to $1,000.
Frequently Asked Questions
What counts as yard waste under Norwalk's ordinance?
Do I have to pay for a greenwaste container in Norwalk?
Can I mix greenwaste with my regular trash in Norwalk?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Norwalk
California rules heatmap·Compare Norwalk to another location·View the California trash & recycling overview
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How other cities in Los Angeles County handle yard waste collection.