Riverside County, CA Trash & Recycling: Yard Waste Collection (2026)
Key Facts
- Scope
- Unincorporated Riverside County only
- Green container use
- Lawn trimmings, food scraps, green material
- Curbside deadline
- Out by 6:00 a.m. pickup day
- Self-haul option
- Waiver available from Dept. of Environmental Health
Summary
Riverside County requires unincorporated residents to place lawn trimmings, green material and other yard waste in the county's green container as part of the mandatory three-container collection program.
"Green container" has the same meaning as in 14 CCR Section 18982.2(a)(29) and shall be used for the purpose of storage and collection of source separated organic waste such as food, lawn trimmings, green material and other similar items.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Code of Ordinances: Supplement 84 Update 1).
Full Breakdown
Under the county's mandatory three-container system for unincorporated areas, the code defines the green container as the bin for source-separated organic waste, including lawn trimmings and green material (Riverside County Code § 8.136.020(H)). Section 8.136.050 requires residential and commercial accounts to place organic and yard waste only in the green container, keep it out of the gray and blue containers, and set containers curbside by 6:00 a.m. on pickup day. Owners who self-haul green waste instead may apply to the Department of Environmental Health for a self-haul waiver. The program governs only the unincorporated county; incorporated cities such as Riverside, Moreno Valley, Corona and Temecula run separate yard-waste programs under their own municipal codes.
Violations & Fines
Placing yard waste in the wrong container violates Chapter 8.136; the county treats it as a public nuisance the director may abate, and repeat contamination can trigger administrative or criminal citations under the chapter's enforcement provisions.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I put yard waste in the trash (gray) container in Riverside County?
Does this rule apply inside the city of Riverside or other cities?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Riverside County
California rules heatmap·Compare Riverside County to another location·View the California trash & recycling overview
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