Tracy, CA Trash & Recycling: Yard Waste Collection (2026)
Key Facts
- Yard waste program started
- 1995
- Governing definition
- TMC Section 5.20.020
- Governing collection section
- TMC Section 5.20.150
- Collection frequency
- weekly
- Excluded materials
- dirt, rocks, animal waste, dead animals
Summary
Tracy's yard waste program began in 1995 and now operates as part of the citywide organic materials collection required under Tracy Municipal Code Section 5.20.150. Grass clippings, leaves, tree trimmings, prunings, brush and weeds go in the organics cart, collected weekly, while dirt, rocks and animal waste are barred from the container.
"Yard waste" means any waste generated from the maintenance or alteration of public, residential, commercial, or industrial landscapes including, but not limited to grass and vine clippings, leaves, tree trimmings, prunings, brush, and weeds. Prohibited materials from yard waste include, but are not limited to dirt, rocks, animal waste, or dead animals. ... A yard waste program was established in 1995 as the second key step to achieve the diversion goals of the Act, and is a key component of the City's efforts to comply with the mandates of the Act.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Code of Ordinances: Supplement 69).
Full Breakdown
150. 020 as any waste generated from maintaining or altering a residential, commercial, industrial or public landscape, specifically listing grass and vine clippings, leaves, tree trimmings, prunings, brush and weeds. The same definition excludes dirt, rocks, animal waste and dead animals from the yard waste stream, so those materials cannot go in the organics cart even though they come from a yard. 150, the City's contractor collects organic materials, including yard waste, on a weekly basis unless the City permits a different schedule, and generators must keep yard waste and other organic materials out of both the refuse container and the recyclable materials container.
020 remain the legal baseline. 170 requires yard waste to be kept as clean as possible, kept separated from refuse and recyclables, and set out at curbside on the same day as regular refuse service.
Violations & Fines
Mixing prohibited material, dirt, rocks, or animal waste, into the yard waste cart is a contamination issue the City catches through the route reviews and compliance inspections under Section 5.20.250. As with other streams, a documented violation starts with an educational notice, moves to a 60-day Notice of Violation under Section 5.20.260, and can end in an administrative citation and fine under Chapter 1.28, appealable through Sections 1.28.070 to 1.28.110.
Frequently Asked Questions
What counts as yard waste in Tracy?
How often does Tracy collect yard waste?
Can I mix yard waste with my regular trash in Tracy?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Tracy
California rules heatmap·Compare Tracy to another location·View the California trash & recycling overview
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Yard Waste Collection in Nearby Cities
How other cities in San Joaquin County handle yard waste collection.