Union City, CA Trash & Recycling: Yard Waste Collection (2026)
Key Facts
- Governing law
- UCMC § 7.04.130
- Who may collect
- City's franchised hauler only
- First-offense fine
- Up to $100
- Third-offense fine
- Up to $500
- Exemption
- Landscaper's incidental yard waste removal
Summary
Union City's franchised hauler holds exclusive rights to collect yard waste citywide; hiring an unauthorized hauler is an infraction, and illegal collectors face escalating fines up to $500.
it is unlawful and an infraction for any person, firm or entity to collect or transport solid waste or yard waste within the City unless such person is the solid waste or recycling franchisee as herein defined... Any person who violates this section shall be guilty of an infraction and subject to a fine not exceeding one hundred dollars for the first violation, two hundred dollars for a second violation within one year, and five hundred dollars for a third violation within one year.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: rev 4940544; v16 updated 2026-06-23).
Full Breakdown
Union City's Municipal Code makes yard waste collection part of the city's exclusive solid waste franchise: only the City's designated solid waste or recycling franchisee may collect or transport yard waste within city limits. Limited exemptions exist, including yard waste removed by a gardening, landscaping, or tree-trimming contractor as an incidental part of their service. Anyone else who collects, transports, or arranges for unauthorized yard waste pickup commits an infraction, fined $100 for a first offense, $200 for a second within a year, and $500 for a third.
Violations & Fines
Collecting or transporting yard waste without franchise authorization, or hiring an unauthorized hauler, is an infraction punishable by escalating fines of $100, $200, then $500.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I hire any landscaper to haul away my yard waste?
What happens if I use an unlicensed junk hauler for yard debris?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Union City
California rules heatmap·Compare Union City to another location·View the California trash & recycling overview
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Yard Waste Collection in Nearby Cities
How other cities in Alameda County handle yard waste collection.