Upland, CA Trash & Recycling: Yard Waste Collection (2026)
Key Facts
- Governing section
- UMC § 13.28.530
- Bulky threshold
- Branches over 3 in. or 3 ft
- Service type
- Request-based special collection
- Routine yard debris
- Goes in weekly green cart
- Curb pileup
- Nuisance after 1 week (§ 13.28.450)
Summary
Upland does not put yard waste and brush on the routine cart schedule automatically. Under Municipal Code Section 13.28.530, residents request bulky-item pickup from the city's authorized hauler for branches, stumps, and other yard debris too large for the standard green cart, at rates the city has approved.
The authorized collector shall provide, upon request from a residential householder, special collection of solid waste, collection of bulky waste (including, but not limited to, white goods and green waste that does not fit into a standard residential green waste container, including stumps or branches exceeding three inches in diameter or three feet in length), and collection of special items at such rates as may be established by the authorized collector and authorized by the city and at such times as may be agreed upon by the authorized collector and the person requesting the service. If no agreement is reached, such special collections shall be provided as determined by the city.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: rev 4480959; v4 updated 2025-09-22).
Full Breakdown
28 of the Upland Municipal Code, adopted by Ordinance 1956 in 2021, sets the rules for how yard waste leaves the curb. Grass clippings, leaves, and small brush that fit inside the household green cart go out on the normal weekly organics collection. ' The city's authorized collector sets the rate for that pickup, subject to city authorization, and schedules it by agreement with the resident; if no agreement is reached, the city decides the timing. 030, separately defines 'green waste' as 'the solid waste consisting of leaves, grass clippings, brush, branches and other forms of organic materials generated from landscapes or gardens, separated from other solid waste,' which is the material that must go in the cart when it fits.
450 declares any solid waste, including yard debris, that accumulates beyond one week to be a public nuisance under California Government Code Section 38771, subject to summary abatement under Government Code Section 38773.
Violations & Fines
Leaving excess brush or yard debris at the curb outside a scheduled bulky pickup is enforceable as a nuisance under Section 13.28.450, with abatement authorized by the city council under Government Code Section 38773. Absent a chapter-specific penalty, general violations of Title 13 are misdemeanors under Section 1.16.010, punishable by a fine up to $1,000.00, six months in jail, or both, though the city can instead issue an infraction-level administrative citation of $100.00 for a first offense, $200.00 for a second, and $500.00 for a third within one year under Section 1.22.040.
Frequently Asked Questions
Will the city automatically pick up a pile of tree branches?
How big can a branch be before it needs special pickup?
Can I just leave a big yard waste pile at the curb until someone picks it up?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Upland
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