Westminster, CA Trash & Recycling: Yard Waste Collection (2026)
Key Facts
- Yard waste examples
- Tree trimmings, grass cuttings, leaves, branches
- Green waste containers
- Separate from mixed non-recyclable refuse
- Gardener exception
- No separate haul charge, own crew/equipment only
- Exclusive collector
- Midway City Sanitary District franchisee
- Related mandate
- AB 1826 organics recycling, Section 8.16.315
Summary
Westminster's waste code defines yard waste and green waste as landscape material like grass clippings, prunings and branches that must be source-separated for organics collection, but it carves out an exception letting your own gardener or landscaper haul away yard waste generated on the job at no extra charge.
"Green waste" means organic waste generated from any landscape, including, but not limited to, grass clippings, leaves, prunings, tree trimmings, weeds, branches and brush in sizes that can be placed in containers designated for organic waste. ... "Yard waste" means those constituents of solid waste comprised of non-soil landscape or plant materials such as tree trimmings and prunings, grass cuttings, plants, weeds, dropped fruit, leaves, branches, trees, or similar materials. ... Gardeners and Landscapers. The collection, transportation and disposal by a gardener or landscaper of yard waste which are generated as an incidental part of providing gardening, landscape maintenance services, provided that the gardener or landscaper is not a hauling service or solid waste enterprise, does not separately or additionally charge for the incidental service of removing, transporting or disposing of the yard waste, and utilizes only his or her own employees and equipment to collect, transport and dispose of same.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: rev 4982734; v10 updated 2026-06-10).
Full Breakdown
16's definitions section describes 'green waste' as organic waste generated from any landscape, including but not limited to grass clippings, leaves, prunings, tree trimmings, weeds, branches and brush sized to fit organic-waste containers, and separately defines 'yard waste' as non-soil landscape or plant materials such as tree trimmings, grass cuttings, plants, weeds, dropped fruit, leaves, branches and trees or similar materials. 310, only the Midway City Sanitary District (MCSD) franchisee may collect refuse and recyclable waste material citywide, but the section carves out a specific exception for gardeners and landscapers: they may collect, transport and dispose of yard waste generated as an incidental part of their gardening or landscape maintenance work, provided they aren't a hauling service or solid waste enterprise, don't separately charge for removing the yard waste, and use only their own employees and equipment. 315.
Violations & Fines
Collecting or hauling yard waste for compensation without qualifying for the self-haul or gardener/landscaper exception violates the exclusive franchise provisions of Sections 8.16.300 and 8.16.310, enforceable under the citywide general penalty in Section 1.12.010, which allows misdemeanor prosecution (up to $1,000 and six months) or escalating infraction fines up to $500 for repeat offenses within a year.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can my landscaper take my grass clippings and tree trimmings with them?
What counts as yard waste under Westminster's code?
Can I haul my own yard waste to the landfill instead of using curbside pickup?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Westminster
California rules heatmap·Compare Westminster to another location·View the California trash & recycling overview
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Yard Waste Collection in Nearby Cities
How other cities in Orange County handle yard waste collection.