El Dorado County Municipal Code Art. VI Responsibilities of Solid Waste Generators

A. The owner of any property, including any residence, commercial establishment, institution or industry, vacant or occupied, shall be responsible for the satisfactory storage and removal of all solid waste accumulated on that property. In those instances where a person rents or leases to another, the property owner shall be responsible for solid waste generated or stored on those premises should said waste remain on the premises during or beyond the tenant term. Excepting disruptions in normal solid waste collection schedules, non-recyclable wastes shall not be allowed to remain on the premises for more than seven days, to prevent propagation, harborage, or attraction of flies, rodents or other vectors, and the creation of nuisances.

B. For purposes of this section, disruptions in normal solid waste collection schedules shall be limited to where:

1. Disruptions are due to strikes;

2. Severe weather conditions or acts of God make collection impossible using normal collection equipment; or

3. Official holidays interrupt a normal seven-day collection cycle in which case collection may be postponed until the next working day.

C. Where it is deemed necessary by the Department, Building Department or the Health Department because of the potential propagation of vectors and for the protection of public health, more frequent removal of non-recyclable wastes may be required. Recyclable materials separated from non-recyclable wastes may be stored on the premises for longer than seven days provided that the recyclable materials are cleaned and/or stored in a manner that prevents propagation, harborage, or attraction of flies, rodents or other vectors, or the creation of nuisances or fire hazards.

(Code 1997, § 8.42.500; Ord. No. 5262, 5-19-2026)

A. Except as provided hereinabove, all solid wastes and recyclable materials are the property of the person generating them until:

1. The solid wastes and/or recyclable materials are legally disposed in an authorized disposal site;

2. The solid wastes and/or recyclable materials are legally deposited at an authorized transfer station, processing facility, buy-back center or drop-off recycling center; or

3. The solid wastes and/or recyclable materials are picked up by a franchisee or permittee authorized by the Board.

B. Solid wastes and recyclable materials legally placed for disposal and/or processing become the property and responsibility of the franchisee or permittee upon receipt of the solid waste or material.

C. No person shall remove solid wastes and/or recyclable materials placed for collection other than the person generating or responsible for the waste or by the franchisee or permittee.

D. If solid waste is found dumped or deposited in violation of this chapter, the person responsible under this chapter for said solid waste and/or recyclable material shall, in addition to any other penalty or remedy provided for in this chapter, be responsible for all fees and charges associated with its pickup and disposal. Letters, correspondence, receipts or other items traceable to a person found in said waste shall constitute prima facie evidence of ownership or responsibility for said waste.

(Code 1997, § 8.42.510; Ord. No. 5262, 5-19-2026)

A. Residential, multi-residential and commercial property owners and tenants shall deposit all solid waste in covered and enclosed metal or heavy duty plastic cans ("residential containers") or safety approved dumpsters which are nonabsorbent, watertight, vector-resistant, durable, easily cleanable, and designed for safe handling for the containment of solid waste. Such containers shall contain without overflowing all the solid waste that a household or other establishment generates.

Residential containers when filled shall not exceed 60 pounds or 32 gallons and dumpsters shall not exceed 540 pounds per yard, unless otherwise approved by the County. Containers shall be maintained in a clean, sound condition free from putrescible residue. All items too large to fit into containers, such as, but not limited to, appliances, furniture and mattresses, shall be disposed of by the property owner or agency by making arrangements with the franchised collector for a special pick up or by self-hauling such items to an authorized disposal site, transfer station or processing facility. All loose materials which normally fit into containers, but which are excess as a result of a special circumstance such as holidays, shall be bundled and tied securely to prevent them from blowing or scattering and shall be placed beside the containers. Containers shall be kept covered or closed at all times.

B. The container requirements set forth in Section 8.42.540, and not in Subsection A of this section, shall apply to the disposal of recyclable materials separated for collection by a franchisee or permittee.

(Code 1997, § 8.42.520; Ord. No. 5262, 5-19-2026)

Editor's note— Ord. No. 5262, adopted May 19, 2026, repealed § 8.42.530, which pertained to exception: deposit of yard waste in plastic bags, and derived from the Code of 1997, § 8.42.530.

Property owners and tenants wishing to have recyclable materials collected by a franchisee shall separate recyclable materials from non-recyclable wastes and deposit the recyclable materials in a recycling container provided by, or acceptable to the franchisee or permittee which has been approved by the County. If the recycling container is a reusable container, the container shall be maintained in a clean, sound condition free from putrescible residue and non-recyclable wastes.

(Code 1997, § 8.42.540; Ord. No. 5262, 5-19-2026)

A. Residential containers, bags and recycling containers shall be stored in such a manner as not to be readily visible from the public street; provided that during the time fixed for collection from the premises, residential containers, bags and recycling containers shall be placed for collection as follows:

1. Curb Service. Residential containers, bags and recycling containers shall be placed adjacent to a public thoroughfare for collection service but not more than 12 hours prior to the normal collection time by a franchisee, and shall be removed from the public thoroughfare location within 12 hours after collection.

2. Yard Service. Residential containers, bags and recycling containers may also be placed for collection service on the generator's property in a place mutually agreed to by the owner or tenant and the franchisee or permittee not more than 100 feet from a public thoroughfare.

3. Franchisee or permittee company personnel shall be responsible for the placement of all empty containers in a safe location which does not present a risk of interference with pedestrian or motorized traffic.

4. During periods of heavy snow, generators shall provide a clear path for the return of containers to a point 20 feet back from the property line.

5. No person shall place any residential container, bag, recycling container or other solid waste so that it, in any way, obstructs a public right-of-way. In addition, residential containers and bags may be placed as indicated in this section at times other than the date of collection provided that they are at all times housed in shelters or housing constructed in accordance with specifications approved by the County Building Department and Department of Planning and Building which shall develop such specifications in consultation with the public and interested local public agencies and private entities, and make the final approved specifications available for public use.

B. All front yard residential solid waste containers or housings shall conform to the design specifications approved by the County Building Department and Department of Planning and Building. Any nonconforming front yard residential solid waste containers shall be removed. Notwithstanding any other provision of this chapter, the County Board of Supervisors may waive the application of the front yard solid waste container or housing design specifications in individual cases where unique circumstances are established by a waiver applicant through sufficient evidence meeting the following criteria:

1. The applicant has no financial means or likelihood of obtaining the financial means needed to substantially conform the design specifications in force for new or significantly modified containers or housings.

2. The applicant has made good faith efforts to find a use alternative means of preventing animal access to his or her residential solid waste before the waste is collected, whether or not such efforts have been successful to any extent.

3. The applicant establishes to the satisfaction of the Board of Supervisors that a waiver will not be detrimental to the public health and safety purposes of this chapter.

(Code 1997, § 8.42.550; Ord. No. 4409, 1996; Ord. No. 5051, § 2, 4-18-2017; Ord. No. 5262, 5-19-2026)

A. It shall be unlawful for the owner, agent or contractor in charge of any construction or demolition site to cause, maintain, permit, or allow to be caused, maintained or permitted the accumulation of any solid waste and litter on the site before, during or after completion of the construction or demolitions project.

B. It shall be the duty of the owner, agent or contractor to have adequate containers on site for the disposal of solid waste and litter and to make appropriate arrangements for the collection thereof or transportation by the owner, agent or contractor to an authorized facility for final disposal. While the container is on-site, substantial provisions shall be employed by the owner, agent or contractor so as to prevent the blowing or falling of solid waste from the container so as prevent a littering condition.

C. The owner, agent, or contractor may be required at any time to show proof of appropriate collection, or if personally transported, of final disposal at an authorized facility.

(Code 1997, § 8.42.560; Ord. No. 5262, 5-19-2026)