Earlier editions: 2026-09
Chapter 7 — HEALTH AND SANITATION
Saratoga Municipal Code Art. 7-05 Discarded Material and C&d Debris Disposal
Saratoga Municipal Code · 2026-10 edition · updated 2026-10-04 · Saratoga
Cite as: Saratoga Municipal Code Article 7-05 · Text as of 2026-10-04
Footnotes:
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Editor's note— Ord. No. 384, § 1A(Exh. 1), adopted November 17, 2021, amended Article 7-05 in its entirety to read as herein set out. Former Article 7-05, §§ 7-05.010—7-05.320, pertained to garbage disposal, and derived from Ordinance 71.6, adopted September 17, 1986; Amended by Ord. 245 § 2 (Att. A) (part), 2006; Ord. No. 348, § 1(Att. A, § 2), January 18, 2017. Ord. No. 400, § 1(Att. A), adopted May 1, 2024, amended the title of Article 7-05 to read as set out herein. The former title of Article 7-05 pertained to discarded material disposal.
7-05.010 - Purpose of Article.¶
This Article is determined and declared to be a health, sanitary and safety measure necessary for the promotion, protection and preservation of the health, safety and general welfare of the people of the City.
(Ord. No. 384, § 1A(Exh. 1), 11-17-2021)
7-05.020 - Definitions.¶
For the purposes of this Article, the terms used in this Article shall have the meanings set forth in Article 17-10, unless the context or the provision clearly requires otherwise.
(Ord. No. 384, § 1A(Exh. 1), 11-17-2021)
7-05.030 - Mandatory discarded material collection service.¶
All residents, property owners, and businesses shall comply with the Mandatory Organic Waste Disposal Reduction ordinance set forth in Article 17-10.
(Ord. No. 384, § 1A(Exh. 1), 11-17-2021)
7-05.040 - Frequency of disposal.¶
No more than one week's accumulation of discarded materials shall be kept or permitted to remain upon any premises in the City. At least once a week, all discarded materials produced, kept, deposited, placed or accumulated upon any premises in the City shall be disposed of in accordance with Article 17-10.
(Ord. No. 384, § 1A(Exh. 1), 11-17-2021)
7-05.050 - Discarded material and C&D debris containers.¶
(a) All discarded material containers shall be kept in a sanitary condition, continuously closed with a tight fitting cover.
(b) No discarded materials container shall be placed at curbside or other location visible to the public prior to 12:00 noon on the day preceding the day on which the contents of the container are scheduled to be picked up , and all containers shall be removed from the curbside or other location visible to the public not later than 12:00 noon on the day following the day on which the contents of the discarded materials container has been picked up by the exclusive hauler.
(c) Except during the period of time specified in Paragraph (b) of this Section, no discarded materials container may be placed, kept or stored within any front yard or exterior side yard and all containers shall be fully screened from public view by a structure, fence, wall or landscaping.
(d) No discarded materials container shall be placed in any manner such that the container impedes normal, unobstructed vehicular traffic, but may be placed in bike plans pursuant to section 7-05.100, public transportation, pedestrian, or wheelchair access to public rights-of-way.
(e) All C&D debris shall be containerized in roll-off containers. Such containers shall be kept in a suitable location upon such premises, readily accessible to the collector. C&D debris containers shall not be placed on a public right-of-way or private alley and no encroachment permit shall be issue [issued] for such containers.
(Ord. No. 384, § 1A(Exh. 1), 11-17-2021; Ord. No. 400, § 1(Att. A), 5-1-2024; Ord. No. 413, § 1(Exh. A, § 8), 11-5-2025)
7-05.060 - Burning discarded materials or C&D debris.¶
No discarded materials or C&D debris may be burned upon any premises within the City, except as specifically authorized by a permit issued by the Bay Area Air Pollution Control District and as permitted by the chief of the fire district within which the premises is located.
(Ord. No. 384, § 1A(Exh. 1), 11-17-2021; Ord. No. 400, § 1(Att. A), 5-1-2024)
7-05.070 - Public property.¶
No person shall deposit, accumulate, store or burn any type of discarded materials or C&D debris upon public streets, public parks or other public property, except as produced incident to the authorized use of such public property which shall be deposited in designated containers for collection.
(Ord. No. 384, § 1A(Exh. 1), 11-17-2021; Ord. No. 400, § 1(Att. A), 5-1-2024)
7-05.080 - Unauthorized collection of discarded material or C&D debris.¶
(a) The exclusive hauler shall have the sole and exclusive right for discarded materials collection services provided for in this code for all residential, multi-family, and commercial businesses located within the City, with the following exceptions:
(1) Collection and transport of recyclable materials and organic materials other than edible food that have been source separated from solid waste by the generator and that: (i) generator sells or donates to any other person, provided that there is no net payment made by the generator to such other person; or, (ii) have a value equal to or more than the cost of collection.
(2) Commercial business owner or resident may collect and transport discarded materials for processing generated in or on their own premises with their own vehicle. However, the owner or resident shall be required to subscribe to and pay for the minimum required level of discarded materials collection service provided by the exclusive hauler.
(3) Any items that are source separated at any premises by the generator and sold or donated to other persons, including youth, civic, or charitable organizations.
(4) Edible food that is collected from a generator by other person(s), such as a person from a food recovery organization or food recovery service, for the purposes of food recovery, or that is transported by the generator to another person(s), such as a person from a food recovery organization, for the purposes of food recovery, regardless of whether the generator donates, sells, or pays a fee to the other person(s) to collect or receive the edible food from the generator.
(5) Food scraps that are separated by the generator and used by the generator or distributed to other person(s) for lawful use as animal feed, in accordance with 14 CCR Section 18983.1(b)(7). Food scraps intended for animal feed may be self-hauled by generator or hauled by another party.
(6) Containers delivered for recycling under the California Beverage Container Recycling and Litter Reduction Act, Section 14500, et seq. California Public Resources Code.
(7) Discarded materials removed from a premises by a contractor (e.g., gardener, landscaper, tree-trimming service, residential clean-out service) as an incidental part of the service being performed, rather than as a separately contracted or subcontracted hauling service; or if such contractor is providing a service that is not provided by the exclusive hauler.
(8) Organic materials composted on a residential premises or otherwise legally managed at the site where it is generated or at a community composting site.
(9) Animal waste and remains from slaughterhouse or butcher shops, or grease.
(10) By-products of sewage treatment, including sludge, sludge ash, grit, and screenings.
(11) Excluded materials regardless of their source.
(12) Materials generated by State and County facilities located in the City, including but not limited to public schools, provided that the facility self-hauls, has arranged services with other persons, or has arranged services with the contractor through a separate agreement.
(b) No person shall collect C&D debris produced, kept or accumulated within the City, unless such person holds a valid and current contract with the Regional Agency or is an agent or employee of the City acting within the course and scope of their employment provided, however, that C&D debris may be self-hauled by the generator.
(Ord. No. 384, § 1A(Exh. 1), 11-17-2021; Ord. No. 400, § 1(Att. A), 5-1-2024)
7-05.090 - Interfering with collection of discarded material or C&D debris.¶
No person shall, in any manner, interfere with the performance of discarded material or C&D debris collection services being rendered by the exclusive or a C&D hauler, or by an agent or employee of the City acting within the course and scope of his employment, Performing or retaining a third party to perform any such collection service by a person who is not authorized shall constitute a violation of this Section.
(Ord. No. 384, § 1A(Exh. 1), 11-17-2021; Ord. No. 400, § 1(Att. A), 5-1-2024)
7-05.100 - Unauthorized deposit of discarded material or C&D debris.¶
(a) It shall be unlawful to deposit, place or accumulate, or allow the deposit, placement or accumulation upon a premises for pick up by the exclusive hauler, any discarded material produced from another premises where such action results in the avoidance or reduction of any collection service charges that would otherwise be payable for collection of such discarded material from the premises at which it was produced.
(b) It shall be unlawful to deposit or place any discarded material or C&D debris into a container for pick up by the exclusive or a C&D hauler, without permission to do so from the person owning, renting or otherwise entitled to use such container .
(c) It shall be unlawful to deposit or place any discarded material or C&D debris upon any public or private premises without permission to do so from the owner or legal occupant of such premises. The exclusive hauler for collection of discarded materials is granted by the City the rights to encroach on the public right-of-way, including if necessary, bike lanes, for that period during which containers are permitted to be placed by the exclusive hauler's customers in such right of way for curbside collection from a residential or commercial premises during specific times of collection as prescribed in the agreement entered into by the exclusive hauler and the Regional Agency.
(Ord. No. 384, § 1A(Exh. 1), 11-17-2021; Ord. No. 400, § 1(Att. A), 5-1-2024)
7-05.110 - Violations of Article; infraction offense.¶
The violation of any provision contained in this Article is hereby declared to be unlawful and shall constitute an infraction and a public nuisance, subject to the penalties as prescribed in Chapter 3 and Article 17-10 of this Code, and, for violations concerning construction and demolition debris, issuance of a stop work order pursuant to Chapter 16 of this Code.
(Ord. No. 384, § 1A(Exh. 1), 11-17-2021; Ord. No. 413, § 1(Exh. A, § 8), 11-5-2025)
7-05.120 - Contract.¶
(a) For the collection, disposal, and processing of discarded materials, a contract may be entered into by the City or Regional Agency in accordance with the terms and conditions of this chapter.
(b) For the collection and transport of C&D debris, an exclusive or non-exclusive contract may be entered into by the City or Regional Agency in accordance with the terms and conditions of this chapter. The Regional Agency may impose a limit on the number of non-exclusive C&D haulers.
(Ord. No. 400, § 1(Att. A), 5-1-2024)
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