Title
[Pass for Publication] Ordinance Amending Various Sections of Chapters 8.68, 13.10 and 13.24 of the Sacramento City Code, Relating to Solid Waste Management and Solid Waste Disposal Regulations
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FileID
File ID: 2026-00150
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Location
Location: Citywide
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Recommendation
Recommendation: 1) Review an Ordinance amending various sections of chapters 8.68, 13.10 and 13.24 of the Sacramento City Code relating to solid waste management; and 2) pass for publication the Ordinance title as required by Sacramento City Charter §32 (c), to be submitted to the City Council for adoption on January 27, 2026.
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Contact
Contact: Erin Treadwell, Integrated Waste Compliance Manager, (916) 808-4934, etreadwell@cityofsacramento.org; John Febbo, Integrated Waste General Manager, (916) 808-4949, jfebbo@cityofsacramento.org; Department of Public Works
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Presenter
Presenter: None
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Attachments
Attachments:
1-Description/Analysis
2-Ordinance (Clean)
3-Ordinance (Redline)
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Description/Analysis
IssueDetail
Issue Detail: The City of Sacramento assumed responsibility for managing and enforcing commercial solid waste and recycling under Chapter 13.24 following the dissolution of the Solid Waste Authority (SWA) in 2021. Since implementing the initial code, the City has identified the need to clarify commercial waste compliance requirements to better align with state regulations, particularly Senate Bill 1383, and to support effective program management and enforcement. The following proposed updates refine changes made in 2020 and 2023.
Chapter 8.68 of the proposed Ordinance is being amended as the city’s noise ordinance relating to decibel levels and garbage vehicles is more than thirty years old and has not been updated to account for side-loader operations, compaction of material on route, and the size of the vehicles used for all types of waste collection, both residential and commercial. The maximum decibel levels from the current code that are allowed are below what all modern waste vehicles generate. There is an exemption section in the existing noise ordinance, and the proposed Ordinance will add language that any city municipal waste collection vehicle or any franchised hauler waste collection vehicle performing collection activities is exempt from the maximum decibel requirement currently in code. The hours permitted for collection outlined in Sacramento City Code will not change.
Within chapter 13.10 of the proposed Ordinance are revised definitions for Construction and Demolition Debris, Garbage, and Plastic Bags. The proposed Ordinance would add a definition of Construction and Demolition (C&D) debris into 13.10. C&D definitions exist in 8.124, but by including in chapter 13.10, it will provide clarification on what cannot go into residential garbage. The garbage definition will now explicitly exclude C&D. The plastic bag definition aligns with other jurisdictions and is related to the change in 13.10.340 and 13.10.130, which forbids plastic bags from being deposited into the recycling container.
Chapter 13.10 of the proposed Ordinance also includes an update that specifically calls out that the registered owner of a vehicle that is used to illegally dump materials in the city may also be cited and found responsible for the illegal dumping.
Chapter 13.24 of the proposed Ordinance creates a separate franchise agreement option for full-service haulers versus Construction and Demolition (C&D) only haulers. The purpose is to simplify the Construction and Demolition franchise agreements and revise sections of the code so that franchisees who only haul construction and demolition materials (C&D) are not required to comply with reports that pertain to full-service haulers. This will allow Recycling & Solid Waste to have two franchise agreements, one for C&D and one for full-service haulers.
Also included in chapter 13.24 of the proposed Ordinance are: a reorganization of the special events code to clarify requirements of special event organizers and food vendors at special events; a clarification that all commercial properties must have active services to ensure commercial properties generating waste do not stop services while there are commercial activities occurring at the property; a requirement for multi-family properties to have at least one (1) bulky waste collection per year for residents to use; on-site container storage requirements to ensure commercial properties do not leave containers in a non-allowable space (public right-of-way) indefinitely; and an update to the timeframe allowable for a reinspection and fees to allow RSW Code Enforcement officers to ensure compliance requirements are met within an allowable timeframe.
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PolicyConsiderations
Policy Considerations: The amendments to the City Code are consistent with the City’s Climate Action and Adaptation Plan and General Plan in that the proposed recycling and organics diversion requirements mandated by SB 1383 will reduce the City’s solid waste disposal stream, increase landfill disposal capacity, and support the state’s organic waste reduction goals.
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EconomicImpacts
Economic Impacts: None.
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EnvironmentalConsiderations
Environmental Considerations:
California Environmental Quality Act: This action is not a “project” subject to CEQA because it involves administrative matters and will not result in new physical development, direct changes to the physical environment, and any reasonably foreseeable indirect physical change in the environment. (CEQA Guidelines § 15378(b)(5)).
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Sustainability
Sustainability: The amendments are anticipated to increase the City’s diversion rate and will lower methane emissions associated with the disposal of organic waste in landfills.
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Commission/Committee Action
Commission/Committee Action: On November 18, 2025, the Law and Legislation Committee reviewed and unanimously approved staff’s recommendation to move the Ordinance forward to City Council for consideration.
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RationaleforRecommendation
Rationale for Recommendation: SB 1383 requires jurisdictions to adopt mechanisms to obtain compliance and enforce the requirements of state law related to organic waste generators, commercial edible food generators, and waste haulers. Adopting the proposed Ordinance is necessary for the City to comply with SB 1383, support businesses and stakeholders, and increase diversion within the residential and commercial sectors.
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FinancialConsiderations
Financial Considerations: Not applicable.
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LocalBusinessEnterprise
Local Business Enterprise (LBE): Not applicable.
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