Weekly Collection Schedule
Official municipal pickup timing for Alameda
Trash Day
Varies by neighborhood zone (Monday through Friday)
Recycling
Varies by neighborhood zone (same day as trash, collected weekly)
Yard Waste
Varies by neighborhood zone (same day as trash, collected weekly)
Set Out Time
By 6:00 AM on collection day
Utility Billing & Payments
Manage your local solid waste services
Waste collection in Alameda is serviced and billed directly by Alameda County Industries (ACI). Residents also receive one free on-call bulky item pickup per year.
Billing Cycle
Quarterly
Accepted Methods
Online, Auto-Pay, Mail, Phone
Pro Tip / Discount
A 15% discount is available for qualifying senior citizens (age 65 and older) and low-income households with 20- or 32-gallon carts.
Gray Bin (Trash)
Use the gray cart for non-recyclable, non-compostable refuse. Do not wedge or compact materials, and ensure the lid closes completely. Overflow garbage requires pre-paid tags affixed to the trash bags.
Accepted Items
- ✓Diapers and sanitary products
- ✓Bagged Styrofoam packing peanuts
- ✓Pet waste and cat litter
- ✓Cold, contained ashes
- ✓Treated wood (small amounts)
- ✓Broken ceramics or glassware
Blue Bin (Recycling)
Break down all boxes to save space. Leave materials loose in the cart; do not use plastic bags to hold your recyclables.
Accepted Items
- ✓Aluminum, tin, and empty aerosol cans
- ✓Glass bottles and jars (lids removed)
- ✓Plastics labeled #1 - #7
- ✓Corrugated cardboard and paper boxes
- ✓Clean magazines, catalogs, and junk mail
- ✓Scrap metal pieces (up to 30 lbs)
Do NOT Include
- ✕Household batteries (inside the cart)
- ✕Styrofoam
- ✕Food waste
- ✕Plastic bags or film
- ✕Window glass
- ✕Electronic waste
Yard Waste Bin
Materials from large landscaping projects or heavy dirt/rock do not belong here. Do not pack the green cart so tightly that materials get stuck when tipped.
Accepted Items
- ✓Grass clippings and leaves
- ✓Tree branches and brush
- ✓Food scraps (meat, bones, dairy, produce)
- ✓Food-soiled paper products
- ✓Shredded paper (contained in a paper bag)
Bulky Item Pickup
Frequency
Once per 12-month period for eligible residences.
Placement
Items must be placed at the curb by 6:00 a.m. on your approved on-call collection day, ensuring they do not block sidewalks, driveways, or fire hydrants.
Accepted
- ✓ Overflow household waste
- ✓ Large recyclable materials
- ✓ Broken furniture
- ✓ Mattresses
- ✓ Appliances
Not Accepted
- ✕ Hazardous waste
- ✕ Construction and demolition debris
- ✕ Dirt, rock, or concrete
- ✕ Automotive parts
- ✕ Car batteries
This service is completely free once per year. Residents with major renovation projects must contact ACI to rent a temporary debris box for a fee.
Holiday Schedule
General Rule
When a designated holiday falls on a weekday, service on and after the holiday will be delayed by one day for the remainder of that week.
Yard Waste Exception
Organics and recycling follow the exact same holiday delay schedule as garbage collection.
During a holiday week, service preceding the holiday is completely unaffected. For example, during Thanksgiving week, Monday through Wednesday collections happen on normal schedule.
Observed Holidays
Seasonal Information
Winter
December - JanuaryACI provides a no-charge Holiday Tree Collection starting the first working day after Christmas through the end of January. Place bare, unflocked trees at the curb next to your carts. Trees taller than 6 feet must be cut in half.
Autumn
October - NovemberAs fall foliage peaks, do not sweep leaves into the street gutters, which can block storm drains and cause flooding. Place all yard trimmings directly into your green organics cart.
Summer
July - SeptemberWarm coastal temperatures can cause odors in your green organics cart. Try wrapping food scraps in newspaper, layering them between dry yard trimmings, or freezing meat and dairy scraps until collection day.
Local Tips & Community Info
Alameda County Industries (ACI) Curbside Collection
Residential waste management across the island of Alameda is exclusively operated by Alameda County Industries (ACI). For optimal neighborhood cleanliness, single-family households are equipped with three distinct rolling carts: blue for recycling, green for organics, and gray for landfill refuse. To ensure your address is serviced on your designated collection day, you must wheel your carts out to the street edge by 6:00 a.m. Positioning is critical for the automated mechanical arms on the trucks; keep each bin approximately three feet apart and well clear of overhead tree branches, parked cars, and utility poles.
Proper Blue Cart Usage and Cleanliness
Maximizing the lifecycle of reusable materials starts with your blue cart. Residents should place clean glass jars, aluminum cans, flattened corrugated cardboard, and rigid plastic containers directly into this bin. It is absolutely vital that recyclables remain loose and unbagged. Soft film plastics, such as grocery bags and bubble wrap, tangle the sorting machinery at the ACI processing facility and are strictly prohibited. Always remember to empty out any lingering liquids or food scraps from bottles and takeout containers to prevent contaminating the entire load.
Food Scraps and Green Waste Directives
To actively combat climate change and align with California's SB 1383 legislation, composting is mandatory for all Alameda residents. The green organics cart is intended for more than just grass clippings and garden weeds; it is the required destination for all kitchen food scraps. You must deposit meat, bones, dairy, coffee grounds, and soiled paper products—like greasy pizza boxes—into this container. Doing so diverts harmful methane-generating organic waste away from landfills and transforms it into nutrient-rich compost utilized in local agriculture.
Scheduling Your Annual Bulky Item Pickup
Getting rid of large, unwieldy household goods is highly convenient thanks to the annual clean-up program. Every single-family dwelling in Alameda is eligible to schedule one free bulky item collection per calendar year. This service allows you to dispose of up to two cubic yards of bagged trash, as well as oversized items like mattresses, couches, and non-freon appliances. Because this is an on-demand service, you must contact ACI customer support in advance to reserve your specific pickup date. Items placed on the curb without a confirmed appointment are considered illegal dumping.
Household Hazardous Waste Facility Access
Protecting the San Francisco Bay environment means keeping dangerous chemicals entirely out of the standard waste stream. Caustic substances such as wet paint, pesticides, motor oil, household cleaners, and automotive batteries cannot go into your gray cart. Alameda residents are permitted to drop off these toxic materials at designated Alameda County Household Hazardous Waste (HHW) facilities. Safely transporting these items to an official HHW drop-off site guarantees they are neutralized or recycled safely without posing a risk to sanitation workers or local waterways.
Collection Shifts During Major Holidays
While ACI works diligently year-round, there are a few major holidays that disrupt the normal collection rhythm. The company observes Thanksgiving Day, Christmas Day, and New Year's Day. If your standard garbage day falls on or after one of these specific holidays during the week, your curbside pickup will be pushed back by exactly 24 hours. For example, Thursday customers will be serviced on Friday, and Friday routes will be completed on Saturday. For all other holidays, such as Memorial Day or the Fourth of July, services run completely on schedule.
Drop-off Facilities
ACI Alameda Office Drop-Off
2307 Blanding Avenue, Suite B, Alameda, CA 94501
Materials Accepted
Frequently Asked Questions
What should I do if my garbage, recycling, or organics cart was missed?
If your neighbors' carts were emptied or it is past 6:00 p.m. on your collection day, leave your cart at the curb and contact ACI immediately. They will typically send a driver back within one business day to service the missed container.
Can I exchange my recycling or garbage cart for a different size?
Yes, ACI offers cart exchanges for 32, 64, or 96-gallon sizes. Residents are allowed one free cart exchange every 12 months. Note that a larger 96-gallon recycling cart does not cost more than the smaller sizes, making it an excellent free upgrade for avid recyclers.
Where can I dispose of old paint, pesticides, and other household chemicals?
Hazardous waste is strictly prohibited in all ACI carts. Alameda County residents should utilize the StopWaste Household Hazardous Waste drop-off programs. You can visit StopWaste.org/hhw or call 1-800-606-6606 to find the closest facility and its operating hours.
How do I get rid of an old couch or mattress in Alameda?
Single-family and small multiplex residents can utilize their free Annual On-Call Clean Up program by contacting ACI to schedule a bulky item pickup. If you have already used your free pickup for the year, you can still schedule an additional pickup for a fee or explore donation options if the item is in good condition.