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
!Contamination Tips
Keep batteries out of the bins
Never toss batteries inside any cart, as they can cause dangerous fires in the collection trucks. Use ACI's zipper-bag curbside program, placing the bag on top of the blue cart lid.
Bag your foam peanuts
While Styrofoam blocks and packing peanuts belong in the gray garbage cart, loose peanuts easily blow away during automated pickup. Always bag them securely before throwing them away.
Avoid wedging and compacting
Do not jump on or forcefully push down materials in your recycling or yard waste carts to make more room. Wedging prevents the automated truck arm from fully emptying the cart, leaving you with leftover waste.
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.
About Alameda Waste Management
Navigating Alameda's Three-Cart Waste System
Residential waste in the City of Alameda is managed through an exclusive franchise agreement with Alameda County Industries (ACI). Homes are equipped with a three-cart system: a gray cart for standard garbage, a blue cart for recyclables, and a green cart for organics. To guarantee smooth automated collection, carts must be placed at the curb by 6:00 a.m. on your designated service day. Ensure they face the street with wheels against the curb, leaving at least three feet of space between each cart and avoiding obstacles like parked cars or low-hanging branches.
Proper Handling of Organics and Shredded Paper
In alignment with Alameda County's Mandatory Recycling Ordinance and California's SB 1383, all food scraps, food-soiled paper, and yard trimmings must be placed in the green organics cart. A unique quirk in ACI's guidelines is their preference for shredded paper: rather than putting it in the blue recycling bin where it can blow away and cause litter, ACI prefers residents to enclose shredded paper in a paper bag or box and place it directly into the green organics bin for composting.
Convenient Curbside Battery Collection
Alameda residents don't need to drive to a hazardous waste facility to dispose of standard household batteries. ACI offers a specialized curbside pickup program for A, AA, AAA, C, D, and 9-volt batteries. Simply tape the battery terminals, place them in a clear zipper-style plastic bag, and rest the bag on top of (not inside) your blue recycling cart on collection day. Please note that automotive and car batteries are strictly prohibited from this program.
Free Annual On-Call Clean Up Service
Single-family homes and multiplex buildings with up to four units are eligible for one free On-Call Clean Up every rolling 12-month period. This program is designed to help residents seamlessly discard overflow household waste, broken furniture, and large recyclable materials that won't fit into standard carts. You must contact ACI in advance to schedule your cleanup day, and items must be set out according to their specific placement guidelines to ensure the trucks can safely load the materials.
Fireplace Ash and Special Waste Disposal Guidelines
If you enjoy a fire during the cooler coastal evenings, proper ash disposal is critical for the safety of collection crews. ACI requires that all hot ashes be placed outside at least 10 feet away from combustible structures, wetted down, and allowed to cool completely. Once cold, the ashes must be tightly contained—such as inside a sealed bag—so they do not blow into the street when the automated truck arm empties your gray garbage cart.
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.