Gray or Dark Colored Bin (Trash)
All trash must fit inside the cart so that items fall freely when serviced. The lid must close completely. Do not pack heavy or bulky items like dirt or rocks.
Accepted Items
- ✓Household garbage and food wrappers
- ✓Plastic bags, utensils, and film plastics
- ✓Coated paper, takeout containers, and cartons
- ✓Styrofoam and 'compostable' plastics (non-BPI certified)
- ✓Diapers, pet waste, and cat litter
- ✓Hoses, cords, and old clothing
Blue Bin (Recycling)
Items must be empty and dry. Place all recyclables loosely in the cart; never bag your recyclables in plastic.
Accepted Items
- ✓Clean cardboard and mixed paper
- ✓Aluminum and steel (tin) cans
- ✓Glass bottles and jars (all colors)
- ✓Rigid plastic bottles, jugs, and tubs (Plastics #1-#7)
Do NOT Include
- ✕Plastic bags and plastic film
- ✕Food-soiled paper and greasy pizza boxes
- ✕Liquids and food waste
- ✕Tanglers (cords, hoses, wires)
- ✕Styrofoam and coated cartons
Yard Waste Bin
Keep materials loose or use only BPI-certified or ASTM D6400 compostable bags (or plain paper bags). No liquids, glass, metal, styrofoam, or pet waste.
Accepted Items
- ✓Food scraps (meat, bones, dairy, bread, fruits, veggies)
- ✓Food-soiled paper (pizza boxes, napkins, coffee filters)
- ✓Grass clippings, leaves, and weeds
- ✓Tree trimmings and branches (under 4 inches in diameter)
- ✓Clean, unpainted wood scraps
Bulky Item Pickup
Frequency
One (1) free appointment every 12 months for residential curbside customers.
Placement
Items must be placed at the curb by 6:00 a.m. on your scheduled appointment day. Do not block the sidewalk or place items in the street.
Accepted
- ✓ Furniture and mattresses
- ✓ Large household appliances (refrigerators, washers)
- ✓ E-waste (TVs, computers, cell phones)
- ✓ Up to 4 passenger tires (rims OK)
- ✓ Clean lumber and pipes (max 4 inches wide, 5 feet long)
Not Accepted
- ✕ Heavy material like dirt, rocks, concrete, or tree stumps
- ✕ Glass panes, mirrors, or shower doors
- ✕ Hazardous waste or liquids
- ✕ Waste generated from a business
- ✕ Treated, painted, or stained wood
One pickup per 12-month period is included in your utility rate. Additional bulky waste pickups can be scheduled for an added fee.
Holiday Schedule
General Rule
Sacramento County curbside collection does not pause for holidays. Carts are serviced on their normal schedule on all holidays, including Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Year's Day.
Yard Waste Exception
Organics and recycling follow the exact same schedule with no holiday delays.
Ensure your carts are at the curb by 6:00 a.m., even on major holidays, as collection routes will run as normally scheduled regardless of office or landfill closures.
Observed Holidays
!Contamination Tips
Keep Batteries Out of All Carts
Sacramento County explicitly warns that lithium-ion and household batteries combust when crushed inside collection trucks, causing dangerous fires. Never place batteries or battery-embedded products (like singing greeting cards or vapes) in any curbside cart. They must be taken to a local Household Hazardous Waste facility.
Avoid 'Recycling Air'
Always break down cardboard boxes and crush plastic jugs before placing them in the blue recycling cart. This keeps 'air' out of the bin, saving space and ensuring the lid can close fully without overflowing.
Tanglers Halt the Sorting Facility
Never place garden hoses, electrical cords, ropes, or clothing into the blue recycling cart. These 'tanglers' quickly wrap around the spinning gears at the local material recovery facility, forcing dangerous system shutdowns. Place them in your garbage cart instead.
Seasonal Information
Winter
Late December to JanuaryFree holiday tree recycling is offered. You can cut your live, un-flocked tree into pieces so it fits loosely inside your weekly Green Organics cart with the lid closed. Alternatively, drop-off events are typically hosted in early January at the Kiefer Landfill or North Area Recovery Station.
Spring
March to OctoberSacramento County offers a free self-serve compost program. Unincorporated residents can pick up free compost for their home gardens and landscaping projects to directly benefit from the community's collective organic waste recycling efforts.
Year-Round
January to DecemberLeaf season does not change cart rules in Arden-Arcade. Never pile loose leaves in the street or gutters, as this blocks storm drains and street sweepers. All yard trimmings and leaves must be placed inside the Green Organics cart.
About Arden-Arcade Waste Management
Meeting California's SB 1383 with Weekly Organics
Arden-Arcade residents fall under the jurisdiction of the Sacramento County Department of Waste Management and Recycling (DWMR), which mandates weekly organics collection to comply with state law SB 1383. Your Green Cart is no longer just for yard trimmings; all food scraps, including meat, bones, and dairy, as well as food-soiled paper, must go into this bin. This vital program helps divert methane-producing materials from the Kiefer Landfill and turns them into valuable compost.
The SacGreenTeam Lid Flipper Program
To help the community adapt to strict recycling guidelines, Sacramento County runs a unique Route Review initiative known as the 'Lid Flipper' program. County staff randomly inspect residential curbside carts before the collection trucks arrive. If your cart is reviewed, they will leave helpful feedback to ensure you are sorting correctly. It's an educational approach designed to reduce contamination and improve the county’s overall recycling efficiency.
Curbside Collection of Used Motor and Cooking Oil
A standout feature of Arden-Arcade’s waste services is the weekly curbside collection of used motor oil, oil filters, and cooking oil. Residents do not need to schedule a special appointment or visit a drop-off center. You can simply place up to three rigid, taped 1- to 5-quart containers of used oil, along with bagged and drained filters, 3 feet away from your carts on your regular collection day for easy recycling.
The 'Bulky Ben' Annual Cleanup Service
Instead of waiting for a centralized neighborhood cleanup event, single-family homes in unincorporated Sacramento County receive one free bulky waste pickup appointment every 12 months. Affectionately termed 'Bulky Ben' by the county, this service allows you to dispose of up to 5 cubic yards of large items, appliances, and e-waste right at your curb. Appointments fill up fast, so it is highly recommended to schedule in advance via the SacGreenTeam app.
Monthly 'CleanStreet' Sweeping Operations
To keep local waterways free of pollution and streets clear of debris, the unincorporated areas of Sacramento County benefit from monthly street sweeping provided by CleanStreet. Because street sweepers cannot navigate around large obstacles, it is essential that residents avoid piling loose leaves in the gutters and ensure their waste carts are promptly removed from the street within 24 hours of collection.
Drop-off Facilities
North Area Recovery Station HHW Facility
4450 Roseville Road, North Highlands, CA 95660
Materials Accepted
Kiefer Landfill
12701 Kiefer Blvd, Sloughhouse, CA 95683
Materials Accepted
Frequently Asked Questions
What time should my carts be placed at the curb in Arden-Arcade?
Carts must be placed at the curb by 6:00 a.m. on your collection day, including on holidays. Ensure they are spaced at least 3 feet apart from each other and 6 feet away from cars, mailboxes, or basketball hoops to allow the automated truck arms to operate safely.
Does Sacramento County pause garbage pickup for holidays?
No. Unlike many other municipalities, Sacramento County's Department of Waste Management and Recycling collects residential trash, recycling, and organics on all holidays, including Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Year's Day. Place your bins out on your normal schedule.
Can I leave extra bags of trash next to my cart?
No. All items must fall freely from the cart when serviced, and the lid must be completely closed. Waste left next to or on top of the cart will not be collected by the automated trucks. If you have extra waste, you can schedule a Bulky Waste appointment or haul it to the Kiefer Landfill.
How do I dispose of used cooking oil or motor oil at home?
Residents in unincorporated Sacramento County can recycle used motor oil, oil filters, and cooking oil right at the curb. Place the oil in a rigid plastic 1- to 5-quart container with a taped screw-top lid, and put drained filters in a thick zip-top bag. Leave them 3 feet away from your carts on your regular collection day.