Gray Bin (Trash)
All household garbage should be bagged before being placed in the gray cart. Do not overfill the cart; lids must close completely to avoid Smart Truck overage penalties.
Accepted Items
- ✓Standard household garbage
- ✓Chip bags and candy wrappers
- ✓Diapers and pet waste
- ✓Compostable and bioplastic products
- ✓Styrofoam
- ✓Textiles and old shoes
Blue Bin (Recycling)
Place all recyclables loosely in the blue cart. Never bag your recyclables. Containers should be lightly rinsed and completely empty.
Accepted Items
- ✓Clean corrugated cardboard and paper
- ✓Aluminum and tin cans
- ✓Glass bottles and jars
- ✓Rigid plastic containers
Do NOT Include
- ✕Plastic bags and film
- ✕Food waste or liquids
- ✕Batteries and electronics
- ✕Tanglers (cords, hoses, wires)
- ✕Styrofoam
Yard Waste Bin
Do not use plastic bags or compostable bio-bags. Place organic materials directly into the green cart. Keep dirt, rocks, and treated wood out.
Accepted Items
- ✓Grass clippings, leaves, and weeds
- ✓Branches and clean wood (under 4 feet)
- ✓Food scraps (meat, bones, dairy, fruits, vegetables)
- ✓Food-soiled paper (pizza boxes, napkins, coffee filters)
Bulky Item Pickup
Frequency
Two free curbside pickups per calendar year
Placement
Have your approved items ready at the curb by 5:30 a.m. on the scheduled day, but do not set them out the night before to avoid illegal dumping by others.
Accepted
- ✓ Furniture and mattresses
- ✓ Major household appliances
- ✓ Up to 4 passenger vehicle tires (no rims)
- ✓ Bagged trash (up to 2 cubic yards)
- ✓ Bundled clean wood (under 4 feet long)
Not Accepted
- ✕ Single items weighing over 75 pounds (excluding furniture/appliances)
- ✕ Hazardous waste (paint, oil, chemicals)
- ✕ Rocks, dirt, concrete, or construction debris
- ✕ Treated or painted wood
Customers will be charged extra fees for placing items out that exceed the 2-cubic-yard limit or for scheduling pickups beyond their two free annual allowances.
Holiday Schedule
General Rule
If an observed holiday falls on a weekday, collection services for the remainder of that week will be delayed by one day. If the holiday falls on a weekend, there is no delay.
Yard Waste Exception
Organic waste (green cart) and recycling (blue cart) collections follow the exact same holiday delay schedule as standard garbage.
Holidays not listed, such as Memorial Day, Independence Day, and Labor Day, do not affect the collection schedule in the Oro Loma Sanitary District.
Observed Holidays
!Contamination Tips
No Plastic Bags in Recycling
Never bag your recyclables. Thin film plastics and plastic grocery bags jam the sorting gears at the local Material Recovery Facility. Keep items loose, empty, and dry in the blue cart.
Beware of 'Compostable' Plastics
Despite misleading marketing, BPI-certified compostable bioplastics (like eco-friendly cups, utensils, and bio-bags) do not break down efficiently in local commercial composting facilities. In the Oro Loma Sanitary District, all bioplastics must be placed in the gray trash cart.
Keep Batteries Out of Carts
Household batteries, particularly lithium-ion varieties, are extreme fire hazards when crushed in collection trucks. Never place them inside your carts. Instead, place household batteries in a clear zip-locked bag and rest them on top of your blue recycling cart on collection day.
Seasonal Information
Winter
December - JanuaryFollowing Christmas, WM provides curbside holiday tree collection [3.2.3]. Trees must be completely stripped of ornaments, tinsel, lights, and stands. If the tree is heavily flocked, it is considered garbage and must be cut up and placed in the gray trash cart.
Fall
October - NovemberAs leaves begin to drop, ensure all yard waste is placed loosely inside the green organics cart. Do not pack the cart too tightly, as the automated trucks rely on gravity to empty the material.
About Ashland Waste Management
The Three-Cart System and Container Monitoring
To comply with state laws and local sustainability goals, Ashland utilizes a standardized three-cart system: gray for trash, blue for recycling, and green for organics. To enforce proper sorting, WM employs "Smart Truck" technology. Collection trucks are equipped with cameras that photograph overflowing containers and contamination. Residents receive two warnings before extra charges are applied, and four violations can result in a mandatory, costly upsize of your trash cart.
SB 1383 Organics Mandate
Under California's SB 1383, Ashland residents must keep all organic waste out of the landfill. The green organics cart is mandatory for all yard trimmings, untreated wood, and food scraps, including meat, dairy, bones, and food-soiled paper like greasy pizza boxes. By properly sorting these materials, the Oro Loma Sanitary District diverts tons of waste from the landfill, transforming it into usable compost and reducing methane emissions.
Convenient Bulky Waste Collection
Ashland residents are entitled to two free bulky waste pickups per calendar year through WM. This program is ideal for disposing of old furniture, mattresses, appliances, and up to four passenger tires. You must call WM at least two weeks in advance to secure an appointment, and materials should be placed at the curb by 5:30 a.m. on the scheduled day. Be mindful not to set items out the night before to prevent illegal dumping by passersby.
Drop-off Facilities
Alameda County Household Hazardous Waste Program
Various drop-off locations (Call 800-606-6606 for closest facility)
Materials Accepted
Frequently Asked Questions
Who provides trash service in Ashland, CA?
Waste Management (WM) provides all residential and commercial solid waste collection services for Ashland, operating under the jurisdiction and franchise agreement of the Oro Loma Sanitary District.
How do I report a missed trash pickup in Ashland?
If your carts were out by 6:00 a.m. but were not serviced, you should contact Waste Management directly at (510) 613-8710 or use your My WM online account to report the missed collection within three days.
Can I get charged for overfilling my trash cart?
Yes. WM uses Smart Truck cameras to monitor carts in the Oro Loma Sanitary District. If your lid is not completely closed or your cart is contaminated, you will receive warnings. Repeated offenses result in overage charges and eventually a mandatory upsize to a larger, more expensive cart.
How do I dispose of old tires or appliances?
You can use one of your two annual bulky waste pickups to dispose of up to four passenger car tires (without rims) and large household appliances. Call WM at (510) 613-8710 at least two weeks in advance to schedule your curbside pickup.