Weekly Collection Schedule
Official municipal pickup timing for Berkeley
Trash Day
Varies by neighborhood zone
Recycling
Same day as trash pickup (weekly)
Yard Waste
Same day as trash pickup (weekly)
Set Out Time
By 7:00 AM on collection day
Utility Billing & Payments
Manage your local solid waste services
Residential refuse service is billed monthly and includes weekly garbage, compost, and recycling pickup, plus one free scheduled bulky waste pickup per calendar year for residential properties with up to 4 units.
Billing Cycle
Monthly
Accepted Methods
Online, Mail, Phone, In-Person, Drop Box
Pro Tip / Discount
The City offers a Very Low Income Refund program providing utility tax and fee relief for qualifying low-income households and seniors aged 65 and older.
Gray Bin (Trash)
Place carts in the gutter with wheels against the curb by 7:00 a.m. Ensure a one-foot gap between carts and three feet of clearance from parked cars. Lids must close completely.
Accepted Items
- ✓Pet waste and kitty litter
- ✓Diapers
- ✓Milk, juice, and soup cartons
- ✓Small plastics (lids, utensils, medicine bottles)
- ✓Foam packaging and broken dishware
Blue (Bottles/Cans) and Gray/Tan-Lid (Paper/Cardboard) Bin (Recycling)
Do not bag recyclables; place them loose in the cart. Berkeley recommends wiping containers clean with a spatula or used napkin instead of rinsing to conserve water.
Accepted Items
- ✓Clean, flat cardboard and molded fiber
- ✓Clean, dry paper
- ✓Glass bottles and jars
- ✓Metal cans and aluminum foil
- ✓Rigid plastic containers
Do NOT Include
- ✕Plastic bags or film
- ✕Plastics smaller than a yogurt cup
- ✕Coated paper cups and cartons
- ✕Liquids or food waste
Yard Waste Bin
Tree branches must be no more than 2 feet in length and 2 inches in diameter. Materials must be loose or contained in paper bags or newspaper, never plastic.
Accepted Items
- ✓All food scraps (including meat, bones, and shellfish)
- ✓Coffee grounds
- ✓Uncoated paper napkins and food-soiled paper
- ✓Yard trimmings and leaves
- ✓BPI or CMA-certified compostable fiber-ware
Bulky Item Pickup
Frequency
One (1) free bulky waste pickup per calendar year for eligible 1-4 unit residential buildings.
Placement
Call (510) 981-7270 to schedule. Standard bulk items are collected on Wednesdays; mattresses are collected on Thursdays. Place items curbside by 7:00 a.m.
Accepted
- ✓ Bagged or boxed bulky household trash
- ✓ Painted or stained wood under 5 feet (bundled)
- ✓ Rugs rolled up to 5 feet long and 12 inches in diameter
- ✓ Up to two mattresses per pickup (scheduled separately)
Not Accepted
- ✕ Dirt, rock, or concrete
- ✕ Household hazardous waste
- ✕ Wet mattresses (avoid rainy days)
- ✕ Construction and demolition debris
If you do not qualify for the free pickup or need a second pickup within the same calendar year, you can schedule a paid pickup through the Zero Waste Division.
Holiday Schedule
General Rule
There is no collection on Thanksgiving, Christmas, or New Year's Day. If your regular pickup falls on or after the holiday, service will be delayed by one day for the remainder of the week, extending into Saturday.
Yard Waste Exception
Compost and Ecology Center recycling collections face the exact same one-day delay as residential landfill collection.
Collection schedules are NOT affected by any other holidays (e.g., Memorial Day, Labor Day, July 4th). Carts must be set out on their normal day.
Observed Holidays
Seasonal Information
Summer/Fall
June - OctoberTo reduce extreme fire hazards in the hills, eligible residents should utilize the city's Fire Fuel Chipper and Vegetation Debris Bin program to clear thick brush and ladder fuels before the peak fire season.
Winter
December - JanuaryThe city does not automatically collect excess holiday trash left on the curb. You must purchase official Pre-Paid Bags if your post-holiday waste exceeds the capacity of your gray cart.
Local Tips & Community Info
Your Daily Zero Waste Collection Routine
In Berkeley, managing household waste is a collaborative effort between the City of Berkeley’s Zero Waste Division and the Ecology Center. To guarantee smooth curbside service, residents must roll their designated trash, recycling, and compost carts to the street edge by 7:00 a.m. on their assigned pickup morning. It is permissible to set your carts out as early as 6:00 p.m. the night before. Be sure to align the bins neatly without blocking public sidewalks or street sweepers. Missed collections must be reported to the city's 311 Customer Service line before 5:00 p.m. on the following business day to qualify for a courtesy retrieval.
Mastering Berkeley's Dual-Stream Recycling
Unlike many neighboring municipalities, Berkeley utilizes a dual-stream recycling system managed directly by the Ecology Center. This means you must separate your recyclable materials into two distinct categories to prevent contamination. Fiber materials, such as flattened cardboard, clean paper, and mail, belong in one compartment or bin, while rigid containers like glass bottles, aluminum cans, and plastic jugs (numbers 1-7) go into the other. Food-soiled pizza boxes and greasy paper bags are strictly forbidden in the recycling stream and must be tossed into your green compost cart instead.
Mandatory Composting and Plant Debris
Composting is not just encouraged in Berkeley; it is an essential part of the city's environmental strategy. All households are provided a green compost cart designed specifically for organic matter. This includes all food scraps, coffee grounds, meat bones, and yard trimmings such as leaves, weeds, and small branches. The city explicitly prohibits putting plastic bags—even those labeled 'biodegradable'—into the green bin. If you have extra plant debris that exceeds your cart's capacity, you can purchase prepaid paper bags from local retailers, which zero waste crews will pick up alongside your regular bins.
Scheduling Annual Bulky Waste Appointments
Decluttering your home is made easier with Berkeley's annual bulky item program. Single-family homes and small residential buildings (up to four units) are entitled to one free bulky waste pickup per calendar year. You can schedule your appointment for an upcoming Wednesday by calling the Zero Waste Division at (510) 981-7270. The allowance covers up to three cubic yards of material, which is roughly equivalent to twenty large garbage bags. Items must be placed at the curb by 7:00 a.m. on your appointment day. Any cancellations or date changes must be made by 2:00 p.m. the day prior.
Safe Disposal of Mattresses and Hazardous Goods
For items that do not qualify for standard bulky pickup—such as leftover paint, motor oil, batteries, and harsh cleaning chemicals—residents must utilize the Alameda County Household Hazardous Waste facilities. Mattresses and box springs can often be recycled through special drop-off programs at the Berkeley Transfer Station, located at 1201 Second Street. Keeping toxic liquids and electronic waste out of your standard refuse bins is critical for protecting the local Bay Area watershed and ensuring the safety of city sanitation workers.
Drop-off Facilities
Berkeley Transfer Station
1201 2nd St, Berkeley, CA 94710
Materials Accepted
Berkeley Recycling Center (Operated by Ecology Center)
669 Gilman St, Berkeley, CA 94710
Materials Accepted
Frequently Asked Questions
Who do I call if my recycling is missed in Berkeley?
Because the City of Berkeley uses a dual-hauler system, you must call the Ecology Center at (510) 527-5555 for missed recycling pickups. For missed compost or landfill collections, call the City's Zero Waste Division at (510) 981-7270.
Can I put milk or juice cartons in the recycling or compost?
No. Multi-layered, coated products like milk cartons, juice boxes, and soup cartons cannot be recycled or composted in Berkeley. They must be placed in the gray landfill cart.
How does the Pre-Paid Bag system work?
Residents with curbside service can buy pre-paid bags for extra trash or plant debris that won't fit in their carts. These can be purchased at the Customer Service Center on Center Street. Place them next to your carts on collection day; the city will collect up to 10 bags at once.
Will my collection be delayed for Memorial Day or Labor Day?
No. The only holidays that disrupt Berkeley's waste collection schedule are Thanksgiving Day, Christmas Day, and New Year's Day. For all other holidays, you must place your carts out on your regularly scheduled day.