Gray or Black Bin (Trash)
Lids must be completely closed. Set carts out by 6:00 a.m. on collection day and ensure they are placed one foot from the curb edge on a hard, flat surface.
Accepted Items
- ✓Pet waste (bagged)
- ✓Diapers and sanitary products
- ✓Foam packaging and Styrofoam
- ✓Plastic bags and film
- ✓Chip bags and snack wrappers
- ✓Treated wood scraps (small amounts)
Blue Bin (Recycling)
All recyclables must be clean, empty, and dry. Place items loosely inside the blue cart—never place bagged recyclables into the bin.
Accepted Items
- ✓Aluminum and steel cans
- ✓Clean glass bottles and jars
- ✓Plastics #1-7 (empty and dry)
- ✓Clean, unsoiled cardboard
- ✓Newspapers and mixed paper
- ✓New, unused paper to-go containers
Do NOT Include
- ✕Plastic bags or wrap
- ✕Food-soiled paper
- ✕Tanglers (hoses, wires, cords)
- ✕Batteries and electronics
- ✕Liquids or food residue
Yard Waste Bin
Yard waste must be loose. Food waste can be placed loosely, wrapped in newspaper, or contained within BPI-certified compostable bags. Regular plastic bags are strictly prohibited.
Accepted Items
- ✓Grass clippings and leaves
- ✓Branches and prunings (under 4 inches in diameter)
- ✓Food scraps (meat, dairy, bones, fruit, veggies)
- ✓Food-soiled paper (greasy pizza boxes, uncoated paper plates)
- ✓Clean, untreated wood scraps
Bulky Item Pickup
Frequency
One free appointment per rolling 12-month period
Placement
Place items on a flat, hard surface near the street edge by 6:00 a.m. on the appointment day, but no more than 24 hours prior. Do not place under low-hanging wires or branches; trucks require 14.5 feet of overhead clearance.
Accepted
- ✓ Furniture and mattresses
- ✓ Large appliances (doors taped/removed)
- ✓ E-waste (TVs, monitors, computers)
- ✓ Up to four tires (rims OK)
- ✓ Clean lumber and tree trimmings (max 5 ft long, 4 inches wide)
Not Accepted
- ✕ Treated wood waste (railroad ties, fence posts)
- ✕ Dirt, concrete, bricks, and rocks
- ✕ Household hazardous waste (paint, oil, chemicals)
- ✕ Vehicle parts and engines
- ✕ Commercial construction debris
The first five cubic yards are free once every 12 months. Exceeding the five-cubic-yard limit will result in additional disposal fees billed directly to your Sacramento County utilities account.
Holiday Schedule
General Rule
Sacramento County only delays garbage collection for three major holidays: Thanksgiving Day, Christmas Day, and New Year's Day. If the holiday falls on a weekday, service is pushed back one day for the remainder of the week. If the holiday falls on a weekend, there is no change to the collection schedule.
Yard Waste Exception
The holiday delay applies equally to all three carts: garbage, recycling, and organics.
Minor holidays such as Memorial Day, Fourth of July, and Labor Day DO NOT disrupt the regular collection schedule. Set your carts out as usual on these days.
Observed Holidays
!Contamination Tips
Set It Loose: Ban the Plastic Bag
Never bag your recyclables. Bagged items in the blue cart are treated as contamination and are sent directly to the landfill. Always toss your clean paper, plastics, and metals loosely into the recycling bin.
Split the Pizza Box
A standard pizza box often belongs in two different carts. Tear the clean, unsoiled lid off and place it in your blue recycling cart. The greasy bottom half, laden with cheese and oil, must go into the green Organics cart.
Batteries Combust When Trucks Crush
Never place any type of battery into your curbside carts. When the automated trucks compress the waste, hidden batteries can spark and cause massive fires. Take all batteries to a designated Sacramento County Household Hazardous Waste drop-off center.
Seasonal Information
Autumn
October - NovemberDuring heavy leaf drop season, ensure that all leaves are placed loosely into your green Organics cart. Do not sweep leaves into the street or gutters, as this can clog local storm drains and lead to localized neighborhood flooding.
Winter
December - JanuaryAfter the holidays, you can recycle your natural, unflocked Christmas tree by cutting it into sections smaller than three feet and placing them inside your green Organics cart. Ensure all lights, tinsel, and metal stands are completely removed.
Spring and Summer
March - OctoberSacramento County typically offers a free Self-Serve Compost Program running from mid-March through late October. Carmichael residents can pick up free compost for home landscaping and gardening projects at designated county facilities.
About Carmichael Waste Management
Comprehensive Residential Waste Management in Carmichael
Because Carmichael is an unincorporated community, its residential trash, recycling, and organic waste services are managed by the Sacramento County Department of Waste Management & Recycling, often known locally as the SacGreenTeam. The county operates a highly efficient three-cart automated curbside collection system designed to keep neighborhoods clean while adhering to state-mandated environmental standards. Residents are expected to roll their carts out by 6:00 a.m. on their scheduled service day, placing them at least three feet apart to accommodate the automated mechanical arms of the collection trucks.
Mastering the Three-Cart System: Trash, Recycling, and Organics
Sacramento County utilizes a standard color-coded system to separate municipal solid waste from recoverable materials. The gray or black cart is reserved exclusively for non-recyclable garbage, including diapers, pet waste, and heavily treated plastics. The blue recycling cart accepts clean, dry materials such as aluminum cans, glass bottles, and unsoiled cardboard. It is imperative that recyclables are placed loosely in the blue cart without being bagged. Meanwhile, the green Organics cart captures all yard trimmings and food scraps, directly supporting California's SB 1383 requirements for organic waste diversion.
Complying with California SB 1383: Food Waste in the Green Cart
Carmichael residents are required by state law to separate organic waste from general refuse to reduce greenhouse gas emissions at landfills. The green Organics cart must be used to dispose of all food waste—including meat, bones, dairy, and fruit peels—along with food-soiled paper products like greasy pizza boxes and used paper napkins. While landscape debris such as leaves and small branches must be placed loosely into the cart, the SacGreenTeam permits the use of BPI-certified compostable bags specifically to contain messy kitchen food scraps.
Maximizing Your Annual Bulky Waste Pickup Appointment
For large household items that cannot fit inside standard curbside carts, Sacramento County provides Carmichael residents with one free bulky waste pickup appointment every rolling 12 months. This complimentary service covers up to five cubic yards of material, roughly equivalent to the bed of a standard pickup truck filled to the cab. Residents can safely discard old furniture, appliances, e-waste, and up to four passenger tires. Appointments must be scheduled by calling (916) 875-5555, and materials cannot be set out more than 24 hours prior to the scheduled collection date.
Safe Disposal of Batteries and Household Hazardous Waste (HHW)
Improper disposal of hazardous materials poses severe risks to sanitation workers and collection vehicles. A frequent issue faced by the SacGreenTeam is truck fires caused by crushed lithium-ion batteries. Consequently, batteries, motor oil, wet paint, and chemical cleaners are strictly prohibited from all three curbside carts. Carmichael residents can securely dispose of these toxic materials at regional drop-off centers, including the North Area Recovery Station (NARS) or the Kiefer Landfill, ensuring dangerous chemicals are kept out of the local water table and environment.
Drop-off Facilities
North Area Recovery Station (NARS)
4450 Roseville Road, North Highlands, CA 95660
Materials Accepted
Kiefer Landfill
12701 Kiefer Blvd, Sloughhouse, CA 95683
Materials Accepted
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I schedule a free bulky waste pickup in Carmichael?
Carmichael residents receive one free bulky item pickup of up to five cubic yards every 12 months through Sacramento County. You must call customer service at (916) 875-5555 or use the online SacGreenTeam portal to schedule an appointment before placing items on the curb.
Can I put food waste in the green cart in Carmichael?
Yes. Due to California's SB 1383 mandate, all food scraps (including meat, dairy, and bones) and food-soiled paper products like used napkins and greasy pizza boxes must go into your green Organics cart.
Will my trash pickup be delayed on the Fourth of July or Labor Day?
No. Sacramento County only observes three holidays that disrupt the collection schedule: Thanksgiving Day, Christmas Day, and New Year's Day. For all other holidays, you must set your carts out on your normal service day.
Can I put plastic bags in my blue recycling bin?
No. Plastic grocery bags and garbage bags jam the mechanical sorting screens at the recycling facility. You must place all acceptable recyclables loosely into the blue cart. Any recyclables enclosed in plastic bags will be sent straight to the landfill.