Gray Bin (Trash)
All garbage must fit inside the cart with the lid completely closed. Hazardous materials and liquids are strictly prohibited.
Accepted Items
- ✓Treated or coated wood
- ✓Non-vegetarian animal waste (dog and cat litter)
- ✓Ceramics and dishware
- ✓Foam plastic (Styrofoam)
- ✓Mirrors and sheet glass
- ✓Juice boxes and pouches
- ✓Non-recyclable wrappers
Blue Bin (Recycling)
Containers must be lightly rinsed or wiped clean. Clean plastic bags must be stuffed inside a single bag ('bag-a-bag' method). Extra cardboard can be flattened to 4'x4' max and stacked next to the cart.
Accepted Items
- ✓Plastics #1-7 (except foam)
- ✓Bundled plastic bags and clean film
- ✓Scrap metal (up to 2 ft and 40 lbs)
- ✓Glass bottles and jars (all colors)
- ✓Aluminum foil and metal containers
- ✓Clean paper, cardboard, and cartons
Do NOT Include
- ✕Ceramics and glassware
- ✕Windows and mirrors
- ✕Foam plastic
- ✕Juice boxes and pouches
- ✕Food-soiled paper
- ✕Organic material
- ✕Hazardous Waste
Yard Waste Bin
Do not use standard plastic bags; only BPI-certified compostable bags or paper bags are allowed. Keep free of rocks, dirt, and treated wood.
Accepted Items
- ✓Food scraps and leftovers
- ✓Waxed paper cartons and paper egg cartons
- ✓Yard trimmings, uncoated wood, and cactus
- ✓Food-soiled paper (pizza boxes, napkins, plates)
- ✓Vegetarian animal waste
- ✓Shredded paper (must be in a paper bag)
Bulky Item Pickup
Frequency
One free Bulky & Reuse Pick-Up per calendar year for eligible residential units.
Placement
Set items within 3 feet of the curb by 6:00 a.m. on your scheduled appointment day. Do not block the street or sidewalk. Do not place items out more than 24 hours in advance.
Accepted
- ✓ Furniture and mattresses
- ✓ Housewares and clean clothing/textiles
- ✓ TVs, electronics, and small appliances
- ✓ Large appliances (doors removed or sealed)
- ✓ Scrap metal
- ✓ Up to 4 passenger tires (rims removed)
- ✓ Bundled clean yard waste up to 6 inches in diameter
Not Accepted
- ✕ Hazardous waste and liquid paint
- ✕ Pressure-treated lumber or treated wood waste (TWW)
- ✕ Rocks, dirt, and concrete
- ✕ Automobile/lithium-ion batteries
- ✕ Construction and demolition debris exceeding limits
Additional fees will apply if your load exceeds the 7 cubic yard limit or if you request more than one bulky pickup within the same calendar year.
Holiday Schedule
General Rule
No collection services are provided on observed holidays. Collection is pushed back one day for the remainder of the holiday week, continuing through Saturday.
Yard Waste Exception
Standard holiday delay applies to organics collection as well.
CVSan offices may also be closed on additional holidays (e.g., Labor Day, Veterans Day), but curbside collection by ACI will occur as regularly scheduled unless it falls on the three major observed holidays.
Observed Holidays
!Contamination Tips
Secure Your Shredded Paper
Never dump loose shredded paper into your blue recycling cart, as it jams up the sorting facility's machinery. Instead, bundle it securely inside a brown paper bag and place it in the green organics cart.
Bundle Your Plastic Bags
Loose plastic film wrap and grocery bags wreak havoc on recycling belts. Stuff all clean, soft plastic bags into one single bag and tie it off before placing it into the blue cart.
Textile Collection Etiquette
Do not throw clothing or linens into your weekly carts. Wait for the specific textile collection weeks in June and October, and ensure items are bagged, completely dry, and free of any bio-waste or motor oil.
Seasonal Information
Spring & Summer
April and AugustCVSan hosts its popular 'Recycles Day' events twice a year. Residents can safely drop off household hazardous waste, e-waste, and unaccepted textiles, and even pick up free bags of compost for their summer gardens.
Autumn
OctoberThe first full week of October is designated for curbside textile pickup. Place bagged, reusable, and non-usable linens and clothing next to your blue recycling cart on your normal collection day.
Winter
Late December to JanuaryPlease note that standard Bulky & Reuse Pick-Up appointments are temporarily suspended during the peak Holiday Tree Collection period. Plan your garage cleanouts before the winter holidays to ensure availability.
About Castro Valley Waste Management
Castro Valley's Path to Zero Waste
The Castro Valley Sanitary District (CVSan) partners directly with Alameda County Industries (ACI) to provide efficient and forward-thinking waste management services. Through a robust three-cart system—blue for recycling, green for organics, and gray for garbage—the community is actively working to meet strict state mandates for landfill diversion. Keeping the East Bay sustainable starts right at the curb, where ACI handles the heavy lifting of sorting and processing local refuse.
Curbside Textile & Battery Collection Protocols
Castro Valley offers unique recycling perks that go beyond the typical cart service. During the first full weeks of June and October, residents can leave bagged household textiles and clothing next to their blue recycling carts for specialized diversion. Furthermore, instead of driving to a hazardous waste facility, you can safely dispose of standard household batteries at any time by sealing them in a heavy-duty plastic bag and placing them directly on top of your blue recycling cart.
Organics and Food Scraps: The Green Cart Advantage
Combatting landfill emissions is highly prioritized in Alameda County, making the green organics cart essential for all Castro Valley residents. ACI accepts a wide variety of organic matter, including food-soiled paper products, uncoated wood chips, yard trimmings, and even vegetarian animal waste (like rabbit or bird bedding). Even shredded paper, which is notoriously difficult to sort at recycling plants, is welcomed here as long as it is bundled securely inside a paper bag.
Navigating Your Annual Bulky & Reuse Pick-Up
Decluttering your home is simplified thanks to the complimentary Bulky & Reuse Pick-Up program available to both single-family and multi-family residents once per calendar year. You are allowed to set out up to seven cubic yards of material. Because CVSan heavily promotes a 'reduce and reuse' mentality, items placed curbside are actively sorted; functional home goods and furniture are routed to local charities and donation facilities before the remainder is landfilled.
Drop-off Facilities
Castro Valley Sanitary District (CVSan) Main Office
21040 Marshall Street, Castro Valley, CA 94546
Materials Accepted
Alameda County Industries (ACI) Main Office
610 Aladdin Avenue, San Leandro, CA 94577
Materials Accepted
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I safely dispose of used cooking oil in Castro Valley?
ACI provides a convenient curbside cooking oil recycling program. You can pour up to 3 gallons of used cooking oil into a screw-top plastic container (no taller than 12 inches), label the container 'Cooking Oil', and set it right next to your green organics cart on your normal pickup day.
Are dirty pizza boxes and paper plates supposed to go in the recycling cart?
No. Food-soiled paper products cannot be recycled, but they are highly compostable! Place your greasy pizza boxes, used paper napkins, and uncoated paper plates directly into your green organics cart.
What should I do if I have extra cardboard that won't fit into my blue bin?
If you have more cardboard than your blue recycling cart can hold, you don't need to throw it in the trash. You can flatten the extra corrugated cardboard to a maximum size of 4 feet by 4 feet and neatly stack it right beside your blue cart for free collection.
Can I throw old belts, shoes, and clothes into my blue recycling cart?
No, textiles should never be placed loosely in your blue cart. Instead, take advantage of Castro Valley's special curbside textile pickup week, which occurs during the first full week of June and October, or bring them to a biannual CVSan Recycles Day event.