Grey or Black Lid Bin (Trash)
All household trash must be bagged before placing it in the cart to prevent litter. The cart lid must close completely, and overflow materials may be subject to additional charges.
Accepted Items
- ✓Standard household trash
- ✓Food waste and wrappers
- ✓Plastic bags
- ✓Textiles and old clothing
Blue Bin (Recycling)
Recyclables must be kept loose, clean, and dry inside the bin. Do not bag recyclables in plastic trash bags. Lightly rinse food containers, though labels do not need to be removed.
Accepted Items
- ✓Clean paper and cardboard
- ✓Aluminum and tin cans
- ✓Glass food and beverage containers
- ✓Rigid plastics #1 through #7
Do NOT Include
- ✕Plastic bags and film
- ✕Styrofoam
- ✕Wax-coated boxes
- ✕Window glass and mirrors
- ✕Ceramics
- ✕Diapers
- ✕Food-soiled paper
Yard Waste Bin
Curbside yard waste service is available for a monthly fee. Do not bag organic waste, and ensure it is entirely free of household trash, pet waste, or treated wood.
Accepted Items
- ✓Leaves
- ✓Grass clippings
- ✓Small branches
- ✓Tree trimmings
Bulky Item Pickup
Frequency
On-demand
Placement
Once confirmed, place bulk items at the curb by 6:00 a.m. on the scheduled date, keeping them clear of sidewalks and vehicles.
Accepted
- ✓ Furniture
- ✓ Mattresses
- ✓ Washers and dryers
- ✓ Standard bulky household items
Not Accepted
- ✕ Construction waste
- ✕ Auto parts
- ✕ Tires
- ✕ Hazardous household waste
- ✕ Medical or electronic waste
- ✕ Dirt and rocks
Fees apply and vary based on the item type and volume. Contact Waste Management at (530) 893-4777 for precise pricing and availability.
Holiday Schedule
General Rule
If an observed holiday falls on a weekday, garbage and recycling collections for the remainder of the week will be pushed back by one day.
Yard Waste Exception
Yard waste collection follows the exact same holiday delay schedule as standard trash and recycling.
If a holiday falls on a Saturday or Sunday, there are no delays to the regular pickup schedule.
Observed Holidays
!Contamination Tips
Keep Recyclables Loose
Never put your recyclables in plastic garbage bags before tossing them into your blue cart. Plastic film gets tangled in the mechanical sorting screens and can shut down the entire recycling facility.
Ban the Batteries
Lithium-ion batteries found in cellphones, laptops, and toys can spark dangerous flare-ups in collection trucks when crushed. Keep them out of all curbside bins and take them to a hazardous waste drop-off instead.
Rinse, Don't Scrub
Lightly rinse tin cans and glass jars before recycling them to avoid contaminating paper and cardboard in the same bin. You do not need to aggressively scrub them or remove the paper labels.
Seasonal Information
Fall/Winter
October to JanuaryChico runs an extensive street sweeping and leaf collection program during the fall and winter to clear heavy foliage from the 'City of Trees,' ensuring local storm drains remain unblocked.
Summer
June to SeptemberDuring peak summer temperatures, ensure all household garbage is tightly bagged and tied before placing it in your trash cart. This reduces foul odors and keeps pests out of your bins.
About Chico Waste Management
Navigating Chico's Residential Waste Services
In the City of Chico, residential trash and recycling collection is managed through a franchise agreement with North Valley Waste Management. Keeping your neighborhood clean requires following a few simple guidelines on collection day. Residents must place their designated carts on the street with the wheels resting against the curb no later than 6:00 a.m. It is vital to maintain a minimum three-foot clearance between each bin, as well as keeping them away from parked vehicles, mailboxes, and overhanging trees so the automated trucks can grab them safely.
Mastering Chico’s Blue Cart Recycling Program
Chico utilizes a single-stream recycling system, making it incredibly convenient to recycle clean paper, glass, aluminum, and rigid plastics numbered 1 through 7 all in the same blue cart. To maximize the effectiveness of the local recycling facility, residents must ensure that all materials are loose, clean, and dry. Never enclose your recyclables in plastic garbage bags, as film plastics easily tangle the sorting equipment and can cause entire loads to be rejected as trash. If you generate extra-large cardboard boxes, you can flatten and bundle them neatly next to your bin.
Green Waste and the Fall Leaf Collection Season
Appropriately nicknamed the 'City of Trees,' Chico boasts an extensive urban canopy that produces a massive amount of foliage every autumn. To combat this, the city runs a dedicated seasonal street sweeping and leaf collection program throughout the fall and winter, preventing over 5,000 cubic yards of organic material from clogging storm drains and local waterways. For year-round landscape maintenance, residents can also subscribe to a curbside yard waste recycling program through Waste Management for a small monthly fee.
Safe Disposal of Household Hazardous Waste (HHW)
Everyday items like lithium-ion batteries, propane tanks, and pool chemicals pose severe fire risks to both collection trucks and waste processing facilities, meaning they are strictly banned from your curbside carts. Fortunately, Chico residents have free access to the Butte Regional Household Hazardous Waste Facility located in the Chico Airport Industrial Park. Open on Fridays and Saturdays, this drop-off site accepts up to 50 pounds of hazardous materials per visit, including old paint, automotive fluids, electronic waste, and prescription sharps.
Managing Bulky Items and Appliance Disposal
When it is time to get rid of an old sofa, mattress, or broken washing machine, you cannot simply leave it on the curb next to your weekly trash bin. Waste Management offers convenient, on-demand bulk trash pickups for residents dealing with oversized waste. You must contact customer service in advance to verify acceptable items, schedule a collection date, and pay any applicable fees based on the volume of materials. Please note that construction debris, dirt, and hazardous auto parts are strictly prohibited from bulk collection.
Drop-off Facilities
Butte Regional Household Hazardous Waste Facility
1101 Marauder Street, Chico, CA 95973
Materials Accepted
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I correctly set out my garbage and recycling carts in Chico?
Waste Management requires residents to place their carts on the street with the wheels touching the curb by 6:00 a.m. on your collection day. Keep carts at least 3 feet apart from each other and away from parked cars, mailboxes, and overhanging trees.
Can I recycle plastic bags in my blue Chico recycling bin?
No, plastic bags and film plastics are strictly prohibited in the curbside blue recycling cart because they tangle the facility's sorting machinery. You should return them to local grocery stores that offer film recycling drop-offs or throw them in your regular trash.
Does Chico offer a specific leaf collection program?
Yes! Because Chico is famous for its dense urban canopy, the city operates an extensive street sweeping and leaf collection program during the fall and winter months to gather fallen leaves, which keeps the streets safe and prevents flooding by keeping storm drains clear.
Does Waste Management delay trash pickup for every holiday?
No. In Chico, Waste Management only observes four major holidays: New Year's Day, the Fourth of July, Thanksgiving, and Christmas. If one of these falls on a weekday, service is delayed by one day. Other holidays like Memorial Day or Labor Day generally do not affect the schedule.