Grey or Dark Blue Bin (Trash)
All material must fit in your garbage cart with the lid completely closed. Place at the curb by 6:00 a.m. on collection day.
Accepted Items
- ✓Non-recyclable plastics
- ✓Palm fronds
- ✓Pet waste
- ✓Chip bags and candy wrappers
- ✓Broken ceramics or glass
Blue Bin (Recycling)
Items must be empty, clean, and dry. Do not bag recyclables; place them loosely in the cart to avoid jamming the sorting machines.
Accepted Items
- ✓Mixed paper and junk mail
- ✓Flattened cardboard
- ✓Plastic containers #1-7
- ✓Glass bottles and jars
- ✓Aluminum and tin cans
Do NOT Include
- ✕Food waste
- ✕Plastic bags
- ✕Coir (coconut fiber) doormats
- ✕Electronics and batteries
- ✕Rubber items
Yard Waste Bin
Do not put palm fronds or palm stumps in the green waste cart. Place them in the regular garbage or take stumps to the landfill.
Accepted Items
- ✓Food waste
- ✓Food-soiled paper
- ✓Grass clippings
- ✓Leaves and weeds
- ✓Tree trimmings (under 3 feet long and 4 inches thick)
Bulky Item Pickup
Frequency
Three times per year via the Neighborhood Clean-Up program.
Placement
Items must be at the curb by 6 a.m. on the scheduled day. Do not place items out more than 48 hours in advance, or you may face a penalty fee on your utility bill.
Accepted
- ✓ Furniture
- ✓ Appliances
- ✓ Electronics
- ✓ Wood and yard debris
- ✓ Tires (check limits)
Not Accepted
- ✕ Household Hazardous Waste
- ✕ Palm stumps
- ✕ Commercial waste
- ✕ Dirt, concrete, and rock
The neighborhood clean-up is free. If you miss it, you can haul items to the North Area Recovery Station at standard disposal rates.
Holiday Schedule
General Rule
If Christmas or New Year's Day falls on a weekday, all collections for the remainder of that week will be delayed by one day.
Yard Waste Exception
Organics and recycling follow the exact same holiday delay schedule as regular garbage.
Most standard federal holidays (like Memorial Day or Labor Day) do not interrupt the Republic Services pickup schedule in Citrus Heights. Always have your carts out by 6 a.m.
Observed Holidays
!Contamination Tips
Keep Palm Fronds Out of the Green Cart
Citrus Heights specifically requires palm fronds to be thrown in your standard garbage cart, not the organics cart. Palm materials are extremely fibrous, take years to decompose, and frequently jam commercial wood chippers.
Ditch the Coir Doormats
Those bristly natural doormats made of coconut fiber (coir) cannot be recycled in the current system. While they are a natural material, they take far too long to break down in standard composting facilities and must be thrown in the trash.
No Batteries in Large Toys
If you are tossing out old electronic toys or ride-on vehicles, you must remove all batteries and electronic components first. Hidden lithium-ion batteries are a major fire hazard for Republic Services collection trucks.
Seasonal Information
Winter
December - JanuaryFollowing the holidays, the city offers Holiday Tree Recycling. Place your clean, un-flocked tree (free of tinsel, stands, and lights) out for collection. Large trees must be cut into sections to fit in the organics truck.
Fall
November - JanuaryDuring peak foliage season, Citrus Heights runs an Extra Leaf Pick-Up program to handle the overflow of yard waste that won't fit into your standard 96-gallon green cart.
Year-Round
Rolling ScheduleThe Neighborhood Clean-Up happens three times per year on a rolling basis. Keep a close eye on your front door—you will receive a notification hanger exactly one week before your zone's bulk collection day.
About Citrus Heights Waste Management
Navigating the Citrus Heights 3-Cart System
In Citrus Heights, maintaining public health and neighborhood cleanliness is a top priority, making residential garbage collection a mandatory service for all homes. The city contracts with Republic Services to provide a seamless three-cart system. Residents automatically receive a recycling cart, a green organics cart, and a trash cart. To optimize your household budget, you can choose between a 32-gallon, 64-gallon, or 96-gallon garbage bin, which dictates your monthly rate, while enjoying large 96-gallon bins for your recycling and organics at no extra charge.
Maximizing Your Republic Services Organics Bin
California's statewide organic waste laws mean Citrus Heights residents must separate food waste and yard clippings from regular trash. Your green organics cart is the perfect destination for food-soiled paper, grass clippings, and tree trimmings. By diverting these materials away from local landfills, you are actively participating in reducing greenhouse gas emissions. Just remember that tree limbs must be cut down to three feet or less in length and cannot exceed four inches in diameter to ensure they process smoothly at the composting facility.
Neighborhood Clean-Up: Your Bulky Item Perks
One of the best amenities for Citrus Heights residents is the Neighborhood Clean-Up (NCU) program. Three times a year, Republic Services rolls through neighborhoods to collect large, bulky items directly from the curb at no additional cost. Rather than having to schedule an appointment or pay high dump fees, you simply wait for a notification door hanger to arrive one week prior to your collection date. This is the perfect time to clear out up to 10 cubic yards of old furniture, appliances, or bundled yard waste.
Temporary Service Exemptions for Extended Absences
Unique to Citrus Heights, property owners who plan to be away from their residence for an extended period can apply for a temporary exemption from garbage and recycling services. This prevents homeowners from paying for waste collection while snowbirding or traveling. Keep in mind, however, that these exemptions are strictly monitored and will not be granted for rental properties or homes currently sitting on the real estate market.
Free Household Hazardous Waste Drop-Offs
Keeping toxic materials out of the Sacramento County waste stream is critical. Citrus Heights residents can easily dispose of Household Hazardous Waste (HHW) like paints, solvents, motor oil, and batteries without paying a premium. Simply gather your accepted materials and drop them off at the North Area Recovery Station (NARS) in North Highlands or the Kiefer Landfill in Sloughhouse. Both facilities accept residential HHW free of charge, keeping our local environment safe.
Drop-off Facilities
North Area Recovery Station (NARS)
4450 Roseville Rd, North Highlands, CA
Materials Accepted
Kiefer Landfill
12701 Kiefer Blvd, Sloughhouse, CA
Materials Accepted
L and D Landfill
8635 Fruitridge Road, Sacramento, CA 95826
Materials Accepted
Frequently Asked Questions
What should I do with palm fronds and stumps in Citrus Heights?
Palm fronds cannot be composted because they are incredibly tough and jam the commercial chippers. You must place palm fronds in your regular garbage cart. If you have large palm stumps, they are not accepted in the Neighborhood Clean-Up program; you must haul them directly to the North Area Recovery Station.
Can I pause my trash service if I am going out of town?
Yes, property owners in Citrus Heights can apply for a temporary service exemption if they have an extended absence from their residence. However, this exemption cannot be used for rental properties or houses that are currently on the market for sale.
How does the Neighborhood Clean-Up bulk waste program work?
The city provides three free bulky waste pickups annually per neighborhood. You will receive a door hanger one week before your zone's scheduled collection date. Piles must not exceed 10 cubic yards. Be sure not to set your items out more than 48 hours in advance, as doing so can result in a penalty fee on your next bill.
How do I safely dispose of used medical sharps or needles?
Residential customers in Citrus Heights have access to a highly convenient sharps program. You can arrange for a free at-home pickup of your used hypodermic sharps by calling Republic Services directly at 916-725-9060 to schedule an appointment.