Brown or Black Bin (Trash)
Place your cart at the curb by 5:00 a.m. on your collection day or the night before. Keep it at least 3 feet away from other carts, cars, and trees.
Accepted Items
- ✓Plastic film and plastic bags
- ✓Foam products and Styrofoam
- ✓Cold ashes (must be tightly bagged)
- ✓Pet waste
- ✓Diapers
- ✓Broken ceramics and glass
- ✓General non-hazardous household garbage
Blue Bin (Recycling)
All recyclables must be placed loosely into the blue cart. Ensure all containers are completely empty, clean, and dry before disposal.
Accepted Items
- ✓Clean, flattened cardboard
- ✓Paper, junk mail, and magazines
- ✓Plastic containers #1 PET and #2 HDPE
- ✓Aluminum and tin cans
- ✓Glass bottles and jars
Do NOT Include
- ✕Food-contaminated containers
- ✕Plastic bags and film
- ✕Textiles and clothing
- ✕E-waste
- ✕Batteries
- ✕Hazardous materials
Yard Waste Bin
Do not use plastic bags, bioplastics, or compostable plastics. All organic material must go directly into the green cart.
Accepted Items
- ✓Food scraps (meat, fish, poultry, bones, vegetables)
- ✓Plate scrapings and food-soiled paper
- ✓Grass clippings and weeds
- ✓Leaves
- ✓Plant and garden trimmings
- ✓Branches and twigs (no more than 3-inch diameter and 3 feet long)
Bulky Item Pickup
Frequency
3 free 'On-Call Pickups' per year for extra bagged trash/yard waste. Large furniture and appliances require a fee-based Special Pickup.
Placement
Schedule your pickup at least a week in advance by calling MDRR. Place your extra bags or bundles at the curb by 5:00 a.m. on your regular collection day.
Accepted
- ✓ Extra household garbage in bags
- ✓ Excess yard waste in bags
- ✓ Bundled tree branches
Not Accepted
- ✕ Furniture
- ✕ Appliances
- ✕ Carpets
- ✕ E-waste
- ✕ Lumber or logs
- ✕ Building and construction materials
The 12-bag cleanups are free. Any actual bulky items (e-waste, couches, white goods) require you to call (925) 682-9113 for a paid Special Pickup quote.
Holiday Schedule
General Rule
MDRR conducts collections on almost all holidays (including Thanksgiving and Independence Day). However, if your regular service day falls on or after Christmas Day or New Year's Day, your pickup will be pushed back by one day for the remainder of that week.
Yard Waste Exception
Organics and recycling follow the exact same holiday shift as regular garbage.
Always check your monthly billing statement for specific holiday reminders, as Concord's schedule is much less interruptive than surrounding cities.
Observed Holidays
!Contamination Tips
Keep Plastic Bags Out of the Blue Cart
Never bag your recyclables. Plastic bags and flimsy plastic film wrap around the gears of the sorting machines at the Mt. Diablo Resource Recovery facility, causing severe damage and delays. Always place your recyclables loosely into the cart.
Dry Cardboard Only
Cardboard that has been soaked by rain is no longer recyclable at the paper mill. Keep your cart lid firmly closed during wet weather. If your cardboard gets heavily wet or is soiled with grease (like a pizza box), place it in the green organics cart instead.
Batteries Belong Beside the Bin
Tossing household batteries into any of your carts is a severe fire hazard for sanitation trucks. Take advantage of Concord's special program: seal batteries in a clear bag, label it 'batteries', and place it on the ground next to your black or brown garbage cart.
Seasonal Information
Winter
December to JanuaryMDRR offers Holiday Tree Recycling. Bare, uncut trees (with all lights, tinsel, and ornaments removed) are collected curbside on your regularly scheduled service day. Alternatively, residents can drop off one free tree at the Pittsburg Transfer Station.
Winter
Late DecemberMDRR is one of the few haulers that works on almost all holidays, including Thanksgiving. The only exceptions are Christmas Day and New Year's Day. If your collection day falls on or after these two holidays, your pickup will be delayed by one day.
Fall
October to NovemberDuring heavy leaf drops, remember that branches in your green cart cannot exceed 3 inches in diameter and 3 feet in length. For larger branches, schedule one of your three free annual On-Call Pickups.
About Concord Waste Management
Concord's Collaborative Waste Management System
The City of Concord partners exclusively with Mt. Diablo Resource Recovery (MDRR), a family-owned environmental partner that has been serving Contra Costa County since the 1930s. MDRR oversees all residential and commercial solid waste operations, striving to divert as much recyclable and compostable material as possible from local landfills. Concord residents benefit from robust curbside programs, including advanced organics recycling, comprehensive automated cart services, and dedicated community drop-off centers.
Navigating SB 1383 Organics Mandates in Concord
To comply with California's SB 1383 Short-Lived Climate Pollutant Reduction Strategy, Concord residents must divert all organic waste from standard garbage collections. Your 96-gallon green cart is now a vital tool for environmental sustainability. Rather than just grass clippings and leaves, residents are required to place all food scraps—including meat, dairy, bones, plate scrapings, and 100% plant-fiber food-soiled paper—directly into the organics container. MDRR transports this material to specialized facilities where it is transformed into nutrient-rich soil.
Curbside Extras: Battery and Motor Oil Recycling
Unlike many municipalities that require a trip to a hazardous waste facility for all dangerous items, Concord offers incredibly convenient curbside recycling for household batteries and used motor oil. Residents can simply place household batteries in a clear, sealed bag labeled 'batteries' and set it next to their garbage cart on collection day. For motor oil, locals can request a free 6-quart oil container and filter sleeve from MDRR, which will be safely picked up at the curb once filled and scheduled.
Understanding On-Call Cleanups vs. Bulky Item Fees
Decluttering in Concord comes with specific guidelines. Single-family residents receive three free 'On-Call Pickups' per calendar year; however, these are strictly for excess bagged garbage and bundled yard waste. You can set out up to twelve 32-gallon bags (under 50 lbs each) or properly bundled branches. True bulky items like couches, mattresses, refrigerators, or e-waste are not covered by these free pickups. For large furniture, residents must either schedule a fee-based 'Special Pickup' with MDRR or self-haul to the MDRR Recycling Center and Transfer Station in nearby Pittsburg.
Drop-off Facilities
MDRR Recycling Center and Transfer Station
1300 Loveridge Road, Pittsburg, CA 94565
Materials Accepted
Central San Household Hazardous Waste Collection Facility
4797 Imhoff Place, Martinez, CA 94553
Materials Accepted
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I get large furniture picked up for free in Concord?
No. While Concord residents receive three free 'On-Call Pickups' per year from MDRR, these are limited strictly to extra bagged household garbage, bagged yard waste, or small bundled branches. To dispose of large furniture, mattresses, or appliances, you must call (925) 682-9113 to arrange a fee-based Special Pickup.
Does MDRR pick up trash on Thanksgiving Day?
Yes, Mt. Diablo Resource Recovery operates on almost all holidays, including Thanksgiving. The only two holidays that cause a one-day delay in your curbside collection are Christmas Day and New Year's Day.
How do I safely recycle household batteries in Concord?
Concord offers a highly convenient curbside battery recycling program. Place your household batteries in a clear, sealed plastic bag, label the bag 'batteries', and place it on the ground right next to your black or brown garbage cart on your regular collection day. Never throw batteries inside the carts.
What is the proper way to place my carts at the curb?
All carts must be rolled out by 5:00 a.m. on your designated collection day. Ensure there is at least 3 feet of space between each cart and any obstacles like parked cars, basketball hoops, or trees to allow the automated truck arms to operate safely.