Gray or Black Bin (Trash)
Use the landfill cart for all items that cannot be composted or recycled. The cart lid must be securely closed, and overloading the container is not allowed.
Accepted Items
- ✓Plastic bags and wrappers
- ✓Polystyrene foam (Styrofoam)
- ✓Waxed drink cartons
- ✓Plastic utensils and straws
- ✓Diapers and sanitary products
- ✓Pet waste and kitty litter
Blue Bin (Recycling)
All recyclables must be kept loose in the blue cart. Do not place recyclables inside plastic garbage bags. Flatten all cardboard boxes to save space.
Accepted Items
- ✓Clean paper and corrugated cardboard
- ✓Plastic bottles and containers
- ✓Glass bottles and jars
- ✓Metal and aluminum cans
- ✓Junk mail and magazines
Do NOT Include
- ✕Plastic bags
- ✕Food waste
- ✕Styrofoam
- ✕Electronic waste
- ✕Hazardous chemicals
Yard Waste Bin
All organics go in the green compost cart. Do not place dirt, rocks, household garbage, or plastic bags in this container. Keep the lid closed to prevent pests.
Accepted Items
- ✓Food scraps (meat, dairy, bones, fruits, vegetables)
- ✓Food-soiled paper products
- ✓Grass and weed clippings
- ✓Leaves, plants, and flowers
- ✓Shrub and tree prunings (under 4 inches in diameter)
Bulky Item Pickup
Frequency
Three (3) free collections per year for single-family residents.
Placement
You must contact AVI at 925-479-9545 to schedule in advance. Small, loose items must be bagged or boxed. Place items at the curb no more than 24 hours prior to the scheduled pickup.
Accepted
- ✓ Furniture and mattresses
- ✓ Up to four (4) car tires (without rims)
- ✓ White goods (refrigerators and water heaters with doors removed)
- ✓ Electronic waste (TVs, monitors, stereos)
- ✓ Bagged or boxed small household items
Not Accepted
- ✕ Dirt, rocks, and concrete
- ✕ Hazardous materials
- ✕ Items weighing over 60 pounds (except furniture and appliances)
- ✕ Commercial or construction waste
Multi-family complex residents are eligible for bulky item service but must contact their property manager to coordinate the pickup with AVI.
Holiday Schedule
General Rule
If the holiday falls on a weekday, collection service on and after the holiday will be delayed by one day for the remainder of that week, pushing Friday routes to Saturday.
Yard Waste Exception
The one-day holiday delay applies equally to all carts, including compost, recycling, and landfill.
If Christmas Day or New Year's Day falls on a Sunday, there will be no delays to the collection schedule. Service operates normally on all other holidays like Memorial Day and Independence Day.
Observed Holidays
!Contamination Tips
Keep plastic bags out of the compost
Never use plastic grocery bags or plastic garbage bags to collect your food scraps. Line your kitchen compost pail with newspaper, paper bags, or certified compostable bags only, before tossing the contents into the green cart.
Bag your batteries and leave them on top
Household batteries are a fire hazard and should never be tossed inside the carts. Seal your dry cell household batteries in a clear zipper-style plastic bag and leave it resting on top of the blue recycling cart.
Styrofoam and waxed cartons are garbage
Unlike some neighboring cities, Dublin requires all expanded polystyrene foam (Styrofoam) packaging and waxed drink cartons (like milk or juice cartons) to be placed in the landfill cart, not the recycling cart.
Seasonal Information
Winter
December - JanuaryLocal Boy Scouts Troop 905 typically offers a holiday tree recycling fundraiser in early January. Alternatively, residents can place clean, unflocked trees (cut to 4 feet or less) at the curb on their regular service day through mid-January for special collection by AVI.
Autumn
NovemberThanksgiving Day is one of the few observed holidays that delays AVI collection. Residents with Thursday service will be pushed to Friday, and Friday customers will be serviced on Saturday.
Year-Round
January - DecemberResidents may occasionally find local textile recycling events or special paper shredding days sponsored by the city. Keep an eye on the Dublin city newsletter for specific dates and locations.
About Dublin Waste Management
Navigating Dublin's Amador Valley Industries (AVI) Services
In the City of Dublin, residential solid waste is managed through an exclusive franchise agreement with Amador Valley Industries (AVI), which utilizes a three-cart automated system. Single-family residents are provided a gray or black cart for landfill materials, a blue cart for recycling, and a green cart for compost. To ensure smooth collection, residents must wheel their carts to the curb edge by 5:30 a.m. on their scheduled service day. Be sure to leave at least three feet of clearance between the carts and any obstacles, such as parked vehicles, basketball hoops, or fire hydrants.
Mandatory Organics Recycling and Kitchen Pails
In compliance with California's SB 1383 and Alameda County's Organics Reduction and Recycling Ordinance, Dublin requires all food and compostable materials to be kept out of the landfill. This means all food scraps, including meat, dairy, and bones, as well as food-soiled paper and yard trimmings, must go directly into the green compost cart. To assist with this transition, AVI has provided kitchen compost pails to all residents. You can line your kitchen pail with newspaper or a paper bag to keep it clean, but standard plastic bags are strictly prohibited in the compost stream.
Three Free Annual Large Item Collections
Dublin makes it easy to dispose of oversized household goods that don't fit in your weekly carts. Single-family residents are entitled to three free bulky item collections per calendar year through AVI. During each scheduled pickup, you can set out up to seven cubic yards of material, which covers large furniture, mattresses, white goods (with doors removed), up to four car tires without rims, and electronic waste like televisions and monitors. Keep in mind that loose, smaller items must be boxed or bagged, and individual pieces cannot exceed 60 pounds unless they are furniture or appliances.
Proper Household Hazardous Waste Disposal
Toxic materials such as leftover paint, used motor oil, pesticides, and pool chemicals cannot be placed into any of the automated curbside carts. Dublin residents can safely dispose of these materials at the nearby Alameda County Household Hazardous Waste Facility located in Livermore. Fortunately, small household batteries (like AA, C, and D) are an exception; they can be safely recycled curbside if you place them in a sealed, clear plastic bag and set them on top of the blue recycling cart's lid on collection day.
Drop-off Facilities
Alameda County Household Hazardous Waste Facility
5584 La Ribera St, Livermore, CA 94550
Materials Accepted
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I dispose of food scraps in Dublin?
Under the Alameda County Organics Reduction and Recycling Ordinance, all food scraps (including meat and dairy) and food-soiled paper must go into your green compost cart. Use a paper bag or newspaper to line your kitchen pail—never use plastic bags.
How many bulky item pickups do I get per year?
Single-family residents in Dublin receive three free large item collections per year (up to 7 cubic yards each) through Amador Valley Industries. Multi-family residents must coordinate their pickups with their property manager.
Can I recycle batteries curbside in Dublin?
Yes, small household batteries (like AA, AAA, C, and D) can be collected curbside if you place them in a sealed clear plastic bag and set the bag on top of your blue recycling cart on your collection day.
Does the trash schedule change on Memorial Day or Labor Day?
No. Amador Valley Industries only delays collection for Thanksgiving Day, Christmas Day, and New Year's Day. For all other holidays, including Memorial Day, Labor Day, and Independence Day, service occurs on your normal schedule.