Grey or Black Bin (Trash)
Trash rates are based on your chosen container size (20, 35, or 64 gallons). Ensure lids close completely to deter pests.
Accepted Items
- ✓Standard household garbage
- ✓Pet waste and litter
- ✓Diapers and sanitary products
- ✓Broken glass or ceramics
- ✓Non-recyclable plastics
- ✓Treated or painted wood scraps
Blue Bin (Recycling)
Empty, clean, and dry all containers. Place items loosely inside the blue cart without bagging them. Curbside recycling is collected directly by the City.
Accepted Items
- ✓Plastics labeled #1, #2, and #5 ONLY
- ✓Clean, dry paper and mail
- ✓Flattened cardboard
- ✓Glass bottles and jars
- ✓Aluminum and tin cans
Do NOT Include
- ✕Plastics #3, #4, #6, and #7
- ✕Plastic bags and film
- ✕Food or liquids
- ✕Styrofoam (EPS)
- ✕Clothing and textiles
Yard Waste Bin
No plastic bags of any kind are permitted. If you prefer to bag your kitchen food scraps, you must use a paper bag or a certified BPI ASTM D6400 compostable bag.
Accepted Items
- ✓Food scraps and leftovers
- ✓Coffee grounds and filters
- ✓Fiber-based paper products
- ✓Food-soiled paper products
- ✓BPI ASTM D6400 certified compostable bags
- ✓Yard trimmings and leaves
Bulky Item Pickup
Frequency
2 Garbage/Green Waste Pickups + 1 Recycling Pickup Annually
Placement
Items must be securely placed at the curb. Yard waste in bags MUST be in paper bags only; plastic bags will not be collected.
Accepted
- ✓ Furniture and large household appliances
- ✓ Up to 25 tied bundles or 32-gallon bags of extra trash/yard waste
- ✓ Electronic waste (during the City recycling pickup)
- ✓ Mattresses
Not Accepted
- ✕ Hazardous waste (chemicals, paint)
- ✕ Dirt, concrete, or rocks
- ✕ Construction and demolition debris
- ✕ Loose cardboard (must be bundled)
These three annual pickups are completely free for residential accounts. To schedule the garbage/green waste pickups, call EBS at (510) 237-4321. To schedule the bulky recycling pickup, call the City at (510) 215-4350.
Holiday Schedule
General Rule
The only holidays that interrupt collection service are Christmas Day and New Year's Day. If your normal collection day falls on or after one of these holidays, your pick-up will be delayed by one day for that week.
Yard Waste Exception
Recycling and green waste routes follow the exact same one-day delay as standard garbage routes.
While the East Bay Sanitary office may close for other holidays (like Thanksgiving, Labor Day, or July 4th), your curbside collection will still occur on its normal schedule.
Observed Holidays
!Contamination Tips
Check Your Plastics carefully
El Cerrito's curbside recycling program strictly accepts only plastics marked with #1, #2, and #5. All other plastics, including clamshell containers or films not bearing these numbers, must go into the garbage cart to avoid contaminating the recycling stream.
Styrofoam Belongs at the RERC
Clean, white Expanded Polystyrene (EPS/Styrofoam) #6 blocks are never allowed in your curbside blue cart. However, El Cerrito residents can drop these off specifically on Thursdays at the Recycling + Environmental Resource Center.
Bundle Your Cardboard for Annual Pickups
During your free annual recycling clean-up, loose cardboard will not be collected. All cardboard must be flattened and tied securely in bundles no larger than 36 by 36 inches to prevent street litter.
Seasonal Information
Winter
December - JanuaryEast Bay Sanitary offers a free Christmas tree pick-up service following the holidays. Trees must be placed at the curb and be completely free of artificial flocking, lights, tinsel, and ornaments to be properly processed as green waste.
Spring
March - MayThe City of El Cerrito periodically hosts Free Compost Giveaways at the RERC or other municipal locations, allowing residents to take back nutrient-rich soil generated from the region's organics collection program for their spring gardens.
About El Cerrito Waste Management
El Cerrito's Unique Dual-Hauler System
The City of El Cerrito operates a hybrid curbside collection model. While the franchised private hauler, East Bay Sanitary Company (EBS), manages the weekly collection of standard garbage and green waste/organics, the City of El Cerrito directly operates and collects the weekly curbside recycling. Both entities work in tandem to maximize waste diversion and comply with state mandates, requiring residents to utilize a standardized three-cart system.
The Renowned Recycling + Environmental Resource Center (RERC)
Beyond standard curbside pickups, El Cerrito is famous for its state-of-the-art Recycling + Environmental Resource Center on Schmidt Lane. This one-stop, drop-off facility accepts a massive array of hard-to-recycle materials, from household batteries and eyeglasses to clean white block Styrofoam (EPS) and scrap metal. It even features an 'Exchange Zone' where residents can drop off or adopt gently used, reusable items.
Generous Biannual Free Pickups
East Bay Sanitary provides single-family residential customers with up to two free 'On-Call Curbside Clean-ups' per calendar year. During these special pickups, you can set out up to eight large bulky items (like furniture or appliances) or up to twenty-five 32-gallon bags and tied bundles of extra trash or green waste. The City also provides a separate, third annual bulky recycling pick-up exclusively for oversized cardboard, e-waste, and large volumes of recyclables.
Navigating Household Hazardous Waste in West County
General Household Hazardous Waste (HHW)—such as wet paints, harsh chemicals, and automotive fluids—is typically processed at the West County Resource Recovery facility in nearby Richmond. However, as a special perk for RecycleMore service area residents, the El Cerrito RERC accepts specific hazardous wastes on site strictly on Tuesdays from 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., offering a closer and more convenient drop-off option.
Drop-off Facilities
El Cerrito Recycling + Environmental Resource Center (RERC)
7501 Schmidt Lane, El Cerrito, CA 94530
Materials Accepted
West County Resource Recovery Facility
101 Pittsburgh Ave, Richmond, CA 94801
Materials Accepted
Golden Bear Transfer Station
1 Parr Blvd, Richmond, CA 94801
Materials Accepted
Frequently Asked Questions
Who do I contact to start or change my trash service in El Cerrito?
Even though the City of El Cerrito handles the recycling collection, you must contact East Bay Sanitary (EBS) at (510) 237-4321 to start, stop, or change your overall solid waste and garbage services.
What is the Exchange Zone at the Recycling Center?
The Exchange Zone is a unique reuse area at the El Cerrito Recycling + Environmental Resource Center where residents can drop off gently used items (like books, garden pots, and certain household goods) or take items that others have left, keeping usable materials out of the landfill.
Will my garbage be picked up on Thanksgiving Day in El Cerrito?
Yes. East Bay Sanitary and the City of El Cerrito only pause curbside collection routes for Christmas Day and New Year's Day. For all other holidays, including Thanksgiving, Labor Day, and Memorial Day, you should have your carts at the curb on your normal day.
Can I use standard plastic bags for extra yard waste during my free bulky pickup?
No. When utilizing your free On-Call Curbside Clean-ups through East Bay Sanitary, any extra yard waste must be placed exclusively in paper bags. Yard waste contained in plastic bags will be rejected and left at the curb.