Grey or Black Bin (Trash)
Garbage collection is mandatory with a minimum requirement of a 20-gallon can. Never overfill your tote; lids must close completely.
Accepted Items
- ✓Thin plastics (bags, saran wrap)
- ✓Cat litter
- ✓Ceramics
- ✓Broken glass
- ✓Tetrapaks
- ✓Organic food scraps and kitchen trimmings
Blue Bin (Recycling)
Recycling collection is weekly. All accepted materials must be placed loose in the 96-gallon mixed recycling tote, never in plastic bags.
Accepted Items
- ✓Clean paper
- ✓Plastic bottles
- ✓Cardboard
- ✓Aluminum and tin cans
- ✓Rigid plastics
Do NOT Include
- ✕Plastic bags
- ✕Styrofoam
- ✕Food waste
- ✕Hazardous materials
- ✕Tanglers (hoses, cords)
Yard Waste Bin
Optional weekly service. Food waste is strictly prohibited in the green yard waste cart.
Accepted Items
- ✓Plants
- ✓Weeds
- ✓Leaves
- ✓Branches
- ✓Grass clippings
Bulky Item Pickup
Frequency
Two free curbside bulky item pickups per year
Placement
Small loose items must be boxed or bagged. Place accepted bulky items neatly at the curb prior to your scheduled pickup time.
Accepted
- ✓ Appliances
- ✓ Electronics
- ✓ Mattresses
- ✓ Furniture
- ✓ Metal items and scrap metal
- ✓ Textiles
- ✓ Carpet and padding
- ✓ Up to 9 tires
Not Accepted
- ✕ Concrete
- ✕ Soil
- ✕ Batteries
- ✕ Paint
- ✕ Insecticides
- ✕ Fluorescent tubes
- ✕ Oil filters
- ✕ Hazardous waste
If you exceed your two free annual pickups, you can still request additional bulky item collections for a supplementary fee.
Holiday Schedule
General Rule
Recology collection services operate on normal schedules for most holidays (including Thanksgiving and July 4th). Service is only interrupted on Christmas Day and New Year's Day. If your collection day falls on or after these two holidays, your service will be delayed by one day for the remainder of that week.
Yard Waste Exception
If subscribed to optional green waste, it will follow the exact same holiday delay schedule as your regular garbage and recycling collection.
Holidays like Memorial Day, Labor Day, and Thanksgiving do not cause any delays in residential curbside collection in Eureka.
Observed Holidays
!Contamination Tips
Keep Food Out of the Green Cart
Although composting is popular statewide, Eureka's curbside green waste program is for yard trimmings only. All kitchen food scraps must be placed in your regular garbage cart.
Say No to Plastic Bags in Recycling
Never bag your recyclables. Plastic grocery bags, saran wrap, and film plastics jam the sorting machinery at the recycling facility and should be placed in your garbage bin or taken to a local store drop-off.
Flatten All Cardboard Boxes
Ensure that all cardboard boxes are broken down and flattened before going into your blue tote. This saves space and prevents bulky cardboard from wedging tightly inside the cart, which can result in a missed pickup.
Seasonal Information
Winter
December to JanuaryFollowing the holidays, you can dispose of natural Christmas trees at the green waste collection facility at the Eureka Transfer Station. Ensure all flocking, tinsel, lights, and ornaments are completely removed prior to drop-off.
Spring
March to MaySpring cleaning often uncovers old paint, solvents, and cleaning chemicals in the garage. Do not put these in your curbside bins; take them to the Household Hazardous Waste collection facility on West Hawthorne Street.
Fall
October to NovemberDuring Eureka's rainy fall and winter seasons, ensure your cart lids are tightly closed to keep water out. Wet garbage is significantly heavier and wet paper products in your blue cart cannot be properly recycled.
About Eureka Waste Management
Mandatory Trash and Recycling Collection
To combat illegal dumping and support state environmental targets, the City of Eureka enforces universal, mandatory garbage and recycling service for all occupied properties. Every household must subscribe to at least a 20-gallon minimum weekly garbage service through Recology Humboldt County, which also includes a complimentary 96-gallon blue tote for mixed recyclables.
Yard Waste Remains an Optional Service
Unlike garbage and recycling, subscribing to a green waste cart is completely voluntary in Eureka. This optional weekly collection provides a dedicated bin for residents looking to sustainably dispose of landscape trimmings like weeds, leaves, and branches, keeping natural yard debris out of the local landfill.
Food Scraps Belong in the Trash
In a departure from the broader organics recycling programs expanding across California under SB 1383, Eureka's green waste cart currently does not accept food waste. Residents must place all kitchen food scraps, organic trimmings, and food-soiled paper products into their regular garbage (landfill) cart rather than mixing them with yard debris.
Two Free Bulky Item Pickups Annually
Keeping the coastal environment clean is a priority, which is why residential customers receive two free bulky item collections each year. This program allows you to easily dispose of large items like mattresses, old furniture, and appliances right from your curb, provided the load does not exceed two cubic yards per scheduled pickup.
Local Drop-Offs at the Eureka Transfer Station
For materials that exceed standard curbside allowances or pose a hazard, the Eureka Transfer Station on West Hawthorne Street serves as a vital community hub. Managed by the Humboldt Waste Management Authority (HWMA), the site includes a Household Hazardous Waste collection center and a community recycling zone for items like e-waste, paint, and large volumes of green waste.
Drop-off Facilities
Eureka Transfer Station & Humboldt Waste Management Authority (HWMA)
1059 W Hawthorne St, Eureka, CA 95501
Materials Accepted
Frequently Asked Questions
Is garbage service mandatory in Eureka?
Yes, the City of Eureka mandates universal garbage and recycling collection for all residential and commercial properties to meet state environmental goals and prevent illegal dumping. The minimum requirement is a 20-gallon garbage service.
Can I put food waste in my green yard waste cart?
No. Unlike some other California cities, Eureka's green waste program currently accepts only yard trimmings such as plants, leaves, and branches. All organic food scraps and food-soiled paper must be disposed of in your regular trash bin.
How do I get rid of large items like a mattress or old couch?
Eureka residential customers receive two free curbside bulky item pickups per year through Recology. Each pickup allows up to 2 cubic yards of material. You must call Recology at (707) 442-5711 in advance to schedule the collection.
Where can I drop off hazardous materials like old paint and batteries?
Hazardous waste should never go in your curbside bins. You can safely drop off items like fluorescent bulbs, paint, motor oil, and batteries at the Household Hazardous Waste Collection Facility located at the Eureka Transfer Station on West Hawthorne Street.