Black Bin (Trash)
Bins must be curbside by 6:00 AM on your pickup day. All standard household garbage should be securely bagged, and cart lids must be fully closed to prevent pests and wind-blown litter.
Accepted Items
- ✓Single-use plastic bags and wrap
- ✓Styrofoam cups, plates, and packaging
- ✓Chip bags, candy wrappers, and shiny food packaging
- ✓Disposable diapers and wipes
- ✓Securely bagged pet feces and kitty litter
- ✓Plastic kitchen utensils and straws
Blue Bin (Recycling)
Place all recyclable items completely loose inside the blue cart. Never bag your recyclables, as plastic bags are not openable at sorting facilities and result in material being landfill-diverted.
Accepted Items
- ✓Glass bottles and jars (rinse clean, lids/labels OK)
- ✓Metal food and beverage cans (aluminum, steel, tin)
- ✓Clean, dry paper, junk mail, and newspapers
- ✓Flattened clean cardboard and paperboard packaging
- ✓Rigid plastic bottles, tubs, and jugs
Do NOT Include
- ✕Plastic bags, bubble wrap, or stretch films
- ✕Styrofoam blocks or food trays
- ✕Hoses, electrical cords, chains, or metal hangers
- ✕Clothing, linens, or footwear
- ✕Paper milk cartons or juice boxes (coated papers)
- ✕Liquids or remaining food residue
Yard Waste Bin
Items must be loose in the cart. Absolutely no plastic bags, stones, soil, pet waste, or chemically treated wood are allowed. Keep the cart lid completely flat.
Accepted Items
- ✓All food leftovers (raw or cooked meat, fish, bones, dairy)
- ✓Fruit and vegetable scraps, peels, and eggshells
- ✓Food-soiled paper products (paper towels, napkins, pizza boxes)
- ✓Grass clippings, yard weeds, leaves, and flowers
- ✓Prunings and brush branches under 4 inches in diameter
Bulky Item Pickup
Frequency
One free appointment-based pickup every 12 months
Placement
Items must be positioned flat at the curbside up to 24 hours prior to your booked appointment. Ensure materials are 6 feet clear of parked cars, fences, and mailboxes, and avoid placing them under low utility lines or tree branches.
Accepted
- ✓ Sofas, tables, chairs, dressers, and wood furniture
- ✓ Mattresses, box springs, and rugs
- ✓ Large home appliances (refrigerators, washers, dryers)
- ✓ E-waste (televisions, computers, monitors)
- ✓ Automobile tires (up to 4 tires, rims OK)
- ✓ Fluorescent tubes (4 feet or less in length)
- ✓ Clean yard prunings and tree branches (under 4 inches wide and 5 feet long)
Not Accepted
- ✕ Standard garbage accepted in regular trash bins
- ✕ Treated wood (such as fence posts, deck boards, railroad ties)
- ✕ Dirt, sod, gravel, concrete, bricks, or rocks
- ✕ Large tree trunks and stumps exceeding 4 inches in diameter
- ✕ Window panes, glass doors, mirrors, or glass tabletops
- ✕ Household hazardous waste (paints, solvents, automotive batteries)
The initial 5 cubic yards are collected free. Volumes in excess of this limit, or any extra scheduled pick-up appointments within the same 12-month period, will incur municipal fee adjustments on your utility bill.
Holiday Schedule
General Rule
Sacramento County Waste Management services operate on a 'no holiday delay' structure. Curbside collection trucks run their normal routes as scheduled on all calendar holidays, including Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Year's.
Yard Waste Exception
Organic waste and recycling collections run exactly on schedule with zero weekly delay.
County administration offices and telephone customer service lines are closed on observed federal holidays, but curbside collection operations remain active.
Observed Holidays
!Contamination Tips
Keep Recyclables Completely Loose
Bagged recycling is a major issue. Workers cannot safely open plastic bags on rapid sorting lines; consequently, any recycling bundled inside grocery bags is immediately discarded into the trash.
Aerate Food Scraps with Green Waste
To reduce moisture, prevent bad odors, and stop pests from gathering in your weekly Organics cart, layer your wet kitchen food scraps with dry garden leaves or grass clippings.
Safeguard Trucks from Battery Fires
Never throw batteries, cell phones, or electronics containing internal batteries into your carts. The strong compaction arms in collection trucks puncture batteries, sparking chemical fires on municipal routes.
Seasonal Information
Autumn Leaf Management
October - JanuaryDue to the majestic oak and liquidambar trees native to Fair Oaks, leaf drops are heavy. Residents are instructed to place loose leaves directly into the green Organics cart. Never sweep leaves into road gutters or pile them in the streets, as they block storm drain grids and municipal sweepers.
Holiday Tree Disposal
December - JanuaryNatural Christmas trees can be recycled in your weekly green organics container. You must remove all ornaments, lights, stands, and tinsel. Cut the tree down so that the pieces fit loosely and allow the cart lid to close completely.
About Fair Oaks Waste Management
Unincorporated Fair Oaks Curbside Waste Architecture
Because Fair Oaks is an unincorporated community within Sacramento County, residential trash, recycling, and organic waste services are directly administered by the county's Department of Waste Management and Recycling under the unified branding of the SacGreenTeam. Residents utilize a standardized three-cart system designed to meet aggressive regional waste diversion quotas and maintain public cleanliness.
Organic Waste Integration and SB 1383 Compliance
In alignment with California State Senate Bill 1383, Fair Oaks households must actively separate organic wastes from standard landfill refuse. The weekly green-lidded Organics cart accepts all household food scraps (including dairy, meats, and bones), soiled food packaging such as greasy cardboard pizza boxes, and routine yard prunings. To assist in the kitchen, the SacGreenTeam provides free food scrap kitchen pails to residential cart subscribers.
Curbside Motor and Cooking Oil Recycling
A distinctive aspect of Sacramento County's services for Fair Oaks residents is the weekly curbside collection of used automotive motor oil, oil filters, and liquid cooking oil. By placing these liquids in clear 1-to-5-quart containers and placing filters in sealed zip-top bags directly at the curb (safely spaced three feet from the collection bins), residents prevent hazardous runoff from entering localized groundwater basins and storm drains.
Annual Curbside Bulky Junk Appointments
Fair Oaks residential billing accounts are allocated one free, on-call bulky waste collection appointment every 12 months. This service accommodates up to 5 cubic yards of qualifying materials—roughly corresponding to an 8' x 4' x 4' pile—making it easier for households to declutter larger items like broken furniture or worn mattresses without resorting to self-hauling.
Drop-off Facilities
North Area Recovery Station (NARS)
4450 Roseville Road, North Highlands, CA 95660
Materials Accepted
Kiefer Landfill
12701 Kiefer Boulevard, Sloughhouse, CA 95683
Materials Accepted
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I arrange curbside recycling for old motor oil and cooking oil in Fair Oaks?
Sacramento County collects these oils directly at your curb on your normal collection day. Place used motor oil or cooking oil in clean, secure plastic containers (1 to 5 quarts). Secure drained oil filters inside a thick plastic zip-top bag. Set these items at least 3 feet away from your plastic trash bins at the street edge.
Where can I get a kitchen organics recycling pail in Fair Oaks?
To help you sort organic leftovers easily, the SacGreenTeam provides free small plastic kitchen pails to Fair Oaks curbside utility customers. Residents can pick up one pail per household (while supplies last) at designated county events or local service offices.
What is the procedure if my trash cart was missed on its pickup day?
If your bin was curbside by 6:00 AM and was not emptied by 6:00 PM, wait until the next morning to report the issue to allow for route delays. You can report missed collections by calling customer service at 3-1-1 (or 916-875-4311 if using a mobile phone) or submitting an online report through the SacGreenTeam portal.
Can I throw broken windows, mirrors, or sliding doors into my bulk waste pickup?
No. Sacramento County bulky waste crews do not accept window panes, home mirrors, glass tables, shower doors, or auto glass due to severe safety risks to handling staff. These items must be broken down carefully and wrapped securely in heavy paper before being placed in your black trash cart, or hauled directly to a local transfer station.