Weekly Collection Schedule
Official municipal pickup timing for Fair Oaks
Trash Day
Varies by neighborhood zone
Recycling
Bi-weekly on assigned collection day
Yard Waste
Weekly on assigned collection day
Set Out Time
By 6:00 AM on collection day
Utility Billing & Payments
Manage your local solid waste services
Waste management services in Fair Oaks are managed by Sacramento County Consolidated Utilities Billing & Service (CUBS), which bills standard services every two months.
Billing Cycle
Bi-monthly
Accepted Methods
Online, Auto-Pay (EFT), Mail, Phone
Pro Tip / Discount
Eligible low-income households can apply for monthly rate discounts through the Sacramento County Solid Waste Lifeline Rate Assistance Program.
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
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.
Local Tips & Community Info
Managing Curbside Collection with Sacramento County WMR
Since Fair Oaks is an unincorporated community within Sacramento County, residential waste collection is overseen by the county's Department of Waste Management and Recycling (WMR). Homeowners are equipped with three distinct, color-coded carts designed to separate materials properly. Your regular black or gray cart is meant for standard landfill garbage, while the blue is for recyclables, and the green handles organics. To ensure your bins are serviced correctly on your assigned collection day, make sure all lids are fully closed and carts are placed at the curb with adequate space around them, clear of parked cars and mailboxes.
Keeping Your Blue Recycling Cart Clean and Loose
Sacramento County has strict guidelines regarding the blue recycling bin to prevent contamination at the processing plant. Acceptable items include flattened cardboard, glass jars, metal cans, and rigid plastic bottles. The most critical rule to remember is to Set it loose!—meaning recyclables must never be placed inside plastic bags. Additionally, you must ensure containers are completely empty and dry before tossing them in. Tanglers such as garden hoses, electrical cords, ropes, and clothing are strictly prohibited, as they can cause severe damage to the sorting equipment.
The Green Organics Cart and Food Waste Diversion
In compliance with state mandates like SB 1383, the green organics cart is no longer just for yard trimmings such as leaves, branches, and grass clippings. Fair Oaks residents are now required to place all food waste and food-soiled paper directly into this bin. Acceptable kitchen scraps include fruits, vegetables, coffee grounds, meat, bones, and greasy pizza boxes. It is essential to keep all plastics, even those labeled as biodegradable, out of the green cart to maintain the high quality of the compost produced by the county facilities.
Proper Disposal of Household Hazardous Waste
Certain dangerous materials can never be thrown into any of your three curbside carts. Items like household batteries, harsh cleaning chemicals, pesticides, leftover paint, and fluorescent light tubes pose a significant fire and environmental risk if they end up in the standard trucks. Instead, Fair Oaks residents can drop off these hazardous items safely and for free at any of the designated Household Hazardous Waste Regional Drop-Off Facilities located throughout Sacramento County.
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
Can I put my recyclables inside a plastic garbage bag before tossing them in the blue cart?
No, Sacramento County strictly requires all recyclables to be placed loosely into the blue cart. Plastic bags can jam the sorting machinery and will often result in the entire bag being sent straight to the landfill.
What should I do with old garden hoses or extension cords?
These items are considered tanglers and cannot go in the recycling bin. If they are no longer usable, they must be thrown into your black or gray garbage cart.
Is it legal for people to take cans and bottles out of my recycling cart on the street?
No. Removing recyclables from a curbside bin is considered scavenging and is a crime under Sacramento County Code. You can report scavenging incidents directly to the county by dialing 3-1-1.