Weekly Collection Schedule
Official municipal pickup timing for Fremont
Trash Day
Varies by neighborhood zone
Recycling
Weekly on the same day as trash pickup
Yard Waste
Weekly on the same day as trash pickup
Set Out Time
By 6:00 AM on collection day
Utility Billing & Payments
Manage your local solid waste services
Residential collection in Fremont is serviced by Republic Services and billed quarterly, which includes two free on-call bulky goods pickups per year.
Billing Cycle
Quarterly
Accepted Methods
Online, Auto-Pay, Phone, Mail
Pro Tip / Discount
The City of Fremont offers a Senior Discount Program with reduced collection rates for eligible senior citizens (age 62 and older) residing in single-family homes, as well as Lifeline rates.
Gray or Black Bin (Trash)
All standard refuse should be properly bagged to prevent windblown litter. Carts must be placed at the curb by 6:00 a.m. on your collection day with lids completely closed.
Accepted Items
- ✓Pet waste and cat litter (even in 'compostable' bags)
- ✓Palm fronds and bamboo (unless scheduled for bulk pickup)
- ✓Polystyrene foam (Styrofoam blocks)
- ✓Diapers and sanitary products
- ✓Aseptic juice and soup boxes (Tetra Paks)
- ✓Painted or treated wood
Blue Bin (Recycling)
Do not bag your recyclables. All items must be placed loosely into the blue cart, empty and reasonably clean. Break down all cardboard to save space.
Accepted Items
- ✓Clean paper, magazines, and mail
- ✓Flattened cardboard boxes
- ✓Plastic bottles, jugs, and tubs (empty and dry)
- ✓Aluminum and tin cans
- ✓Glass bottles and jars
Do NOT Include
- ✕Plastic grocery bags or film wrap
- ✕Food-soiled cardboard (like pizza boxes)
- ✕Tanglers (hoses, cords, clothing)
- ✕Electronic waste and batteries
Yard Waste Bin
Keep organics loose or use paper bags. You may also use plastic-like compostable bags, but they MUST bear the BPI (Biodegradable Products Institute) certification logo.
Accepted Items
- ✓Grass clippings, weeds, and leaves
- ✓Food scraps (meat, bones, dairy, baked goods)
- ✓Food-soiled paper (napkins, paper towels, pizza boxes)
- ✓BPI-certified compostable bags
Bulky Item Pickup
Frequency
Two free on-call pickups annually for single-family residences.
Placement
Items must be set at the curb the night before or by 6:00 a.m. on your scheduled pickup day. Do not set items out earlier, as it invites illegal dumping. Loose items must be bagged or boxed.
Accepted
- ✓ Large household appliances and water heaters
- ✓ Furniture, mattresses, and box springs
- ✓ E-waste (televisions, computers, monitors)
- ✓ Passenger car tires (limit of 4)
- ✓ Bundled oversized branches (max 5 feet long and 6 inches in diameter)
Not Accepted
- ✕ Household hazardous waste (paint, motor oil, batteries)
- ✕ Construction and demolition debris (concrete, dirt, roofing)
- ✕ Painted or treated wood
- ✕ Any single item over 150 lbs (except standard appliances/furniture)
Multi-family apartment and condo residents must contact their property manager to arrange for a bulky item collection, which may require an additional fee or debris box rental.
Holiday Schedule
General Rule
If your collection day falls on or after one of the three observed holidays (Thanksgiving, Christmas, New Year's Day), collection will occur one day later for the remainder of that week.
Yard Waste Exception
The blue recycling and green compost carts follow the exact same holiday delay schedule as the standard garbage carts.
Collection operates on a completely normal schedule for all other holidays, including Memorial Day, Independence Day, and Labor Day. Do not delay your bins on these days.
Observed Holidays
Seasonal Information
Winter
Late December - JanuaryRepublic Services collects bare holiday trees at no charge on your standard compost collection day starting December 26th and continuing for four weeks. Ensure all lights, ornaments, tinsel, and tree stands are completely removed.
Fall/Winter
October - FebruaryTo keep your green compost cart clean during rainy or cold months, line the bottom of the bin with dry autumn leaves or a layer of newspaper. This helps absorb excess moisture from food scraps and prevents them from freezing or sticking to the bottom.
Local Tips & Community Info
Republic Services Routing for Fremont Neighborhoods
Fremont's residential refuse and recycling operations are executed by Republic Services. To ensure seamless curbside collection, residents must have all designated carts out on the street by 6:00 a.m. on their specific pickup day. Trucks navigate tight neighborhood streets, so it is highly encouraged to leave a minimum of two feet between each container. Furthermore, city ordinances mandate that all carts be removed from the public right-of-way within twenty-four hours of service to maintain neighborhood aesthetics.
Mandatory Organics and Kitchen Scraps
Compliance with California's organics recycling mandate is strictly monitored across the city. Your green compost bin is designated for all yard trimmings, leaves, and organic kitchen waste. This includes meat, dairy, coffee grounds, and food-soiled paper products. Fremont environmental guidelines explicitly forbid the use of traditional plastic bags for containing these scraps; if you must line your kitchen pail, ensure you use BPI-certified compostable bags to prevent contaminating the commercial compost supply.
Keeping the Blue Cart Contaminant-Free
Navigating the blue recycling container correctly is essential for the city's diversion goals. Republic Services asks residents to toss unbagged, clean, and dry materials into this cart. Acceptable items range from flattened cardboard boxes and mailers to rinsed glass bottles and rigid plastics. A common mistake is tossing plastic grocery bags or thin film into the blue cart. These items tangle in the sorting facility's gears and should be taken to local grocery store drop-offs instead.
Scheduling Oversized Item Pickups
Bulky waste disposal is simplified through the city's residential clean-up program. Single-family homes with active Republic Services accounts are eligible to schedule two free bulky item collections annually. Whether you are clearing out an old mattress, broken furniture, or bundled yard waste that exceeds your green bin's capacity, you must call in advance to secure a spot. Unscheduled piles left on the curb will be documented as illegal dumping and may result in hefty local fines.
Fremont Recycling and Transfer Station Access
Hazardous chemicals and electronic waste require specialized handling at the Fremont Recycling and Transfer Station located on Boyce Road. You cannot throw automotive fluids, household cleaners, wet paint, or lithium batteries into your standard weekly bins due to the severe risk of truck fires. The transfer station provides a safe, designated drop-off point for these toxic materials, ensuring they are processed securely and kept far away from the local landfill environment.
What Happens During Major Holidays?
Republic Services alters its standard routing for a handful of recognized national holidays. If your collection day falls on or after New Year's Day, the Fourth of July, Thanksgiving, or Christmas, expect your service to be delayed by one business day. For instance, Thursday pickups will shift to Friday. The standard Monday-through-Friday schedule automatically resets at the beginning of the following week, so always pull your carts out accordingly.
Drop-off Facilities
Fremont Recycling and Transfer Station / HHW Facility
41149 Boyce Rd, Fremont, CA 94538
Materials Accepted
Tri-CED Community Recycling Buy-Back Center
33377 Western Ave, Union City, CA 94587
Materials Accepted
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I dispose of palm fronds in Fremont?
Palm fronds cannot be processed in your green compost bin. You can either throw them in your black landfill bin or utilize Fremont's Palm Frond Disposal Program. Call Republic Services to schedule a free bulky pickup exclusively for palm fronds (which won't count toward your two annual bulky pickups), or drop them off for free at the Fremont Transfer Station.
Can I use compostable bags for my food scraps?
Yes, but with strict limitations. Fremont allows the use of compostable bags in the green bin, but they must bear the official BPI (Biodegradable Products Institute) certification logo. If the bag does not have the BPI logo, it is considered contamination and must be thrown in the trash.
How many free bulky item pickups do I get a year?
Single-family homes with individual curbside garbage service receive two free Bulky Goods pickups per calendar year. You must call Republic Services at 510-657-3500 in advance to schedule your appointment and ensure your items do not exceed the 4 cubic yard limit.
Which holidays actually delay my trash pickup in Fremont?
Republic Services only delays collection for three specific holidays: Thanksgiving Day, Christmas Day, and New Year's Day. If your normal pickup day falls on or after one of those holidays, your service is delayed by one day. All other federal holidays have normal, uninterrupted service.