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
!Contamination Tips
Look for the BPI Logo
Unlike many neighboring cities that strictly ban all bio-plastics, Fremont allows you to collect your food scraps in compostable bags. However, the bag MUST have the official BPI certified logo. If it does not, it belongs in the black trash cart.
Keep Pet Waste Out of the Green Bin
Even if you place your dog or cat waste inside a BPI-certified compostable bag, it still cannot go into the green compost bin. Pathogens in carnivorous pet waste survive the composting process, meaning all pet waste must go in the black trash cart.
Tetra Paks Belong in the Trash
Foil-lined paper boxes, commonly used for shelf-stable soups, broths, and soy milk (Tetra Paks), cannot be effectively recycled locally. Please ensure all aseptic cartons are thrown into the gray/black landfill cart.
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.
About Fremont Waste Management
Meeting State Organics Mandates in Fremont
To comply with California's SB 1383 climate mandate, the City of Fremont requires all residents to sort organic waste out of the landfill. Kitchen food scraps, including meat, bones, dairy, and food-soiled paper products like greasy pizza boxes and napkins, must be placed directly into the green organics bin alongside standard yard trimmings. To make this easier, the City provides one free kitchen compost pail per household. Simply fill out a request form on the city's website, and a Republic Services representative will coordinate the delivery of your free pail.
The Unique Palm Frond Disposal Program
Palm fronds pose a massive processing challenge for commercial composting facilities due to their tough, fibrous nature. Because they cannot go into Fremont's green compost bins, the city has implemented a specialized Palm Frond Disposal Program. Residents can request an additional bulky pickup from Republic Services specifically for bundled palm fronds, and incredibly, this special pickup will not count toward your household's two free annual bulky pickups. Alternatively, residents can self-haul them to the Fremont Recycling and Transfer Station for free by declaring them under the Palm Frond Program.
Taking Advantage of the Bulky Goods Program
Single-family residents with individual curbside garbage service receive an excellent benefit: two free on-call Bulky Goods pickups annually. This service is ideal for disposing of large appliances, microwave ovens, furniture, up to four passenger tires, and electronic waste like televisions and computers. You must call Republic Services in advance to schedule your appointment, and items cannot be placed at the curb any earlier than the night before your scheduled collection day to avoid illegal dumping citations.
Consistent Holiday Collection Schedules
Fremont residents benefit from a highly consistent trash collection schedule that is relatively immune to most federal holidays. Republic Services operates on a normal schedule for holidays such as Memorial Day, the Fourth of July, and Labor Day. Service is only delayed by one day if your scheduled collection falls on or after Thanksgiving Day, Christmas Day, or New Year's Day during the week.
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.