Weekly Collection Schedule
Official municipal pickup timing for Fresno
Trash Day
Varies by neighborhood zone
Recycling
Same day as trash (Weekly)
Yard Waste
Same day as trash (Weekly)
Set Out Time
By 5:30 AM on collection day
Utility Billing & Payments
Manage your local solid waste services
Trash, recycling, and green waste services are billed alongside water and sewer charges on your consolidated monthly City of Fresno utility statement.
Billing Cycle
Monthly
Accepted Methods
Online, Auto-Pay, Phone, Mail, In-Person, Text to Pay
Pro Tip / Discount
Low-income customers can apply for a $5/month Solid Waste Affordability Credit (plus $5/month for water), and qualifying seniors (62+) can receive a 10% sewer/wastewater discount.
Gray Bin (Trash)
All regular garbage should be securely bagged before being tossed into the gray cart to prevent wind-blown litter in Fresno's neighborhoods. Make sure the cart lid is completely closed.
Accepted Items
- ✓General household refuse
- ✓Pet waste and cat litter
- ✓Diapers
- ✓Styrofoam and packing peanuts
- ✓Broken glass and ceramics
- ✓Treated wood
Blue Bin (Recycling)
Place all recyclables loosely inside the blue cart. Never seal your recyclables in plastic garbage bags, as these bags jam the automated sorting machinery at the material recovery facility.
Accepted Items
- ✓Clean paper and cardboard
- ✓Cans (aluminum and tin)
- ✓Glass bottles and jars
- ✓Plastic bottles and containers (#1 through #5)
Do NOT Include
- ✕Plastic bags or plastic film
- ✕Food-soiled cardboard (like greasy pizza boxes)
- ✕Clothing, shoes, or textiles
- ✕Tanglers such as cords, wires, or garden hoses
Yard Waste Bin
This green cart is exclusively for organic waste. Keep organics loose inside the cart; do not use plastic bags, even if they are marketed as 'biodegradable' or 'compostable'.
Accepted Items
- ✓Grass clippings and weeds
- ✓Leaves, tree prunings, and brush
- ✓Food scraps (cooked meat, bones, raw vegetables)
- ✓Food-soiled paper
Bulky Item Pickup
Frequency
Once a year during 'Operation Clean Up' (Free) or year-round via 'Special Hauls' (Fee-based)
Placement
Place piles at the curb, 1 to 2 feet from the street edge, in the exact same location you place your regular trash carts. Do not place items in the alley for Operation Clean Up. Everything must be out by 6:00 a.m. on your assigned day.
Accepted
- ✓ Furniture and couches
- ✓ Mattresses and box springs
- ✓ Major household appliances
- ✓ Tree limbs and brush
- ✓ Scrap lumber
- ✓ General large household items
Not Accepted
- ✕ Explosives and ammunition
- ✕ Radioactive materials
- ✕ Tires
- ✕ Commercial or business waste
- ✕ Household hazardous waste (paint, batteries, oil)
Operation Clean Up is a free annual service. If you require immediate pickup, 'Special Hauls' require an extra fee (starting at a 30-minute minimum labor charge) and your utility account must have a zero balance to schedule.
Holiday Schedule
General Rule
The Residential Collection Schedule DOES NOT change for most holidays (such as Memorial Day, MLK Jr. Day, or Labor Day). It only shifts by one day if Thanksgiving, Christmas, or New Year's Day falls on a weekday.
Yard Waste Exception
Green waste and organics carts follow the exact same holiday delay schedule as your gray trash and blue recycling carts.
During the week of Thanksgiving, Thursday service is delayed to Friday, and Friday service is pushed to Saturday.
Observed Holidays
Seasonal Information
Fall/Winter
October - JanuaryDuring the fall season, ensure that all accumulated leaves and yard debris fit entirely inside your green organics cart with the lid completely closed. SWMD drivers cannot service overfilled or overflowing carts.
Spring
March - JuneThe Solid Waste Management Division typically hosts Free Dump Events during the spring months at the CARTS facility on Cedar Avenue, allowing eligible residents to haul one full-size pickup truck load of bulky items at no extra cost.
Local Tips & Community Info
City of Fresno Cart Guidelines and Curbside Placement
Fresno's Solid Waste Management Division handles trash collection across the city, providing residents with three primary carts to separate their waste effectively. Homeowners utilize a gray container for standard refuse, a blue bin for recyclables, and a green cart for organics and yard trimmings. To guarantee seamless service, all carts need to be wheeled to the curb by 6:00 a.m. on your specific neighborhood collection day. Proper positioning is mandatory for the city's automated trucks to operate safely. Place the bins side-by-side with a minimum of three feet of space between them. You must also ensure there is a five-foot clearance from any parked cars, mailboxes, or fire hydrants. Remember to keep the arrows on the lid pointing toward the street and never overload the bins to the point where the lids cannot snap shut completely.
Getting Rid of Large Debris with Operation Clean Up
Instead of forcing residents to call in and pay for individual appliance pickups, Fresno hosts an incredibly popular municipal initiative called Operation Clean Up. This program sweeps through designated neighborhoods on a pre-scheduled basis once a year, allowing single-family homeowners to discard up to two cubic yards of bulky waste, along with larger items like mattresses, furniture, and water heaters, at no extra cost. You will receive a postcard in the mail a few weeks before the cleanup crews reach your zone. Materials must be piled neatly on the street near the curb no earlier than the weekend prior to your assigned cleanup week, keeping the sidewalk entirely clear for pedestrians.
Reporting Uncollected Garbage and Route Delays
Occasionally, a sanitation truck might miss your house due to a blocked street, severe weather, or a simple routing error. If your carts are still full after 3:00 p.m. on your usual trash day, you can effortlessly submit a missed collection report. Fresno utilizes the FresGO mobile app and online platform, which is the absolute fastest way to alert the Solid Waste Division about a skipped block. Alternatively, you can dial 3-1-1 or 559-621-CITY to speak with a dispatcher. Keep in mind that during Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Year's Day, collection routes are delayed by a full 24 hours, meaning a typical Thursday pickup will temporarily shift to Friday.
Safe Disposal of Toxic Solvents and E-Waste
Tossing out harsh cleaning chemicals, dead batteries, motor oil, or old computer monitors in your curbside bins is strictly prohibited under local ordinance and state law. Fresno County operates a permanent Household Hazardous Waste Facility where city residents can drop off these dangerous materials completely free of charge. Safely packaging your leaky paint cans and fluorescent tubes prevents harmful toxins from contaminating the Central Valley's vital groundwater sources. Make sure to verify the facility's operating hours on the county website before you pack your trunk, as they enforce specific transport limits per vehicle, typically capping drop-offs at 15 gallons or 125 pounds per trip.
Drop-off Facilities
CARTS Facility (Cedar Avenue Recycling and Transfer Station)
3457 S. Cedar Ave., Fresno, CA 93725
Materials Accepted
Fresno County Household Hazardous Waste Facility
1327 West Dan Ronquillo Drive, Fresno, CA 93706
Materials Accepted
Frequently Asked Questions
What holidays actually delay trash pickup in Fresno?
The City of Fresno SWMD only delays collection for three major holidays: Thanksgiving Day, Christmas Day, and New Year's Day. If your pickup day falls on or after these holidays on a weekday, it will be delayed by one day. Other holidays like Labor Day, Veterans Day, or Memorial Day do not disrupt service.
How do I participate in Fresno's Operation Clean Up?
Operation Clean Up is an annual bulk waste collection program assigned by neighborhood zones. You do not need to call to schedule it, but you must check the city's schedule to find your specific date. Set your items out no more than 7 days prior to your date, sorted into one yard waste pile and one trash pile.
Can I throw food scraps into my yard waste cart?
Yes. To comply with California's SB 1383 organics law, all Fresno residents must place food waste—such as vegetable peels, cooked meat, bones, and food-soiled paper—directly into the green organics cart along with traditional yard trimmings.
How do I request an extra bulk pickup if I miss Operation Clean Up?
If you missed your annual free collection, you can request an on-demand 'Special Haul' by calling 559-621-6888. This is a fee-based service, and your city utility account must have no past-due balance to qualify for the appointment.