Weekly Collection Schedule
Official municipal pickup timing for Galt
Trash Day
Varies by neighborhood zone
Recycling
Bi-weekly on your scheduled collection day
Yard Waste
Weekly on your scheduled collection day
Set Out Time
By 5:00 AM on collection day
Utility Billing & Payments
Manage your local solid waste services
Trash and organics collection provided by Cal-Waste is billed through your City of Galt utility bill. While standard billing is bi-monthly, you can enroll in the Direct Utility Payment Program for monthly automatic debit deductions.
Billing Cycle
Bi-Monthly
Accepted Methods
Online, Auto-Pay (Direct Debit), Phone, Mail, Drop Box, In Person
Pro Tip / Discount
No specific discounts listed. California Proposition 218 requires all residents to be charged equally for the actual cost of service.
Gray Bin (Trash)
All household trash must fit within the cart, allowing the lid to close fully. Refrain from overstuffing the bin so that waste falls out freely during automated collection.
Accepted Items
- ✓Styrofoam packaging
- ✓diapers
- ✓pet waste
- ✓loose plastic bags
- ✓broken glass wrapped securely
- ✓wipes and napkins
- ✓broken ceramics
Blue Bin (Recycling)
All recyclables must be clean, dry, and loose. Never bag your recyclables, as bagged items cannot be sorted at the Cal-Waste MRF and will end up discarded.
Accepted Items
- ✓clean aluminum cans
- ✓tin and steel cans
- ✓dry cardboard boxes
- ✓mixed paper and junk mail
- ✓clean plastic bottles and jugs #1-7
- ✓glass bottles and jars
Do NOT Include
- ✕plastic bags of any kind
- ✕food-soiled containers
- ✕styrofoam
- ✕electronics
- ✕lightbulbs
- ✕ceramics and mirror glass
Yard Waste Bin
Place organic wastes and food scraps loosely into your green bin. Plastic bags, bioplastics, and compostable plastics are completely banned as they cause compost contamination.
Accepted Items
- ✓leaves and grass clippings
- ✓small tree branches and weeds
- ✓vegetables and fruit scraps
- ✓meat, bones, and dairy products
- ✓food-soiled paper napkins
- ✓used paper cups and pizza boxes
Bulky Item Pickup
Frequency
1 free Handy Hauler AND 1 free Large Item Pickup per calendar year
Placement
Place scheduled bulky items or your Handy Hauler curbside, ensuring it remains at least 3 feet away from regular carts and 6 feet from cars.
Accepted
- ✓ furniture
- ✓ mattresses
- ✓ large exercise equipment
- ✓ appliances (water heaters, ranges, refrigerators)
- ✓ electronic waste (computers, TVs, stereos)
- ✓ carpet rolls
Not Accepted
- ✕ dirt, rock, concrete, or tile
- ✕ household hazardous waste
- ✕ tires
- ✕ items over 50 pounds (for the Handy Hauler container)
- ✕ uncontained loose debris
Fees apply for Freon evacuation in refrigerators, freezers, or air conditioning units. Extra bulky cleanups can be booked for an additional fee.
Holiday Schedule
General Rule
Cal-Waste services are only delayed for Christmas Day and New Year's Day. If either holiday falls on a weekday, collections for the remainder of that week will be delayed by exactly one business day.
Yard Waste Exception
Organic waste and recycling collections are delayed by the same one-day holiday rule as solid waste.
If Christmas or New Year's Day falls on a Saturday or Sunday, there are absolutely no collection delays during the week.
Observed Holidays
Seasonal Information
Post-Holiday Tree Pickup
December - JanuaryClean Christmas trees can be composted. Cut your tree down to fit entirely inside your green organics cart with the lid closed, or look for specific community drop-off sites advertised by Galt Public Works.
Leaf Drop Management
October - DecemberGalt experiences heavy leaf fall in late autumn. Make sure your leaves go into the green cart loose. Do not blow or sweep leaves into street gutters, which can clog stormwater inlets and cause street flooding.
Local Tips & Community Info
Residential Waste Collection via Cal-Waste
For households in the City of Galt, solid waste, recycling, and organic compost collection services are exclusively provided by California Waste Recovery Systems (Cal-Waste). This franchised partnership is designed to keep Sacramento County neighborhoods beautiful while ensuring strict adherence to environmental sustainability goals. When moving into a Galt residence, your home will be equipped with a three-cart system. Understanding how to properly utilize these specific bins not only keeps our local streets sanitary but also minimizes the environmental impact on regional landfills.
Curbside Placement and Morning Deadlines
Cal-Waste routes begin very early, so all residential carts must be wheeled out to the street edge by 6:00 a.m. on your designated pickup day. Many residents prefer to place their bins out the night before to guarantee they aren't missed. To ensure the automated collection trucks can safely grasp and lift the containers, you must leave at least three feet of clearance between each cart. Additionally, bins should be placed clear of low-hanging branches, parked vehicles, and mailboxes. The arrows on the cart lid should always face the street, and all lids must be fully closed to prevent debris from blowing into the roadway.
SB 1383 Compliance and Organic Sorting
Galt actively enforces California’s SB 1383 regulations, which mandate the diversion of organic materials from the standard garbage stream. Homeowners must place all food scraps—including meat, dairy, coffee grounds, and vegetable peels—into their green organics cart along with traditional yard trimmings. Food-soiled paper products like greasy pizza boxes and used napkins also belong in the green bin. Clean, dry recyclables such as cardboard, glass bottles, and aluminum cans go into the blue cart. The grey or black refuse cart is strictly reserved for non-recyclable, non-organic waste like pet litter, styrofoam, and synthetic wrappers.
Special Collections for Bulky Debris
Throughout the year, households inevitably accumulate items that simply will not fit into standard curbside containers. Instead of risking illegal dumping, Galt residents can take advantage of Cal-Waste's bulky item pickup program. Eligible single-family homes are typically entitled to schedule a limited number of free large-item collections annually. This service is perfect for disposing of broken furniture, old mattresses, or large bundled yard debris. Hazardous materials, such as wet paint, motor oil, and electronic waste, cannot be collected curbside and must be taken to an approved Sacramento County household hazardous waste facility.
Schedule Adjustments for Major Holidays
Cal-Waste drivers work hard year-round, but they do observe a select few major holidays that will alter your normal collection routine. The primary holidays that impact service in Galt are Thanksgiving Day, Christmas Day, and New Year's Day. If one of these holidays falls on a standard weekday, all collections scheduled for that day and the remainder of the week will be delayed by one day. For instance, Thursday pickups will happen on Friday, and Friday pickups will shift to Saturday. If a holiday falls on a weekend, your standard weekday schedule remains completely unchanged.
Drop-off Facilities
Elk Grove Special Waste Collection Center (SWCC)
9255 Disposal Lane, Elk Grove, CA 95624
Materials Accepted
San Joaquin County Household Hazardous Waste Facility
7850 R.A. Bridgeford Street, Stockton, CA 95206
Materials Accepted
Galt Materials Recovery Facility (Cal-Waste)
175 Enterprise Court, Galt, CA 95632
Materials Accepted
Frequently Asked Questions
What company handles garbage collection in Galt?
California Waste Recovery Systems, commonly known as Cal-Waste, is the franchised solid waste and recycling provider for the City of Galt.
By what time do I need to have my trash carts on the curb?
All trash, recycling, and organic carts must be placed at the curb by 6:00 a.m. on your designated service day, with arrows facing the street.
Are food scraps allowed in the green yard waste bin?
Yes. In compliance with state law, all food scraps, including meat and dairy, must be mixed with your yard trimmings in the green organics cart.