Grey Bin (Trash)
Toss all trash, recyclables, and food waste together into this 'One Big Bin'. Do not include hazardous waste. Carts should be placed at the curb by 6:00 a.m. on your collection day.
Accepted Items
- ✓All standard household trash
- ✓Food scraps (meat, bones, dairy, produce)
- ✓Recyclables (plastics, glass, cardboard, cans, foil)
- ✓Styrofoam and plastic wrappers
N/A (Commingled in Grey Cart) Bin (Recycling)
Granite Bay does not use a separate blue recycling cart. Place all recyclables directly into your grey 'One Big Bin' to be sorted at the MRF.
Accepted Items
- ✓Plastics #1-#7
- ✓Glass bottles and jars
- ✓Aluminum and tin cans
- ✓Clean cardboard and paperboard
- ✓Mixed paper and junk mail
Do NOT Include
- ✕Hazardous chemicals
- ✕E-waste
- ✕Batteries
- ✕Medical sharps
Yard Waste Bin
Do not place any food waste, pet waste, or plastic bags in the green cart. This cart is strictly for landscaping materials destined for the composting facility.
Accepted Items
- ✓Grass clippings and leaves
- ✓Tree branches and prunings
- ✓Weeds and desert brush
- ✓Plant trimmings
Bulky Item Pickup
Frequency
Two (2) free curbside pickups per year
Placement
You must call Recology at (530) 885-3735 or visit BulkyItemRecycling.com in advance to schedule your appointment. Place items at the curb the evening before your scheduled pickup day.
Accepted
- ✓ Household furniture (sofas, tables, chairs)
- ✓ Mattresses and box springs
- ✓ Large appliances (white goods)
- ✓ Up to 2 cubic yards of boxed or bagged small items
Not Accepted
- ✕ Household hazardous waste (paint, chemicals)
- ✕ Construction and demolition debris (concrete, soil)
- ✕ Commercial waste
- ✕ Loose, unbagged small debris
If you exceed your two free annual pickups, you can request additional bulky item collections for an extra fee. Weight limits apply (typically no single item over 200 lbs).
Holiday Schedule
General Rule
If your scheduled collection day falls on or after Christmas Day or New Year's Day, your service will be delayed by one day for the remainder of that week.
Yard Waste Exception
All cart collections, including yard waste, follow the exact same holiday delay schedule.
Recology Auburn Placer operates as usual on all other holidays, including Thanksgiving, Labor Day, Memorial Day, and the 4th of July. Place your carts out on your normal day for these holidays.
Observed Holidays
!Contamination Tips
Keep Food Out of the Green Cart
Unlike neighboring counties, Placer County requires all food waste to go into your grey 'One Big Bin.' Placing food scraps in your green yard waste cart contaminates the clean green waste stream.
Never Hide Hazardous Waste
Because workers at the WPWMA manually sort the contents of your grey 'One Big Bin', placing hazardous items like needles, broken fluorescent tubes, or toxic chemicals in your trash poses a severe danger to the sorting staff.
Batteries Cause MRF Fires
Lithium-ion batteries thrown into the grey cart are frequently crushed by the collection trucks or sorting gears, causing dangerous facility fires. Always schedule a free curbside pickup for your batteries instead.
Seasonal Information
Fire Season
May to OctoberDuring peak fire season, ensure your property's defensible space is clear of dry vegetation. If you have excess yard waste that won't fit in your green cart, you can utilize your annual bulky item pickups or drop it off at the WPWMA facility in Lincoln.
Winter Holidays
Late December to Mid-JanuaryRecology only observes Christmas Day and New Year's Day. If your collection day falls on or after these holidays, service will be delayed by one day. Thanksgiving does not cause a delay in Granite Bay.
About Granite Bay Waste Management
The Unique 'One Big Bin' System of Placer County
Granite Bay residents participate in one of the most unique waste management programs in California. Instead of sorting recyclables, organics, and landfill waste into three separate containers, unincorporated Placer County utilizes the 'One Big Bin' system. You simply toss all your regular household trash, recyclables, and food scraps directly into a single grey cart. The mixed waste is transported to the Western Placer Waste Management Authority (WPWMA) Materials Recovery Facility (MRF), where state-of-the-art technology and dedicated personnel sort the recyclables and compostables for you.
A Different Approach to SB 1383 and Food Waste
In most California communities, SB 1383 mandates that food scraps be placed in a green yard waste bin. However, Granite Bay operates differently due to its advanced MRF capabilities. Here, you are required to place all food waste—including meat, bones, dairy, and coffee grounds—directly into your grey 'One Big Bin' along with your trash and recyclables. Do not put any food scraps into your green yard waste cart, as that container is strictly reserved for plant materials.
Doorstep Collection for Household Hazardous Waste
Protecting the local watershed from toxic contamination is a major priority in Granite Bay. To make safe disposal effortless, Recology Auburn Placer offers residents free doorstep pickup for select Household Hazardous Waste (HHW). By calling to schedule an appointment, you can have items like used motor oil, filters, e-waste, household batteries, fluorescent tubes, and even kitchen Fats, Oils, and Grease (FOG) collected right from your curb without needing to drive to a drop-off center.
Managing Defensible Space with Your Green Cart
As a semi-rural, unincorporated community nestled near open spaces, Granite Bay properties face seasonal wildfire risks. Property owners are encouraged to maintain defensible space by regularly clearing dry brush, weeds, and pine needles. Use your green yard waste cart strictly for these clean, organic landscaping materials, ensuring they are diverted to the WPWMA facility to be transformed into nutrient-rich agricultural compost.
Drop-off Facilities
Western Placer Waste Management Authority (WPWMA) MRF
3195 Athens Ave, Lincoln, CA 95648
Materials Accepted
Auburn Placer Transfer Station
12305 Shale Ridge Ln, Auburn, CA 95602
Materials Accepted
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I really put my recycling and food waste in the same bin as my trash?
Yes. Granite Bay is part of Placer County's 'One Big Bin' program. You should toss all your everyday trash, recyclables (like plastic bottles and cardboard), and food scraps directly into your single grey cart. The materials are separated at the local Materials Recovery Facility (MRF).
Are there any holiday trash delays for Thanksgiving?
No. Recology Auburn Placer operates on a regular schedule for Thanksgiving. The only holidays that cause a one-day service delay are Christmas Day and New Year's Day.
How do I safely dispose of kitchen grease and cooking oil?
Recology Auburn Placer offers a free doorstep pickup service for Fats, Oils, and Grease (FOG) as well as e-waste, batteries, and motor oil. Call (530) 885-3735 to schedule a curbside collection appointment.
Can I throw away an old couch or mattress at the curb?
Yes, but you must schedule it first. Residential customers receive two free bulky item pickups per year. Call Recology to book your appointment before placing any large items on the curb.