Black Bin (Trash)
All garbage must fit inside the black landfill cart with the lid completely shut. Hot ash must be fully cooled before being thrown away.
Accepted Items
- ✓Aseptic cartons and juice pouches
- ✓Metallic or glittery wrapping paper
- ✓Diapers and pet waste
- ✓Styrofoam packing peanuts
- ✓Personal care product tubes (toothpaste, lotion)
Blue Bin (Recycling)
Items must be Empty, Clean, and Dry. Do not place recyclables in garbage bags; leave them loose in the blue cart or use a clear bag only.
Accepted Items
- ✓Flattened cardboard and clean paper
- ✓Plastic containers and bottles (#1-7)
- ✓Aluminum and tin cans
- ✓Glass bottles and jars
- ✓Bundled plastic bags (tied into a pillow)
Do NOT Include
- ✕Food-contaminated paper (e.g., greasy pizza boxes)
- ✕Aseptic shelf-stable cartons
- ✕Loose plastic bags
- ✕Styrofoam blocks
Yard Waste Bin
Keep the lid fully closed. Do not use standard plastic bags or synthetic 'biodegradable' bags—only BPI Certified compostable products are permitted.
Accepted Items
- ✓Grass clippings and leaves
- ✓Untreated wood (cut under 4 feet)
- ✓Food scraps (meat, dairy, bones, vegetables)
- ✓Food-soiled paper (uncoated paper plates, napkins)
- ✓BPI Certified compostable plastics
Bulky Item Pickup
Frequency
Two pre-scheduled events per year (Spring and Fall)
Placement
Place all items at the curb or nearest main street by 6:00 a.m. Bag, box, or wrap small loose items. Reusable items go out on Day 1; landfill trash goes out on Day 2.
Accepted
- ✓ Bagged trash (up to 50 lbs per bag)
- ✓ Small appliances and electronics
- ✓ Small furniture and rugs
- ✓ Household items and housewares
- ✓ Bicycles and sporting equipment
Not Accepted
- ✕ Any organic material (leaves, branches, food)
- ✕ Hazardous waste or liquid paint
- ✕ Single items weighing over 50 lbs
- ✕ Items longer than 4 feet
- ✕ Large refrigerators or tires
The bi-annual events are fully covered by your rates. If you exceed the size and weight limits, or require an on-call cleanup outside of these pre-scheduled months, you must call Republic Services and pay an additional fee.
Holiday Schedule
General Rule
Republic Services only observes Christmas Day and New Year's Day. If your normal collection day falls on or after these holidays, your service will be delayed by one day for the rest of that week.
Yard Waste Exception
Your green organics cart and blue recycling cart will follow the exact same holiday delay schedule as your black landfill cart.
Service occurs completely as normal on all other holidays, including Memorial Day, 4th of July, Labor Day, and Thanksgiving.
Observed Holidays
!Contamination Tips
Aseptic Cartons Belong in the Trash
Unlike some neighboring jurisdictions, Lafayette's recycling facility cannot process shelf-stable aseptic cartons (like soup boxes or juice pouches). These mixed-material items must be tossed in the black landfill cart.
Bundle Your Plastic Bags
While most cities ban plastic grocery bags entirely, Lafayette allows them in the blue cart only if they are completely clean, dry, and bundled tightly into a single 'pillow.' Loose bags will wrap around sorting gears.
Empty, Clean, and Dry
Never place half-full containers into your blue cart. Lightly rinse and shake dry your glass, metal, and plastic containers to ensure food residue doesn't ruin surrounding paper and cardboard.
Seasonal Information
Winter/Post-Holiday
December to JanuaryNatural Christmas trees will be collected curbside on your normal service day during designated weeks in January [2.1.1]. Remove all stands, tinsel, and lights. Flocked trees cannot be composted and must be cut to fit inside the black landfill cart.
Spring
AprilSpring Reuse and Cleanup Days for Lafayette generally occur in April. You will receive a mailer two weeks beforehand with your specific assigned dates to set out reusable goods and bulk trash.
Fall
OctoberLafayette's second annual Reuse and Cleanup Days occur in October. Remember that organic materials, leaves, and yard trimmings are strictly prohibited from the bulk Cleanup Day piles.
About Lafayette Waste Management
Managed by the RecycleSmart Authority
Residential solid waste services in Lafayette are overseen by the Central Contra Costa Solid Waste Authority, known as RecycleSmart [1.1.3]. RecycleSmart holds franchise agreements with Republic Services for the curbside collection of landfill waste, organics, and recyclables, and with Mt. Diablo Resource Recovery for processing recyclable materials and managing the unique Reuse Day programs.
Bi-Annual Reuse and Cleanup Days
Lafayette single-family households benefit from a two-part curbside collection event held twice a year (typically in April and October). On 'Reuse Day,' Mt. Diablo Resource Recovery collects gently used clothing, household items, and appliances to donate to local charities. The very next day is 'Cleanup Day,' where Republic Services comes by to collect up to 2 cubic yards of non-reusable bulk trash destined for the landfill.
Curbside E-Waste and Battery Collection
Keeping hazardous materials out of the landfill is easy in Lafayette. Single-family residents can place household batteries, old cell phones, and compact fluorescent bulbs (CFLs) into sealed, clear zip-top plastic bags and leave them sitting on top of or right next to their blue recycling cart on their normal weekly collection day.
Free Kitchen Food Scrap Pails
To support compliance with California's SB 1383 organics mandate, RecycleSmart encourages residents to compost all food scraps and food-soiled paper. Lafayette residents can even request a free 3-gallon kitchen food scrap pail once every two years by calling Republic Services customer support at 925-685-4711.
Drop-off Facilities
Household Hazardous Waste Collection Facility (Central San)
4797 Imhoff Place, Martinez, CA 94553
Materials Accepted
Frequently Asked Questions
How do the bi-annual Reuse and Cleanup Days work?
These events happen twice a year (typically April and October in Lafayette). On 'Reuse Day,' you place gently used items at the curb for charity. The very next day is 'Cleanup Day,' where Republic Services will collect up to 2 cubic yards of non-reusable bulk trash.
Can I put compostable plastic bags in the green organics cart?
Yes, but they must be explicitly labeled as BPI Certified compostable products. Standard plastic bags, or synthetic bags labeled broadly as 'biodegradable,' are not permitted and will contaminate the compost.
How do I safely dispose of old batteries and light bulbs?
Single-family residents in Lafayette don't need to drive to a facility. You can place household batteries, cell phones, and compact fluorescent bulbs (CFLs) into sealed, clear zip-top plastic bags and rest them on top of or beside your blue recycling cart on your regular collection day.