Gray or Black Bin (Trash)
Garbage must not be packed too tightly. The lid must be completely closed when set out. Overfilled carts violate the Livermore Municipal Code.
Accepted Items
- ✓Styrofoam (polystyrene foam)
- ✓Diapers and pet waste
- ✓Treated wood scraps (small amounts)
- ✓Chip bags and snack wrappers
- ✓Broken ceramics and glass
- ✓Plastic utensils and straws
Blue Bin (Recycling)
All recyclable materials must be completely empty, clean, dry, and placed loosely into the blue cart without the use of plastic bags.
Accepted Items
- ✓Clean cardboard and paperboard
- ✓Mixed paper, junk mail, and magazines
- ✓Aluminum and tin cans
- ✓Clean glass bottles and jars
- ✓Rigid plastic containers (#1-7)
Do NOT Include
- ✕Styrofoam
- ✕Plastic bags or film
- ✕Food-soiled paper
- ✕Tanglers (hoses, wires)
- ✕Clothing and textiles
Yard Waste Bin
Place organic materials directly into the green cart. If you have extra green waste that will not fit, it may be collected in special designated bags for an additional fee.
Accepted Items
- ✓Grass clippings, leaves, and weeds
- ✓Branches and prunings
- ✓Food scraps (meat, dairy, bones, fruits, vegetables)
- ✓Food-soiled paper (pizza boxes, napkins, uncoated plates)
- ✓Coffee grounds and tea bags
Bulky Item Pickup
Frequency
Three (3) free pickups per rolling 12-month period
Placement
Place items in the street, directly against the curb, by 6:00 a.m. on your scheduled cleanup day. Keep the pile at least 3 feet away from your carts. Do NOT place bulky items on the sidewalk or in your driveway.
Accepted
- ✓ Mattresses and box springs
- ✓ Sofas and bed frames (under 150 lbs)
- ✓ Televisions and computer monitors
- ✓ Refrigerators (doors removed or taped shut)
- ✓ Washers, dryers, and water heaters
- ✓ Up to 3 cubic yards of bundled or boxed general waste
Not Accepted
- ✕ Items exceeding 5 feet in length
- ✕ Single items over 75 lbs (excluding the one allowed appliance/furniture)
- ✕ Dirt, rock, brick, or cement
- ✕ Construction and demolition debris
- ✕ Hazardous waste and treated wood waste
- ✕ Automotive parts, batteries, or tires
The first three cleanups per 12-month period are free, provided your account is current and paid for at least one quarter. Additional pickups or items exceeding the volume limit can be scheduled for an extra fee.
Holiday Schedule
General Rule
Livermore Sanitation only delays collection for three major holidays. If New Year's Day, Thanksgiving, or Christmas falls on a weekday, service will be delayed by one day for the remainder of that week. If the holiday falls on a weekend, there is no delay.
Yard Waste Exception
The holiday delay applies equally to all residential carts, including garbage, recycling, and organics.
Minor holidays such as MLK Jr. Day, Presidents' Day, Memorial Day, Juneteenth, Independence Day, Labor Day, and Veterans Day do NOT affect the collection schedule. Put your carts out on your normal day.
Observed Holidays
!Contamination Tips
Styrofoam is Trash in Livermore
Even if it has a recycling symbol on the bottom, Styrofoam (expanded polystyrene) is not accepted in Livermore Sanitation's recycling program. All foam egg cartons, takeout containers, and packing peanuts must go into your gray garbage cart.
Keep Recyclables Loose
Never place your recyclables inside plastic garbage bags. The sorting facility cannot open bags to process the contents, so bagged items in the blue cart are treated as contamination and sent straight to the landfill.
Do Not Overfill Carts
Livermore requires that all cart lids close completely. Carts that are overfilled or have items sticking out violate the municipal code and risk spilling debris onto the street when lifted by the automated collection trucks. Ensure all waste fits loosely inside.
Seasonal Information
Winter
JanuaryLivermore offers a curbside Christmas tree collection program during the first two weeks of January. Place your unflocked tree at the curb by 6:00 a.m. on your regular service day. Trees over five feet tall must be cut in half, and all lights, stands, and decorations must be removed.
Spring and Fall
VariableLivermore Sanitation offers curbside household textile recycling. Residents can place bagged, clean, donated clothing out on specific collection days. Check the annual Livermore Sanitation mailing calendar for the exact dates in your neighborhood.
Autumn
October - NovemberIf autumn leaf cleanup generates more yard waste than your green cart can hold, do not pack the cart tightly. Instead, contact Livermore Sanitation to purchase special extra green waste bags, which will be collected alongside your cart for a nominal fee.
About Livermore Waste Management
Comprehensive Residential Waste Services in Livermore
In Livermore, California, residential solid waste, recycling, and organics collection is exclusively franchised to Livermore Sanitation, a Waste Connections company. To minimize neighborhood nuisances and maintain public health, the Livermore Municipal Code mandates that all residential premises subscribe to a minimum level of collection service. The city operates a modern, automated three-cart system, and residents are required to place their carts at the curb with wheels facing the curb by 6:00 a.m. on their scheduled collection day, ensuring they are spaced at least three feet apart.
Navigating Livermore's SB 1383 Organics Mandate
Aligning with California's SB 1383 regulations, Livermore Sanitation provides every single-family home with a 96-gallon green cart specifically for organic waste. Residents must separate all food scraps—including meat, bones, dairy, and coffee grounds—along with food-soiled paper products like greasy pizza boxes and uncoated paper plates, placing them directly into the green cart alongside traditional yard trimmings. This mandatory separation keeps potent greenhouse gases out of the landfill and transforms local food waste into nutrient-rich compost.
Taking Advantage of Livermore's Free Bulky Item Pickups
One of the standout benefits of Livermore's residential waste program is the generous On-Call Cleanup service. Single-family households whose accounts are current can schedule up to three free curbside bulky item cleanups in a rolling 12-month period. Each of these pickups allows residents to dispose of up to three cubic yards of general waste, plus one large furniture item (like a sofa or mattress under 150 lbs), and one large appliance or electronic waste item. Items must be placed in the street against the curb—not on the sidewalk or driveway—by 6:00 a.m. on the scheduled day.
Safely Disposing of Hazardous and Electronic Waste
It is illegal and dangerous to place household hazardous waste (HHW) such as motor oil, paint, batteries, or harsh chemicals into any of your three curbside bins. However, Livermore Sanitation provides enhanced services including the curbside collection of used motor oil and filters, household batteries, cell phones, and cooking oil when prepared correctly. For larger hazardous materials, residents should utilize regional Alameda County HHW drop-off facilities to protect local waterways and sanitation workers from toxic exposure.
Drop-off Facilities
Livermore Sanitation Office & Drop-Off
7000 National Drive, Livermore, CA 94550
Materials Accepted
Frequently Asked Questions
How many free bulky item pickups do Livermore residents get?
Single-family residents in Livermore with an active, current account are entitled to three (3) free on-call cleanups every rolling 12-month period. You must call (925) 449-7300 in advance to schedule your pickup.
Does my trash get picked up on Memorial Day or Labor Day in Livermore?
Yes. Livermore Sanitation only observes New Year's Day, Thanksgiving Day, and Christmas Day. On all other holidays, including Memorial Day, Independence Day, and Labor Day, your trash will be collected on its normal schedule.
Can I put Styrofoam in my blue recycling bin?
No. Despite often having a recycling symbol on it, Styrofoam (expanded polystyrene) is not accepted in Livermore's recycling program. All foam products must be placed in your gray or black garbage cart.
What should I do if my green organics cart is completely full?
Do not cram materials tightly into the cart, as it will not empty properly when serviced. If you regularly have excess yard waste, you can contact Livermore Sanitation to purchase special extra green waste bags or request an additional green cart for a fee.