Gray Bin (Trash)
Use the Gray cart for all non-recyclable, non-hazardous, and non-compostable household refuse. Available in 20, 35, 65, and 95-gallon sizes, with smaller carts costing less.
Accepted Items
- ✓Plastic bags and wrappers
- ✓Polystyrene foam (Styrofoam)
- ✓Diapers and sanitary products
- ✓Kitty litter and pet waste
- ✓Broken ceramics and glassware
- ✓Treated wood (small amounts)
Blue Bin (Recycling)
Do not bag recyclables in plastic bags. Place all items loose in the cart. Ensure all cardboard boxes are flattened to save space.
Accepted Items
- ✓Glass bottles and jars (clean)
- ✓Aluminum and tin cans
- ✓Corrugated cardboard and mixed paper
- ✓Plastics containers labeled #1 - #7
- ✓Newspapers, magazines, and catalogs
- ✓Dry food boxes (cereal, pasta)
Do NOT Include
- ✕Plastic bags and film
- ✕Food-soiled paper or pizza boxes
- ✕Batteries and electronics
- ✕Styrofoam
- ✕Yard waste
Yard Waste Bin
This cart (which may be Green or Brown) is strictly for organics that can be processed at the Napa Composting Facility. Do not use plastic bags to hold food waste.
Accepted Items
- ✓Food scraps (meat, dairy, bread, bones)
- ✓Food-soiled paper products (napkins, plates)
- ✓Grass clippings and leaves
- ✓Brush, weeds, and flowers
- ✓Small branches (under 6 inches in diameter)
Bulky Item Pickup
Frequency
By appointment (fees apply for non-metal household furniture).
Placement
Items must be scheduled in advance with NRWS. Do not place items at the curb until the morning of your scheduled pickup day.
Accepted
- ✓ Couches and bulky furniture (fee applies)
- ✓ Mattresses and box springs (fee applies curbside, but free drop-off at Devlin Road)
- ✓ Toilets and porcelain (fee applies)
- ✓ Electronic waste and TVs (Free via Recycle More)
- ✓ Large metal appliances (Free via Recycle More)
Not Accepted
- ✕ Hazardous waste and liquid chemicals
- ✕ Dirt, concrete, or roofing shingles
- ✕ Automotive parts (other than batteries via Recycle More)
- ✕ Carpet longer than 6 feet
While 'Recycle More' items (e-waste, metal, appliances) are picked up for free, non-metal bulky items such as furniture and toilets will incur a collection rate charge.
Holiday Schedule
General Rule
If your service day falls on one of the three observed holidays, trash, recycling, and compost will be collected the following day, delaying service by one day for the remainder of that week through Saturday.
Yard Waste Exception
The holiday delay applies uniformly across all cart types (trash, recycling, and compost).
NRWS provides normal service on all other holidays, including Memorial Day, Independence Day, and Labor Day. Do not delay your carts on those weeks.
Observed Holidays
!Contamination Tips
Keep plastic film out of the blue cart
Flexible plastics, grocery bags, and plastic wrappers easily tangle in the sorting gears at the recycling facility. Throw these items into your Gray trash cart, or return clean plastic grocery bags to a local supermarket drop-off.
Never put batteries in any standard bin
Batteries can spark fires in collection trucks and at the recycling center. Tape the positive terminals of your batteries, seal them in a clear plastic bag, and schedule a free pickup through the 'Recycle More' program.
Use the compost cart for pizza boxes
Greasy, food-soiled cardboard (like the bottom of a pizza box) cannot be recycled into new paper products. Tear it up and place it directly into your Green or Brown compost cart instead.
Seasonal Information
Winter
December - JanuaryThe annual Scouts Christmas Tree Pick-Up occurs on the first Saturday following New Year's Day. Bare trees can be placed at the curb. Artificial trees or flocked trees must go in the trash or be scheduled for a bulky item pickup.
Autumn/Winter
October - JanuaryDuring heavy leaf season, street sweeping frequency doubles. Remember that blowing leaves into the street violates city code. Instead, utilize the two free extra yard trimming pickups offered by NRWS for City of Napa residents.
Spring/Summer
February - SeptemberRoutine street sweeping scales back to once a month. Ensure your parked vehicles are moved off the street between 6:30 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. on your designated sweeping day to avoid missed service.
About Napa Waste Management
Navigating the Napa Recycling & Waste Services (NRWS) System
Residential solid waste collection in the City of Napa is managed through a franchise agreement with Napa Recycling & Waste Services (NRWS). The city utilizes a strict three-cart system to minimize landfill waste: a Gray cart for regular trash, a Blue cart for recyclables, and a Green or Brown cart for compost and yard trimmings. To ensure seamless automated pickup, residents must place carts at the curb with the wheels facing their property, ensuring a few feet of clearance from parked cars, mailboxes, and neighboring bins.
Napa's Robust Composting Initiative & SB 1383 Compliance
Napa is heavily invested in diverting organics from landfills and actually operates its own Napa Recycling & Composting Facility in American Canyon. In strict compliance with California's SB 1383 mandate, all residents are required to place food scraps (including meat, bones, and dairy) as well as food-soiled paper and standard yard trimmings directly into their Green or Brown compost cart. As a bonus for diligent sorters, City of Napa households can request up to two compost carts and two recycling carts free of charge.
The Unique 'Recycle More' Free Curbside Program
Unlike standard bulky item pickups that often charge fees, Napa's 'Recycle More' program offers entirely FREE curbside collection by appointment for specific recyclable goods. Through this service, NRWS will pick up electronic waste, large metal appliances (over 36 inches), bagged clothing and shoes, used cooking oil, and even household batteries and fluorescent tubes. You must schedule these pickups in advance and properly containerize the items (e.g., taping battery terminals and placing them in a clear zipper-style bag on top of your other materials).
Street Sweeping and Heavy Leaf Season Perks
To protect local waterways from flooding and pollution, sweeping frequency across Napa increases from once a month to twice a month between October and January. Because street sweepers cannot handle large piles of leaves, city ordinances strictly prohibit blowing yard waste into the street. To assist homeowners during heavy leaf drops, NRWS offers City of Napa residents two free extra yard trimmings pickups per year on their normal service day. You can even pick up a box of compostable bags for these extra leaves at the NRWS office on Lincoln Avenue.
Annual Advance Payment Discount for Residents
If you are looking for ways to save on your utility bills, Napa Recycling offers a unique financial incentive. Residential customers with individual cart service can receive a 5% discount on their bill by paying for 12 months of service in advance. This credit is applied directly to your account. By downsizing to a smaller 20- or 35-gallon Gray trash cart and maximizing your free recycling and compost bins, you can significantly lower your annual solid waste costs.
Drop-off Facilities
Napa Recycling & Composting Facility
820 Levitin Way, American Canyon, CA 94503
Materials Accepted
Devlin Road Recycling & Transfer Facility
889 Devlin Road, American Canyon, CA 94503
Materials Accepted
Frequently Asked Questions
What items can I have picked up for free through the Recycle More program?
Through Napa's Recycle More program, you can schedule free curbside pickup for electronic waste, large metal appliances, oversized metal items, bagged clothing and shoes, cooking oil, household fluorescent tubes (boxed), and batteries (bagged).
Does my trash schedule change for Memorial Day or Labor Day in Napa?
No. NRWS only observes three holidays for collection delays: Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Year's Day. Service runs on a completely normal schedule for all other holidays, including Memorial Day, Independence Day, and Labor Day.
How do I correctly dispose of food scraps?
To comply with SB 1383, all food scraps, including meat, dairy, bones, and bread, must be placed directly into your Green or Brown compost cart. Do not use plastic bags to hold the food waste; only use paper bags or place the materials loosely inside.
Can I get extra recycling or compost carts if mine fill up?
Yes. City of Napa residents are entitled to up to two blue recycling carts and up to two green/brown compost carts free of charge. If you need more capacity, you can contact NRWS to have the additional carts delivered.