Weekly Collection Schedule
Official municipal pickup timing for Novato
Trash Day
Varies by neighborhood zone
Recycling
Varies by neighborhood zone (collected weekly on regular service day)
Yard Waste
Varies by neighborhood zone (collected weekly on regular service day)
Set Out Time
By 6:00 AM on collection day
Utility Billing & Payments
Manage your local solid waste services
Residential collection services in Novato are franchise-managed under the Novato Sanitary District and billed directly by Recology Sonoma Marin based on your selected trash cart size.
Billing Cycle
Monthly
Accepted Methods
Online, Auto-Pay, Phone, Mail
Pro Tip / Discount
Eligible low-income households enrolled in the PG&E CARE program can apply for a rate discount through the Recology Cares program.
Black or Grey Bin (Trash)
All garbage must be bagged before being placed in the landfill cart. Do not place dirt, rocks, or hazardous materials in this bin.
Accepted Items
- ✓Styrofoam products
- ✓Non-recyclable plastics
- ✓Cat litter and pet waste
- ✓Juice and soy milk cartons
- ✓Diapers
Blue (or legacy Brown) Bin (Recycling)
Items must be rinsed clean of food residue and placed loosely in the cart. Do not bag your recyclables.
Accepted Items
- ✓Clean cardboard and paper
- ✓Aluminum foil (balled up to softball size)
- ✓Glass bottles and jars
- ✓Plastic bottles, tubs, and jugs
Do NOT Include
- ✕Plastic bags or film wrap
- ✕Styrofoam
- ✕Food-soiled materials
- ✕Pressurized tanks
Yard Waste Bin
Place organic materials directly into the green cart. Biodegradable or compostable plastics of any kind are strictly prohibited.
Accepted Items
- ✓Grass clippings and leaves
- ✓Tree trimmings (under 6 inches thick)
- ✓Food scraps
- ✓Food-soiled paper (no plastic linings)
Bulky Item Pickup
Frequency
4 free pick-ups per year for residential accounts.
Placement
Place items curbside safely so the driver can load them. Loose items must be bagged or boxed.
Accepted
- ✓ Mattresses and box springs
- ✓ Couches and wooden chairs
- ✓ Appliances (washers, dryers, ovens)
- ✓ Exercise equipment and bicycles
Not Accepted
- ✕ Construction and demolition debris
- ✕ Liquid waste
- ✕ Dirt, cement, rock, or asphalt
- ✕ Hazardous waste (paint, batteries)
Appliances containing Freon (refrigerators, freezers, AC units) will incur a charge of approximately $63.66 per item for safe extraction.
Holiday Schedule
General Rule
If your regular service day falls on or after Christmas or New Year's Day, your pickup will be delayed by one day for the remainder of that week.
Yard Waste Exception
Organics and compost pickup follow the exact same holiday delay schedule as standard garbage.
Unlike many neighboring areas, Novato maintains regular collection service on Independence Day, Labor Day, and Thanksgiving Day. Do not delay your bins on these holidays.
Observed Holidays
Seasonal Information
Winter
December - JanuaryFollowing the holidays, Recology offers curbside Christmas tree collection for Novato residents. Trees over 6 feet must be cut in half, and flocked trees or those with tinsel/decorations are not accepted in the compost.
Spring
March - MayPerfect for spring cleaning, remember to utilize your four free annual bulky item pick-ups. Schedule ahead to dispose of broken lawnmowers (drained of oil/gas) or old furniture.
Autumn
September - NovemberDuring fall leaf drop, if your green cart is full, you may place one tied bundle of yard cuttings (max 2ft x 5ft) next to your cart each week for free pickup.
Local Tips & Community Info
Recology Sonoma Marin Collection Logistics
Refuse management in Novato is executed through a dedicated partnership with Recology Sonoma Marin, an organization deeply committed to Marin County’s zero-waste initiatives. All residential curbside services are billed directly through Recology, and maintaining a neat neighborhood requires strict adherence to their pick-up timetables. To guarantee your bins are emptied, they must be rolled to the street edge by 6:00 a.m. on your specific service day. Because routes frequently change to optimize fuel efficiency, relying on the truck's historical arrival time is heavily discouraged.
Strict Composting and Recycling Mandates
Novato residents play a crucial role in diverting usable materials away from the landfill. The green compost cart is perhaps the most important bin in your driveway; it must be used for all yard trimmings, soiled paper products like napkins, and kitchen food scraps. The blue recycling cart is designated for clean glass, aluminum, rigid plastics, and dry cardboard. Recology strictly prohibits plastic bags in both the green and blue bins. Any non-recoverable items, such as pet waste, treated wood, and styrofoam, belong exclusively in the grey landfill cart.
Curbside Cart Spacing and Safety Rules
Properly staging your carts on collection morning is vital for the safety of the drivers and the efficiency of the automated robotic arms. When placing your containers, ensure the wheels are touching the curb and the lid opens toward the street. You are required to leave a minimum gap of two to three feet between each bin. Furthermore, keep the carts entirely clear of fire hydrants, parked vehicles, and overhanging tree branches. Once the truck has passed, municipal guidelines request that you remove the empty bins from the public right-of-way by the evening.
Scheduling Annual Bulky Item Cleanups
Disposing of oversized household goods does not have to be a logistical nightmare. Recology Sonoma Marin offers Novato residential account holders the opportunity to schedule free bulky item collections each year. By calling their customer service line at 800-243-0291, you can arrange for a special truck to haul away old mattresses, broken appliances, and large furniture directly from your curb. This on-demand service helps combat illegal dumping in Marin County's beautiful open spaces, though certain restrictions apply regarding the maximum volume and weight of the items.
Local Household Hazardous Waste Drop-Off
Toxic materials such as leftover paint, motor oil, pesticides, and lithium-ion batteries pose a severe fire hazard to collection trucks and cannot be placed in any curbside cart. Fortunately, Novato residents have convenient access to the Novato Household Hazardous Waste (HHW) Facility. By scheduling an appointment through the local waste management portal, homeowners can safely drop off these dangerous chemicals for proper neutralization and recycling, ensuring that local groundwater and soil remain uncontaminated.
Holiday Schedule Shifts
Recology drivers observe only a select few major holidays, pausing operations to spend time with their families. The standard delays occur during Thanksgiving Day, Christmas Day, and New Year’s Day. If your standard collection day happens to fall on or after one of these specific holidays within the workweek, your neighborhood’s pickup will be pushed forward by one day. For example, a Wednesday route will be serviced on Thursday, with the normal schedule resuming the following Monday.
Drop-off Facilities
Novato Recycling Center & HHW Facility
7576 Redwood Blvd, Novato, CA 94945
Materials Accepted
Redwood Landfill and Recycling Center
8950 Redwood Hwy, Novato, CA 94945
Materials Accepted
Frequently Asked Questions
Does Novato collect trash on Thanksgiving Day?
Yes, Novato is unique in that Recology continues regular trash, recycling, and compost collection on Thanksgiving Day, as well as Independence Day and Labor Day. The only holidays that delay service are Christmas Day and New Year's Day.
How many times a year can I schedule a bulky item pickup in Novato?
Residential customers in Novato are entitled to four free bulky item collections per calendar year. You can use these to discard large furniture, mattresses, or up to 14 bags of extra trash per scheduled pickup.
Where can I safely dispose of old paint and batteries in Novato?
Novato residents can drop off household hazardous waste like paint, batteries, and small electronics at the HHW Facility at 7576 Redwood Blvd. It operates without an appointment on the first and third consecutive Sundays and Mondays of each month.
What happens if I have more cardboard than fits in my recycling bin?
You do not need to wait for the next week. Flatten the cardboard, cut and tie it into bundles no larger than 3 feet by 3 feet by 1 foot, and set them securely next to your blue recycling cart on your normal collection day.