Black Bin (Trash)
Place carts at the curb by 6:00 a.m. Ensure blue bags are securely tied before placing them inside the black cart.
Accepted Items
- ✓Household garbage
- ✓Non-organic recyclables (glass, plastic, aluminum, tin) sealed inside City-provided blue bags
Blue Bags (placed inside the Black Cart) Bin (Recycling)
Place all non-organic recyclables inside blue bags, tie them shut, and place the blue bags directly into your black garbage cart.
Accepted Items
- ✓Glass bottles and jars
- ✓Plastic bottles and containers
- ✓Aluminum cans
- ✓Tin cans
Do NOT Include
- ✕Paper
- ✕Cardboard
- ✕Food waste
- ✕Hazardous materials
- ✕Yard trimmings
Yard Waste Bin
Use the green or grey organics cart. Do not put materials in plastic bags; place them loosely in the cart.
Accepted Items
- ✓Green materials
- ✓Wood waste
- ✓Fiber (paper and cardboard)
- ✓Food scraps
- ✓Food-soiled paper
- ✓Landscape and pruning waste
Bulky Item Pickup
Frequency
Twice per calendar year by appointment.
Placement
Place items on the street surface (not the driveway or sidewalk) at least 6 feet away from parked vehicles, garbage cans, or structures.
Accepted
- ✓ Refrigerators (doors taped shut/removed, limit 1)
- ✓ Washers, dryers, and dishwashers (limit 1 each)
- ✓ Mattresses and box springs (limit 2)
- ✓ Furniture (couches, tables, dressers)
- ✓ Up to 10 pieces of wood no longer than 8 feet
- ✓ Rolled carpet
Not Accepted
- ✕ Tires and automobile parts
- ✕ Bags, boxes, or containers with small household trash inside
- ✕ Hazardous waste, liquids, paints, and solvents
- ✕ Plate glass
- ✕ TVs and computer monitors
- ✕ Concrete, dirt, asphalt, or sheetrock
The two annual bulky item collections are provided at no additional charge. Exceeding limits or unaccepted items may incur fees or be left at the curb.
Holiday Schedule
General Rule
Holidays that land on a weekday push residential pickup schedules back one day, with regular schedules resuming the following week.
Yard Waste Exception
Organics collection follows the exact same holiday delay schedule as regular garbage collection.
Gilton Solid Waste observes Easter, though as a Sunday holiday, it generally does not impact regular weekday collection routes.
Observed Holidays
!Contamination Tips
Keep Paper Out of the Black Cart
Cardboard, newspaper, and magazines should never be placed in your black garbage cart. All paper products must go into the green or grey organics cart.
Seal Blue Bags Properly
When placing glass, plastic, and metal recyclables into your blue bags, tie them tightly. If a bag spills open inside the black cart, those recyclables will be lost to the landfill.
Clearance for Bulky Items
When setting out bulky items for your scheduled pickup, ensure they are at least six feet away from vehicles, fences, and your regular trash carts so the collection equipment can operate safely.
Seasonal Information
Summer
June to AugustDuring the hot Central Valley summers, line the bottom of your green organics cart with dry cardboard or yard trimmings before adding food scraps to absorb moisture and reduce odors.
Fall
October to DecemberAutumn leaf drops can fill up your green cart quickly. Do not bag your leaves in plastic; place them loosely into the green cart alongside your regular paper and food waste.
Spring
March to MaySpring cleaning is the perfect time to use one of your two annual bulky item pickup appointments. Call Gilton in advance to secure your preferred date, as slots fill up quickly.
About Oakdale Waste Management
Oakdale's Unique Two-Container Sorting System
Unlike many municipalities that use a traditional three-bin system, Oakdale operates on a streamlined two-container model managed by Gilton Solid Waste Management. Residents receive a black cart for municipal solid waste and a green or grey cart for organics. This ONE-PASS automated truck system simplifies curbside space while maximizing waste diversion by allowing organic materials and paper to be processed separately from standard household trash.
The Innovative Blue Bag Recycling Program
Recycling in Oakdale is handled differently than in most Central Valley cities. Instead of a dedicated loose recycling cart, residents place non-organic recyclables—such as glass bottles, plastic containers, and aluminum or tin cans—into City-provided blue bags. These sealed blue bags are then tossed directly into the black garbage cart alongside regular trash. Gilton's sorting facility separates the blue bags from the garbage later, making curbside collection faster and reducing street clutter.
Paper and Cardboard Belong in the Green Cart
It is crucial to remember that all paper products, including newspapers, magazines, catalogs, white paper, paper bags, and flattened cardboard, must go into the green or grey organics cart—not the black cart. By mixing paper products with food scraps and yard trimmings, the city ensures that these fibrous materials are properly composted or diverted, minimizing the amount of waste sent to the landfill.
E-Waste Disposal and the Voucher System
Electronic waste, particularly televisions and computer monitors, cannot be disposed of in standard curbside bins or through the bulky item pickup program. Instead, the City of Oakdale mails special E-Waste vouchers to residents. By bringing these vouchers along with the electronics to the Gilton Resource Recovery Transfer Facility in Modesto, residents can drop off their hazardous E-Waste properly and free of charge.
Scheduling Bi-Annual Bulky Item Pickups
Oakdale residents are eligible for two free bulky item collections per calendar year by appointment. When scheduling, it is important to adhere to placement rules: items must be placed directly on the street surface (not on sidewalks or driveways) and kept at least six feet away from parked vehicles and garbage carts. Pickups cover major appliances, furniture, and mattresses, ensuring that large household items are hauled away safely.
Drop-off Facilities
Gilton Resource Recovery / Transfer Facility
800 S. McClure Road, Modesto, CA 95357
Materials Accepted
Stanislaus County Household Hazardous Waste Collection
Special local events (Call 209-525-6700)
Materials Accepted
Frequently Asked Questions
How does the blue bag recycling program work in Oakdale?
Oakdale utilizes a unique system where non-organic recyclables (glass, plastic, tin, and aluminum) are placed into City-provided blue bags. You then tie the blue bags closed and throw them directly into your black garbage cart for collection.
Can I put paper and cardboard in my black garbage cart?
No. In Oakdale, all paper products—including newspaper, magazines, white paper, and flattened cardboard—must go into the green or grey organics cart along with your green waste and food scraps.
How do I dispose of an old television or computer monitor?
TVs and monitors are not accepted in the curbside bulky item pickup. Oakdale residents are mailed special E-Waste vouchers, which can be taken along with the electronics to the Gilton Resource Recovery Transfer Facility in Modesto for free disposal.
Will my trash pickup be delayed by holidays?
Yes, if your scheduled collection day falls on or after a weekday holiday (New Year's Day, July 4th, Thanksgiving Day, or Christmas Day), your pickup will be delayed by one day for the remainder of that week.