Weekly Collection Schedule
Official municipal pickup timing for Oakland
Collections in California municipal routes run weekly (Mon-Fri). Your specific collection day is determined by your local neighborhood route.
State Mandate
Follow SB 1383 guidelines for food waste.
Utility Billing & Payments
Manage your local solid waste services
Residential trash and compost services are billed directly by Waste Management of Alameda County. Unpaid delinquent garbage charges may be transferred to Alameda County property tax bills.
Billing Cycle
Quarterly
Accepted Methods
Online, Phone, Auto-Pay, Mail
Pro Tip / Discount
Free backyard collection service is available for qualifying elderly or disabled residents who are unable to roll carts to the curb. Contact Waste Management to apply.
Gray or Black Bin (Trash)
Trash must be bagged to prevent litter. Do not overfill the cart; the lid must close completely. Place at the curb by 6:00 a.m. on collection day.
Accepted Items
- ✓Polystyrene (Styrofoam) containers and packing peanuts
- ✓Plastic bags, film plastic, and bubble wrap
- ✓Diapers and pet waste
- ✓Clothing and textiles
- ✓Broken ceramics and non-recyclable glass
Blue Bin (Recycling)
All recyclables must be placed loosely in the blue cart. Never seal recyclables in plastic garbage bags, as they will be treated as trash at the sorting facility.
Accepted Items
- ✓Clean paper, envelopes, and junk mail
- ✓Flattened cardboard (extra can be cut to 3'x3' and placed next to bin)
- ✓Plastic bottles, jugs, and tubs (empty and dry)
- ✓Aluminum and tin cans
- ✓Glass bottles and jars
Do NOT Include
- ✕Plastic bags and film
- ✕Food-soiled paper
- ✕Tanglers (hoses, ropes, hangers)
- ✕Single-use plastic utensils and toys
Yard Waste Bin
Do not place any plastics, bio-plastics, or compostable bags into the green cart. Keep organics loose to ensure they can be properly processed into nutrient-rich compost.
Accepted Items
- ✓Grass clippings, leaves, and plant debris
- ✓Food scraps (meat, bones, fruit, vegetables, dairy)
- ✓Food-soiled paper (pizza boxes, napkins, coffee filters)
- ✓Untreated wood
Bulky Item Pickup
Frequency
Twice a year for single-family homes; Once a year for multi-family renters.
Placement
Do not place bulky items at the curb until the day before your scheduled appointment to prevent illegal dumping. All items must be at the curb by 6:00 a.m. on the collection day.
Accepted
- ✓ Furniture (sofas, mattresses, box springs)
- ✓ Large appliances
- ✓ Consumer electronics (TVs, monitors)
- ✓ Scrap metal and extra cardboard
- ✓ Passenger auto tires
Not Accepted
- ✕ Household hazardous waste
- ✕ Dirt, concrete, and rocks
- ✕ Construction and demolition debris
- ✕ Liquid paints and solvents
Curbside pickups and self-haul drop-offs at the Davis Street facility are free up to the annual limit. Additional pickups or overages will incur a fee.
Holiday Schedule
General Rule
When Thanksgiving, Christmas, or New Year's Day falls on a weekday, all curbside collections are delayed by one day for the remainder of that week.
Yard Waste Exception
Compost and recycling collection schedules are delayed by one day alongside standard trash collection.
These are the only three holidays that disrupt service in Oakland. Collection operates on a normal schedule for all other holidays, including Memorial Day, Labor Day, and Independence Day.
Observed Holidays
Seasonal Information
Winter
December - JanuaryWaste Management provides free Holiday Tree Recycling. Clean, un-flocked trees are collected curbside during the two weeks after Christmas on your regular pickup day. Remove all lights, tinsel, and stands.
Year-Round
January - DecemberIn partnership with Acta Non Verba: Youth Urban Farm Project, Oakland provides residents with free compost year-round generated directly from the city's green waste program.
Local Tips & Community Info
Oakland's Unique Split-Hauler Waste System
Unlike most municipalities that rely on a single vendor, Oakland utilizes a specialized partnership between two different companies to manage residential waste. Waste Management of Alameda County (WM) is strictly responsible for emptying your standard trash and mandatory compost carts. Meanwhile, California Waste Solutions (CWS) handles everything related to your blue recycling bin. Knowing which company to contact is crucial if a specific cart is ever skipped on your block. No matter which truck is coming, all containers must be positioned at the curb by 6:00 a.m. on your assigned pickup morning. Keep the lids tightly shut and leave adequate space between each cart so the automated mechanical arms can operate without knocking anything over.
Rules for Free Bulky Junk Collection
Living in the city gives you access to a generous bulky item program through Oakland Recycles. Every residential household, including renters without needing landlord approval, is entitled to free large-item disposal services. You can choose to schedule a curbside pickup or a physical drop-off appointment at the Davis Street Resource Recovery Complex in neighboring San Leandro. A standard appointment allows you to dispose of up to four cubic yards of debris, plus large appliances, mattresses, and electronics. To reserve a slot, you must call 1-888-WM-BULKY. Be warned: placing items on the sidewalk more than 24 hours before your confirmed appointment date can result in heavy municipal dumping fines.
Curbside Used Motor Oil Disposal
A standout perk of the local recycling contract is the free curbside motor oil and filter collection, a rare service that most major American cities simply do not offer. If you change your own car oil, you no longer have to drive out of your way to a hazardous waste facility. Simply contact California Waste Solutions at 510-OAKLAND to request a specialized collection jug and a leak-proof filter bag. Once filled, place the sealed container right next to your blue recycling cart on your normal garbage day. The CWS driver will collect the used fluids for safe processing and leave a fresh, empty jug behind for your next tune-up.
Holiday Delays and Winter Blackout Dates
Your regular trash schedule will typically shift by one day if your service lands on or immediately follows Thanksgiving Day, Christmas Day, or New Year's Day. Additionally, it is incredibly important to know about the winter bulky pickup blackout period. Between late December and mid-January, Waste Management completely suspends bulky item collections so that their entire fleet can focus exclusively on post-holiday cardboard overflow and curbside Christmas tree recycling. If you are planning a massive home cleanout or preparing to move around the winter holidays, you must schedule your junk removal well in advance to avoid this operational blackout window.
Drop-off Facilities
Davis Street Resource Recovery Complex and Transfer Station
2615 Davis Street, San Leandro, CA 94577
Materials Accepted
Oakland Household Hazardous Waste (HHW) Facility
2100 East 7th Street, Oakland, CA 94606
Materials Accepted
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I schedule a bulky item pickup in Oakland if I am a renter?
Yes! Oakland's program allows tenants in multi-family buildings to directly schedule one free bulky item curbside pickup (up to 4 cubic yards) per year without needing property manager approval. Just call 1-888-WM-BULKY to make an appointment.
How do I dispose of used motor oil in Oakland?
California Waste Solutions offers a free curbside collection for motor oil. You must call 510-625-5263 to request an approved oil jug and filter bag. Once full, place the sealed jug and bag next to your blue recycling cart on your normal collection day.
What holidays affect my trash pickup in Oakland?
There are only three holidays that delay waste collection in Oakland: Thanksgiving Day, Christmas Day, and New Year's Day. If one of these falls on a weekday, service will be delayed by one day for the rest of the week.
Can I put compostable plastic bags in my green Oakland compost bin?
No. You should not put any plastic bags into your green compost cart, even if they are labeled 'compostable' or 'biodegradable.' Keep your food scraps and yard debris loose, or wrap them in plain, food-soiled paper like a newspaper or paper bag.