Brown or Black Bin (Trash)
All trash must be securely contained within the cart so the lid can close completely. Do not pack material so tightly that it becomes stuck during automated collection.
Accepted Items
- ✓Standard household garbage
- ✓Diapers and pet waste
- ✓Polystyrene foam (Styrofoam)
- ✓Chip bags and multi-layer snack wrappers
- ✓Broken ceramics and glassware
- ✓Treated or painted wood scraps
Blue Bin (Recycling)
Place all recyclables loose in the blue cart. Never bag your recyclables in plastic bags. Ensure all food containers are wiped or lightly rinsed clean.
Accepted Items
- ✓Clean, dry paper and flattened cardboard
- ✓Glass bottles and jars (empty and rinsed)
- ✓Plastic containers, jugs, and bottles
- ✓Aluminum cans, tin cans, and steel cans
Do NOT Include
- ✕Plastic grocery bags and film
- ✕Food waste and liquid residue
- ✕Hazardous waste and batteries
- ✕Electronic waste
- ✕Tanglers (hoses, cords, wires, clothing)
Green Bin (Yard Waste)
Do not use standard plastic bags or bioplastic bags. Place all food scraps and yard trimmings loose directly into the green cart or wrap food waste in newspaper.
Accepted Items
- ✓Grass clippings, leaves, and weeds
- ✓Branches, prunings, and untreated wood
- ✓Food scraps (meat, dairy, bones, fruits, vegetables)
- ✓Coffee grounds and tea bags
- ✓Food-soiled paper (pizza boxes, paper napkins)
Bulky Item Pickup
Frequency
On-demand (Additional fee required for large items)
Placement
Items must not be placed at the curb until a scheduled pickup date has been confirmed by MDRR. Keep items clear of parked cars, mailboxes, and standard collection carts.
Accepted
- ✓ Couches, chairs, and large furniture
- ✓ Mattresses and box springs
- ✓ Major household appliances (refrigerators, washers)
- ✓ Non-working electronics (TVs, computers)
Not Accepted
- ✕ Hazardous waste (chemicals, wet paint, oil)
- ✕ Automotive parts and tires
- ✕ Construction and demolition debris (concrete, bricks, dirt)
- ✕ Commercial or industrial waste
Pricing varies by item. For example, refrigerators, mattresses, and non-working electronics each have specific collection fees. Call (925) 682-9113 for a quote.
Holiday Schedule
General Rule
MDRR only observes Christmas Day and New Year's Day. If your regular collection day falls on or after these two holidays, your service will be delayed by one day for the remainder of that week.
Yard Waste Exception
Organics and recycling carts follow the exact same delayed schedule as the trash carts.
Unlike many municipalities, Oakley does not experience service delays on Memorial Day, Independence Day, Labor Day, or Thanksgiving Day. Put your carts out as normally scheduled on those holidays.
Observed Holidays
!Contamination Tips
Keep Plastic Bags Out of the Organics Cart
Never use plastic bags—even those labeled 'biodegradable' or 'compostable'—to hold your food scraps in the green cart. The commercial composting facility cannot break down synthetic plastics, and they will ruin the final soil product.
Leave the Recyclables Loose
Bagging your recyclables in opaque trash bags is a major contamination issue. The sorting machines at the Pittsburg transfer station cannot process sealed bags, and they are typically pulled off the line and sent straight to the landfill.
Batteries Belong Nowhere Near Your Carts
Lithium-ion batteries and electronic devices are strictly prohibited in all three MDRR curbside carts. They are the leading cause of collection truck fires. Take them to the Delta Diablo HHW facility or a designated e-waste drop-off.
Seasonal Information
Winter
December - JanuaryFollowing the Christmas holiday, MDRR offers curbside holiday tree recycling on your regular pickup day. Trees must be completely bare (no flocking, lights, tinsel, or stands). Residents can also drop off one bare, uncut tree for free at the Recycling Center + Transfer Station in Pittsburg.
Spring/Fall
March - May / September - NovemberDuring peak yard cleanup seasons, utilize your two free annual 'On-Call Pickups'. You can set out up to 12 bags of leaves, weeds, or general garbage, or neatly tied bundles of branches (18" x 3'), avoiding the need to overfill your green cart.
Year-Round
January - DecemberDIY oil changers can call MDRR year-round to request free motor oil recycling kits, which are then collected safely from the curb by appointment.
About Oakley Waste Management
Navigating Oakley's Transition to SB 1383 Organics Mandates
To comply with California's stringent Senate Bill 1383 climate regulations, the City of Oakley and its franchised hauler, Mt. Diablo Resource Recovery (MDRR), have fully implemented a mandatory organics recycling program. All Oakley residents are provided with a 96-gallon green cart specifically designated for both landscape debris and food waste. Instead of throwing chicken bones, coffee grounds, and vegetable peels into the garbage, residents must now place these methane-producing materials into their green organics cart to be transformed into enriched compost.
Taking Advantage of Your Two Free On-Call Pickups
While standard bulky items like couches and refrigerators incur an additional collection fee, Oakley residents do receive a unique perk: two free 'On-Call Pickups' per calendar year. This service is perfect for spring cleaning or major yard work. During an on-call pickup, MDRR will collect up to twelve 32-gallon bags of household garbage or yard waste (weighing up to 50 pounds each) directly from your curb. If you have loose branches, you can tie them into bundles no larger than 18 inches by 3 feet. You must call MDRR to schedule these pickups, and they must be spaced at least one week apart.
Free Curbside Motor Oil Collection Kits
For DIY mechanics in Oakley, safely disposing of used motor oil is incredibly easy and entirely free. MDRR offers a specialized curbside motor oil recycling program for active residential accounts. You can request a free motor oil recycling kit, which includes a 6-quart oil container and a protective sleeve for your old oil filter. Once you have filled the container, simply contact the MDRR office to schedule a pickup right from your driveway, keeping toxic automotive fluids out of Contra Costa County's waterways.
Proper Disposal at the Delta Diablo HHW Facility
Household Hazardous Waste (HHW) such as wet paint, pesticides, pool chemicals, and lithium-ion batteries should never be placed in your brown, blue, or green curbside carts. When compacted in a garbage truck, these items can cause severe fires or chemical spills. Oakley residents are directed to safely dispose of these toxic materials at the Delta Diablo drop-off center in neighboring Pittsburg. You must make an appointment online or call (925) 756-1900 prior to dropping off your hazardous waste.
Drop-off Facilities
Recycling Center & Transfer Station (Contra Costa Waste Services)
1300 Loveridge Road, Pittsburg, CA 94565
Materials Accepted
Delta Diablo Household Hazardous Waste Facility
2550 Pittsburg-Antioch Hwy, Pittsburg, CA 94565
Materials Accepted
Frequently Asked Questions
Does my trash service get delayed on Thanksgiving or Labor Day in Oakley?
No. Mt. Diablo Resource Recovery (MDRR) only observes Christmas Day and New Year's Day. On all other major holidays, including Thanksgiving, Labor Day, and Independence Day, your curbside collection will occur on its normally scheduled day.
What is included in my two free 'On-Call Pickups'?
Oakley residential accounts are entitled to two free on-call pickups per calendar year. During a single pickup, MDRR will collect up to twelve 32-gallon bags of garbage or yard waste (up to 50 lbs each), or bundles of branches tied no larger than 18 inches by 3 feet.
How do I get rid of an old couch or refrigerator?
Large bulky items like furniture and appliances are not covered by the free on-call bag pickups. You must call MDRR at (925) 682-9113 to schedule a special bulky item collection, which will incur an additional fee based on the item type and size.
How do I participate in the free curbside motor oil recycling program?
Oakley residents can request a free motor oil recycling kit by contacting the MDRR office. You will receive a 6-quart oil container and a filter sleeve. Once full, simply call MDRR back to schedule a safe curbside collection.