Weekly Collection Schedule
Official municipal pickup timing for Oildale
Trash Day
Varies by neighborhood zone
Recycling
Varies by neighborhood zone (every other week)
Yard Waste
Varies by neighborhood zone (weekly)
Set Out Time
By 6:00 AM on collection day
Utility Billing & Payments
Manage your local solid waste services
Because Oildale is an unincorporated community in Kern County, standard residential trash and recycling collection fees are typically included on your annual Kern County property tax bill.
Billing Cycle
Included in Property Taxes
Accepted Methods
Property Tax Bill, Online, Mail, Phone
Tan, Gray, or Black Bin (Trash)
All materials must fit entirely inside the tan cart so the lid sits flat. Trash left next to bins or protruding into the street will be bypassed by automated vehicles.
Accepted Items
- ✓Soiled food packaging and wax-lined boxes
- ✓Diapers, sanitary wipes, and bagged pet waste
- ✓Broken ceramics, window panes, and mirror glass
- ✓Plastic bags, bubble wrap, and structural films
- ✓Worn-out shoes, rags, and typical household garbage
Blue Bin (Recycling)
Items must be placed into the blue container loose and completely unbagged. Rinsing food containers clean and dry prevents structural damage to recyclable paper lots.
Accepted Items
- ✓Clean glass bottles and jars (all colors)
- ✓Aluminum beverage cans and tin soup cans
- ✓Rigid plastic containers and jugs labeled #1 through #7
- ✓Flattened cardboard shipping boxes and clean paperboard
- ✓Newspapers, magazines, flyers, and white office paper
Do NOT Include
- ✕Loose plastic shopping sacks or stretch wraps
- ✕Polystyrene foam blocks and packaging cups
- ✕Loose shredded paper fragments
- ✕Food-contaminated pizza boxes or greasy grease sheets
- ✕Electronic waste parts and small consumer batteries
Yard Waste Bin
Organic waste must be deposited loose directly into the green container. Do not bundle garden limbs with metallic wire or synthetic ropes, as they damage processing shredders.
Accepted Items
- ✓Fresh lawn clippings and organic thatch
- ✓Dry garden leaves, shrub prunings, and flowers
- ✓Small tree branches under 4 inches thick and 4 feet long
- ✓Household food leftovers, vegetable stems, and coffee grounds
- ✓Meat scraps, bones, and dairy scraps
Bulky Item Pickup
Frequency
2 pickups per calendar year
Placement
Items must be positioned neatly at the street curb edge by 6:00 AM on your confirmed appointment date. Ensure items do not block active roadway traffic or pedestrian access.
Accepted
- ✓ Large home furniture (sofas, mattresses, tables)
- ✓ Major household appliances (refrigerators with doors taped securely)
- ✓ Consumer electronic waste (television sets, computers)
- ✓ Lawnmowers and yard equipment (gasoline and motor oil drained completely)
Not Accepted
- ✕ Liquid chemicals and commercial hazardous materials
- ✕ Automotive tires, heavy vehicle components, and batteries
- ✕ Loose unbundled renovation demolition debris (concrete, bricks, dirt)
- ✕ Standard household garbage bags stacked loosely
Once a household exhausts their two free annual allocations, additional oversized items can be scheduled directly through the franchise hauler for an extra service fee.
Holiday Schedule
General Rule
When a major observed holiday occurs on a scheduled weekday, the collection route for that day and all remaining pickup days for that week will be delayed by exactly one business day. Normal Friday routing adjustments are serviced on Saturday.
Yard Waste Exception
Green organic waste collections follow the exact same delayed timeline as standard trash and recycling bins during holiday operational cycles.
If an official holiday falls naturally on a Saturday or Sunday, standard Monday through Friday residential collection loops continue without any service delays.
Observed Holidays
Seasonal Information
Summer Heat Organic Odor Management
June to SeptemberHigh Central Valley summer temperatures accelerate organic breakdown, causing heavy odors. To manage flies and pests, consider layering kitchen scraps under dry lawn trimmings and keeping your container lids sealed tight.
Autumn Leaf Fall Collections
October to DecemberDuring peak yard maintenance season, ensure extended tree branches do not protrude past the container rim. Materials must be completely contained inside the cart for automated arm functionality.
Post-Holiday Tree Recycling
December to JanuaryNatural Christmas trees are collected curbside starting December 26 for two weeks. Residents must strip away all tinsel, stands, lights, and ornaments. Trees exceeding 6 feet must be sawn completely in half.
Local Tips & Community Info
Navigating Kern County Solid Waste Collection
Because Oildale operates as an unincorporated community, residential trash services fall under the jurisdiction of Kern County Public Works and its locally franchised haulers. Whether your specific street is serviced by Howard's Garbage Service or another contracted company, collection day protocols remain consistent. Trash, recycling, and organic carts must be wheeled to the curb by 6:00 a.m. to ensure they are not missed by the early morning routes. After the automated trucks empty your receptacles, county regulations require that you remove the carts from the public right-of-way within a 24-hour window.
Sorting Your Blue Cart Recyclables Properly
Kern County places a strong emphasis on reducing landfill dependency, making proper use of your blue recycling bin essential. Residents should exclusively deposit rinsed plastic containers, aluminum cans, steel tins, clean paper, and flattened corrugated cardboard. A critical rule to remember is that recyclables should never be bagged. Plastic grocery bags and film wrap tangle the sorting mechanisms at the local material recovery facilities. Items like glass windows, mirrors, ceramics, and heavily soiled pizza boxes are also prohibited from the blue container.
State-Mandated Organics and Food Scraps Program
In accordance with California’s SB 1383 legislation, Oildale households must actively participate in organic waste diversion. Your green bin is dedicated entirely to compostable materials. This includes traditional yard debris like grass clippings, leaves, and small pruning branches, but it now strictly requires the addition of kitchen food scraps. Residents must scrape their plates directly into the green cart, disposing of meat bones, dairy products, fruit rinds, and coffee grounds alongside their yard waste to help the county produce natural mulch and reduce methane emissions.
Bulky Item Disposal and Landfill Drop-Offs
Leaving an old sofa or a broken refrigerator on the side of the road is considered illegal dumping and carries severe fines in Kern County. Instead of abandoning large household items, Oildale residents can contact their specific franchise hauler to inquire about curbside bulky item pickups. Alternatively, individuals who prefer to transport their own waste can utilize the Bena Landfill or the Shafter-Wasco Landfill. Tarping your load is mandatory when driving to these county facilities to prevent roadside littering along the highways.
Spacing Your Receptacles for Automated Trucks
The mechanical arms on modern sanitation vehicles require clearance to grasp and lift heavy carts without tipping them over. When setting your bins out for collection, you must leave a minimum of three feet of space between the trash, recycling, and green waste carts. Furthermore, position the bins at least four feet away from any physical obstructions like parked cars, fire hydrants, or utility poles. The handles should always face your house, ensuring the lid opens toward the street for seamless dumping.
Household Hazardous Waste and E-Waste Guidelines
Flammable liquids, automotive fluids, and old electronics pose significant safety hazards if they end up in the standard refuse collection. Kern County provides special drop-off events and permanent facilities where Oildale residents can safely relinquish household hazardous waste. Items such as old paint, pesticides, lithium-ion batteries, and motor oil should be taken directly to the Kern County Special Waste Facility on East Roberts Lane. Proper disposal protects both the local sanitation workers and the surrounding San Joaquin Valley environment.
Drop-off Facilities
Oildale Transfer Station (Roberts Lane Transfer Station)
1900 Roberts Ln, Bakersfield, CA 93308
Materials Accepted
Kern County Special Waste Facility (Hazardous Waste)
4951 Standard St, Bakersfield, CA 93308
Materials Accepted
Frequently Asked Questions
Who provides residential trash pickup services in Oildale?
Because Oildale is an unincorporated area within Kern County, waste management is overseen by the Kern County Public Works Department. Curbside services are fulfilled via a county franchise agreement by Superior Sanitation Services, which is operated by Burrtec Waste Industries.
Where can Oildale residents safely discard hazardous household items like old paint and motor oil?
Hazardous household products are strictly barred from regular curbside bins. Oildale residents can drop off these materials for free safe disposal at the Kern County Special Waste Facility, located nearby at 4951 Standard Street, open Tuesday through Saturday.
Can I self-haul extra trash bags if my weekly bins are completely full?
Yes. Oildale residents can self-haul residential household waste, clean cardboard, and extra green waste directly to the Roberts Lane Transfer Station located at 1900 Roberts Lane. This facility accepts residential drop-offs daily from 8:00 AM to 4:00 PM.
How do I request a replacement if one of my curbside carts breaks?
If your rolling container suffers damage such as broken wheels or a cracked lid, you should contact Kern County Solid Waste Division at 661-862-8900 or reach out to Burrtec/Superior Sanitation to arrange a container repair or replacement.