Gray Cart Bin (Trash)
All standard garbage must be bagged before being tossed into the gray cart. Carts must be set out at the curb by 5:00 a.m. on collection day or the night before.
Accepted Items
- ✓Diapers and bagged pet waste
- ✓Mylar (shiny metal) bags like chip bags
- ✓Palm fronds
- ✓Broken glass (must be inside a double brown paper bag)
- ✓Biodegradable and compostable plastics
Split Cart (Black & Blue Lids) Bin (Recycling)
Do not bag your recyclables. You must use the split compartments correctly: place paper/cardboard in the black-lidded side, and glass/plastic/metal in the blue-lidded side.
Accepted Items
- ✓Paper and small cardboard (Black Lid side)
- ✓Aluminum and steel cans (Blue Lid side)
- ✓Glass bottles and jars (Blue Lid side)
- ✓Rigid plastic bottles, tubs, and jugs (Blue Lid side)
Do NOT Include
- ✕Plastic bags or shrink film
- ✕Food waste
- ✕Styrofoam (Polystyrene)
- ✕Ceramic dishware or glassware
Green Cart Bin (Yard Waste)
Place organic materials loosely inside the green cart. Absolutely no plastic bags or 'compostable' plastic liners can be used to contain your food waste.
Accepted Items
- ✓Food scraps (meat, dairy, vegetables, bones)
- ✓Grass clippings and autumn leaves
- ✓Tree trimmings (under 8 inches in diameter)
- ✓Food-soiled paper (pizza boxes, dirty napkins, coffee filters)
Bulky Item Pickup
Frequency
On-demand via Recology Yuba-Sutter.
Placement
Place your scheduled bulky items at the curb by 5:00 a.m. on the assigned pickup day, keeping them completely clear of parked vehicles, mailboxes, and your regular collection carts.
Accepted
- ✓ Old household furniture
- ✓ Mattresses and box springs
- ✓ Large appliances (refrigerators, washers)
- ✓ Electronic waste (TVs, computer monitors)
Not Accepted
- ✕ Household hazardous waste (paint, chemicals)
- ✕ Construction and demolition debris
- ✕ Dirt, concrete, or heavy stone
- ✕ Explosives, ammunition, or automotive fluids
Contact Recology Yuba-Sutter directly to verify your annual allotment of free bulky item pickups under your specific residential property tier.
Holiday Schedule
General Rule
Recology Yuba-Sutter collects residential waste on ALL major holidays. There are absolutely no service delays for your curbside pickup on any holiday.
Yard Waste Exception
Yard waste and recycling are collected on their normal alternating schedules alongside the trash, even if it falls on a major holiday.
Because drivers have extra assistance and finish routes earlier on holidays, you must place your carts at the curb the night before. Note that while neighborhood curbside collection continues normally, the transfer station and local customer service offices are closed on Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Year's Day.
Observed Holidays
!Contamination Tips
Plastic Bags are the Biggest Offender
Never place plastic grocery bags or garbage bags in the split recycling cart. They quickly wrap around the sorting gears at the Yuba-Sutter Materials Recovery Facility (MRF), causing machinery to break down and turning your good recyclables into landfill waste.
Palm Fronds Belong in the Garbage
Unlike standard tree branches and leaves, palm fronds are exceptionally fibrous and stringy. They will easily tangle and destroy the heavy composting equipment at Ostrom Organics, so they must always be thrown directly into your gray garbage cart.
Beware of 'Biodegradable' Plastics
Forks, cups, and bags marketed as 'biodegradable' or 'compostable' plastic are not accepted in the green organics bin. They do not break down fast enough in local commercial composters and must be treated as regular trash in the gray cart.
Seasonal Information
Winter
December - JanuaryFollowing the holidays, you can recycle your natural Christmas tree right in your green organics cart. Ensure you remove all tinsel, lights, and the stand, and cut the tree into multiple smaller pieces so it fits loosely inside with the lid completely closed.
Spring
March - MayDuring heavy spring yard cleanups, remember that branches thicker than 8 inches in diameter cannot go in the green cart. Large brush piles must be scheduled for a bulky waste pickup or taken directly to the Ponderosa Transfer Station.
Summer
June - AugustCentral Valley summers in Olivehurst bring triple-digit heat. To prevent foul odors and maggots in your organics cart, freeze your meat and dairy scraps in a reusable kitchen container until the night before your scheduled collection day.
About Olivehurst Waste Management
Yuba County's Recology Services
Olivehurst is a bustling unincorporated community in Yuba County, where residential solid waste is exclusively managed by Recology Yuba-Sutter. The local franchise provides a comprehensive three-cart system encompassing garbage, recycling, and organics collection, all geared toward helping the region meet its long-term zero-waste sustainability goals.
The Unique Split Recycling Cart System
One of the most distinct and recognizable features of Olivehurst's waste program is the dual-compartment recycling cart. Unlike single-stream bins found in most cities, this cart is physically divided. Residents must place paper and small cardboard pieces into the compartment with the black lid, while clean rigid plastics, aluminum, steel cans, and glass bottles go into the side with the blue lid. This split-stream process significantly reduces material contamination at the local recovery facility.
No Collection Delays for Major Holidays
In a rare departure from standard industry practices, Recology Yuba-Sutter drivers work on all major holidays. This means your curbside collection day in Olivehurst will never be delayed due to a holiday. However, because drivers often have extra assistance and finish their routes much earlier on these days, the hauler strongly advises residents to set their carts at the curb the night before the holiday.
SB 1383 Organics and Food Scraps Collection
To strictly comply with California's SB 1383 mandate, Olivehurst residents must place all organic materials—including meat bones, eggshells, vegetable peelings, and food-soiled paper—into the green organics bin. Keep in mind that products heavily marketed as 'biodegradable' or 'compostable' plastics are strictly prohibited in the green cart, as they do not properly break down in the regional Ostrom Organics facility.
E-Waste and Curbside Bulky Item Collection
For large house cleanouts, Recology allows Olivehurst residents to schedule dedicated bulky item pickups directly from their curb, which can include large appliances and furniture. Additionally, harmful electronic waste like old televisions, computer monitors, cell phones, and fluorescent lamps can be safely dropped off for free at the nearby Yuba-Sutter Household Hazardous Waste Collection Facility.
Drop-off Facilities
Yuba-Sutter Transfer Station & MRF
3001 N Levee Rd, Marysville, CA 95901
Materials Accepted
Yuba-Sutter Household Hazardous Waste Facility
134 Burns Drive, Yuba City, CA 95991
Materials Accepted
Ostrom Road Landfill
5900 Ostrom Road, Wheatland, CA 95692
Materials Accepted
Frequently Asked Questions
How does the split recycling cart work in Olivehurst?
Recology Yuba-Sutter uses a unique dual-compartment cart for residential recycling. To properly sort your items, you must place paper and small cardboard pieces in the side with the black lid, and place clean plastic, aluminum, metal cans, and glass bottles in the side with the blue lid.
Will my trash pickup be delayed on holidays like Thanksgiving or Christmas?
No. Recology Yuba-Sutter drivers work on all major holidays, meaning your scheduled pickup day will never be delayed. However, you should definitely put your carts out the night before, as drivers often have extra help and finish their routes much earlier on holidays.
Can I put compostable plastic bags in my green waste cart?
No. Any cups, bags, or utensils labeled 'biodegradable' or 'compostable' plastic are strictly prohibited in the green organics cart because they do not break down efficiently at the local Ostrom Organics facility. You must throw them in your gray garbage cart instead.
Where can I safely dispose of old batteries and fluorescent light bulbs in Yuba County?
Do not put batteries or fluorescent bulbs in any of your curbside carts, as they pose a serious fire and chemical hazard. Olivehurst residents can drop these universal waste items off for free at the Yuba-Sutter Household Hazardous Waste Facility in Yuba City.