Gray Cart Bin (Trash)
All regular garbage should be bagged before being placed in the gray cart. Carts must be set out before 5:00 a.m. on your designated collection day with lids fully closed.
Accepted Items
- ✓Standard household garbage
- ✓Treated or painted wood
- ✓Diapers and pet waste
- ✓Polystyrene foam (Styrofoam)
- ✓Plastic bags and film wrappers
Blue Cart Bin (Recycling)
Do not bag your recyclables. All items must be completely emptied, lightly rinsed, and placed loosely inside the blue cart.
Accepted Items
- ✓Clean cardboard and paperboard
- ✓Aluminum and tin cans
- ✓Glass bottles and jars (all colors)
- ✓Junk mail, magazines, and newspaper
- ✓Rigid plastic bottles, jugs, and tubs
Do NOT Include
- ✕Plastic grocery bags
- ✕Food-contaminated paper
- ✕Ceramics or window glass
- ✕Styrofoam packing peanuts
Green Cart Bin (Yard Waste)
Place organic material loosely inside the green cart. Do not use plastic bags. Per city ordinance, all food waste must be placed in this bin, not the trash.
Accepted Items
- ✓Grass clippings and weeds
- ✓Leaves, branches, and twigs
- ✓Food scraps (meat, dairy, vegetables)
- ✓Food-soiled paper products
Bulky Item Pickup
Frequency
On-demand (Fee-based for City of Oroville residents)
Placement
Place accepted bulky items at your normal service collection area before 5:00 a.m. on the day of service. Mattresses must be wrapped in plastic, and refrigerator doors must be removed.
Accepted
- ✓ Refrigerators and large appliances
- ✓ Televisions and electronic waste
- ✓ Tables, sofas, and furniture
- ✓ Rugs and carpets
- ✓ Tires
Not Accepted
- ✕ Hazardous or infectious waste
- ✕ Dirt, rock, concrete, or asphalt
- ✕ Sludge
- ✕ Items requiring special loading equipment
A travel fee and per-item charge apply for city residents. Appliances containing Freon (like refrigerators or AC units) will incur an additional processing fee.
Holiday Schedule
General Rule
Recology collection services continue uninterrupted on most holidays. However, there is no collection on 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 that week.
Yard Waste Exception
Organics and recycling collections follow the exact same one-day delay as the regular trash service during Christmas and New Year's weeks.
While curbside collection runs on most holidays, the Recology Transfer Station is closed to the public on Memorial Day, Independence Day, Labor Day, Thanksgiving, Christmas Day, and New Year's Day.
Observed Holidays
!Contamination Tips
Keep Plastic Bags Out of the Blue Cart
Never place plastic grocery bags, shrink wrap, or garbage bags in your recycling cart. They quickly wrap around the sorting gears at the recycling facility and cause costly machinery breakdowns.
Wrap Your Mattresses
If you are scheduling a bulky item pickup for an old mattress, Recology requires you to completely wrap the mattress in plastic before setting it at the curb for collection.
Proper E-Waste Disposal
Electronic waste like televisions, computers, and microwaves contains toxic heavy metals and is strictly prohibited in all curbside carts. Bring these items directly to the Oroville Transfer Station.
Seasonal Information
Winter
December - JanuaryFollowing the holidays, you can recycle your natural Christmas tree in your green compost cart. You must remove all tinsel, lights, and stands, and cut the tree down so it fits entirely inside the cart with the lid closed.
Spring
March - MayDuring heavy spring landscaping, remember that large amounts of yard debris that do not fit in your green cart can be taken to the green waste drop-off area at the local transfer station for proper composting.
Summer
June - AugustOroville summers can be hot, causing food scraps in your green organics cart to smell quickly. Freeze your meat and dairy scraps in a reusable container until the morning of your collection day to minimize odors and deter pests.
About Oroville Waste Management
Comprehensive Waste Management by Recology
In the City of Oroville, residential solid waste is exclusively managed by Recology Butte Colusa Counties. This franchise agreement provides single-family homes with a standard color-coded three-cart system for garbage, recycling, and organics, ensuring that the local community meets California's strict environmental and waste diversion goals.
Strict SB 1383 Organics Compliance
To combat greenhouse gas emissions and comply with California's SB 1383 mandate, the City of Oroville has firmly integrated organic waste recycling into its residential curbside services. Residents are now required to place all food scraps, including meat, dairy, and vegetable peelings, directly into their green yard waste container. The city strictly monitors this requirement, and failing to properly sort organic waste out of the landfill cart can lead to local fines.
In-Town Transfer Station Access
A major convenience for Oroville locals is the Recology Butte Colusa Counties Transfer Station located right in town on South Fifth Avenue. This facility provides a local drop-off point where residents can self-haul construction debris, excess yard trimmings, and bulky items for a fee. Crucially, it also hosts the area's primary Household Hazardous Waste (HHW) drop-off program on the first and third Fridays of every month.
Bulky Item Collection Policies
When it comes to large home cleanouts, the curbside rules in Oroville differ from the surrounding unincorporated county areas. Households located strictly within Oroville city limits must pay a travel fee plus a per-item charge to schedule a curbside bulky waste collection through Recology. Because of this fee structure, many locals choose to save money by self-hauling their old furniture and appliances directly to the local transfer station.
Drop-off Facilities
Recology Butte Colusa Counties Transfer Station & Office
2720 South 5th Avenue, Oroville, CA 95965
Materials Accepted
Household Hazardous Waste Facility (At the Transfer Station)
2720 South 5th Avenue, Oroville, CA 95965
Materials Accepted
Frequently Asked Questions
Is my trash pickup delayed on Thanksgiving in Oroville?
No. Recology Butte Colusa Counties drivers work on Thanksgiving Day, so your curbside collection will happen on your normal scheduled day. The only holidays that cause a one-day delay are Christmas Day and New Year's Day.
Am I required to separate my food waste in Oroville?
Yes. Under California's SB 1383 law and local city ordinances, all Oroville residents must place organic food scraps (including meat, bones, and vegetables) into their green yard waste cart instead of the regular garbage.
Does Oroville offer free bulky item pickups?
If you live strictly within the Oroville city limits, bulky item pickups through Recology are fee-based, requiring a travel fee and a per-item charge. However, if you live in the surrounding unincorporated Butte County, you may qualify for free bulky item disposals.
Where can I drop off hazardous chemicals or old paint?
You can bring household hazardous waste to the Recology Transfer Station on South 5th Avenue, which operates a specialized HHW drop-off facility exclusively on the first and third Fridays of every month from 9:00 AM to 2:00 PM.