Gray Bin (Trash)
Place your cart at the curb by 6:00 a.m. on collection day. Keep at least two feet of distance between carts and avoid blocking bike lanes or parking in front of the bins.
Accepted Items
- ✓Mixed household garbage
- ✓Styrofoam (expanded polystyrene)
- ✓Diapers and sanitary products
- ✓Pet waste and kitty litter
- ✓Treated or painted wood
- ✓Broken ceramics and glassware
- ✓Snack wrappers and plastic film
Blue Bin (Recycling)
All recyclables must be placed loosely in the blue cart without being bagged. Ensure all beverage and food containers are empty and lightly rinsed.
Accepted Items
- ✓Plastics #1 through #7 (bottles, jugs, and tubs)
- ✓Clean paper, newspaper, and magazines
- ✓Flattened corrugated cardboard
- ✓Glass bottles and jars (all colors)
- ✓Aluminum and tin cans
Do NOT Include
- ✕Plastic grocery bags
- ✕Food waste and liquids
- ✕Styrofoam
- ✕Electronic waste
- ✕Tanglers (hoses, wires, clothing)
Yard Waste Bin
Do not use standard plastic bags. All organic waste must go directly into the green cart. Wrap food scraps in newspaper or an uncoated paper bag to minimize odors.
Accepted Items
- ✓Grass clippings, leaves, and weeds
- ✓Small branches and prunings
- ✓Meat, fish, poultry, and bones
- ✓Fruits, vegetables, and dairy products
- ✓Coffee grounds and paper filters
- ✓100% fiber-based food-soiled paper (pizza boxes)
Bulky Item Pickup
Frequency
Two free pickups per calendar year
Placement
You must call Recology at 800-243-0291 to schedule your free pickup. Small motors (like lawnmowers) must be fully drained of gas and oil before collection.
Accepted
- ✓ Refrigerators and freezers
- ✓ Couches, chairs, and mattresses
- ✓ Washers, dryers, and water heaters
- ✓ Bundled yard trimmings (under 3 feet long)
- ✓ Up to 7 bags or boxes of general refuse
Not Accepted
- ✕ Loose unbagged refuse
- ✕ Construction and demolition debris (cement, dirt, asphalt)
- ✕ Hazardous waste, paint, or chemicals
- ✕ Electronics (TVs, computers, stereos)
- ✕ Propane tanks and tires
The first two pickups are free. Items containing Freon incur a $67.40 environmental handling charge, regardless of whether it is a free or paid pickup appointment.
Holiday Schedule
General Rule
If your regular collection day falls on or after Thanksgiving Day, Christmas Day, or New Year's Day, your service will be delayed by one day for the remainder of that week (e.g., Thursday service moves to Friday).
Yard Waste Exception
This one-day delay applies to all residential carts, including trash, recycling, and organics.
For most other holidays like Independence Day or Labor Day, Recology Sonoma Marin typically maintains its regular collection schedule for Petaluma.
Observed Holidays
!Contamination Tips
Unbag Your Recyclables
Never bag your recyclables in standard plastic trash bags, and do not put loose plastic grocery bags in the blue cart. Plastic film wraps around the gears at the sorting facility, causing major equipment failures.
No Plastics in the Green Cart
Keep all plastics out of the green organics bin. Even bags marketed as 'compostable' or 'biodegradable' are often rejected by commercial composting facilities. Stick to paper bags or newspaper to wrap your messy food scraps.
Batteries Cause Truck Fires
Never toss batteries (especially lithium-ion) into your curbside carts. They are highly combustible when crushed in a garbage truck. Utilize the free HHW drop-off at the Central Landfill on Mecham Road instead.
Seasonal Information
Winter
November to FebruaryDuring heavy Northern California rainstorms, ensure the lids to all your carts are tightly closed. Saturated cardboard in the blue bin becomes heavy and unrecyclable, ultimately ending up in the landfill.
Summer
June to SeptemberTo reduce odors and prevent pests in your green organics cart during the warmer months, try keeping your meat and dairy food scraps in a container in the freezer until the night before your scheduled collection day.
About Petaluma Waste Management
Petaluma's Weekly Street Sweeping Schedule
In Petaluma, keeping the streets and storm drains clean is intrinsically tied to the refuse collection schedule. Recology coordinates street sweeping to occur exactly one day after your neighborhood’s normal trash pickup. If your garbage carts are serviced on Friday, the sweeper will come through on Monday. Residents must ensure their vehicles are moved off the street on sweep days so the equipment can properly capture stray debris and prevent it from entering local waterways.
Free Kitchen Pails for SB 1383 Compliance
To help Petaluma households adhere to California’s strict SB 1383 organic waste diversion mandates, Recology Sonoma Marin provides free kitchen countertop pails. These convenient containers make it incredibly easy to collect daily food scraps—including meat, dairy, bones, and coffee grounds—before transferring them to the outdoor green organics cart. Residents can pick up a free pail at the Recology Office on Dynamic Street or directly from Petaluma City Hall during normal business hours.
The Two-Part Curbside Bulky Item Program
Petaluma residents benefit from two complimentary bulky item pickups per calendar year, featuring a unique and highly generous structure. During a single scheduled appointment, households are permitted to set out one major appliance or piece of large furniture (like a sofa or mattress), plus up to seven tightly sealed bags, boxes, or cans of excess refuse. This combined approach allows residents to handle both large-item disposal and general garage cleanout overages simultaneously.
Managing Toxics at the Central Landfill
Keeping toxic materials out of the standard gray trash cart is vital for protecting Sonoma County’s groundwater. Fortunately, Petaluma is home to the regional Central Landfill located on Mecham Road. Building 5 at this site serves as the dedicated Household Hazardous Waste (HHW) drop-off point. Residents can safely dispose of old paint, motor oil, electronic waste, and pool chemicals completely free of charge every Thursday through Saturday.
Drop-off Facilities
Central Landfill & Household Hazardous Waste (HHW) Facility
500 Mecham Road, Petaluma, CA 94952
Materials Accepted
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I get a free kitchen compost pail in Petaluma?
Petaluma residents can pick up a free countertop kitchen pail to make composting food scraps easier. You can grab one at the Recology Office (1309 Dynamic St) or at Petaluma City Hall (11 English St). It is recommended to call ahead to confirm supply.
When does the street sweeper come to my neighborhood?
In Petaluma, street sweeping occurs weekly on the day immediately following your regular trash collection day. For example, if your trash is picked up on Friday, your street will be swept on Monday. Please remember to move your vehicles.
How do I schedule a free bulky item pickup for an old mattress?
Residents are allowed two free bulky item pickups per year. You can schedule by calling Recology customer service at 800-243-0291. You can set out one large item (like a mattress) plus up to seven bags of general refuse.
Where can I safely dispose of old paint, chemicals, and batteries?
Household hazardous waste cannot go in your curbside bins. Petaluma residents can utilize the free HHW drop-off program at the Central Landfill (500 Mecham Road, Building 5). The drop-off is open Thursday through Saturday from 7:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.