Weekly Collection Schedule
Official municipal pickup timing for Petaluma
Trash Day
Curbside trash is collected once per week, Monday through Friday, depending on your neighborhood zone.
Recycling
Recycling is collected weekly on the same day as trash collection.
Yard Waste
Organics and yard waste (green cart) are collected weekly on the same day as trash collection.
Set Out Time
By 6:00 AM on collection day
Utility Billing & Payments
Manage your local solid waste services
Waste collection services in Petaluma are contracted through Recology Sonoma Marin and billed directly based on your trash cart size. Each household is also eligible for two free bulky item pickups per year.
Billing Cycle
Monthly
Accepted Methods
Online, Auto-Pay, Phone, Mail
Pro Tip / Discount
The Recology Cares program offers a 25% discount on basic residential service for low-income households participating in the PG&E CARE program.
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
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.
Local Tips & Community Info
Petaluma's Partnership with Recology Sonoma Marin
As part of Sonoma County's broader sustainability initiatives, Petaluma partners with Recology Sonoma Marin to handle all residential solid waste removal. Homeowners and renters alike are issued a standard trio of receptacles: one for landfill garbage, one for mixed recyclables, and one for compostable organics. This streamlined three-tier approach is designed to drastically lower the volume of refuse sent to local landfills while supporting regional environmental goals. If a resident needs to alter their subscription level, request a different cart size, or report a damaged container, they must reach out to the Recology customer service desk directly.
Curbside Etiquette and Set-Out Times
When collection day arrives, proper bin placement ensures the automated trucks can service your street efficiently and safely. You must position your receptacles along the gutter by 6:00 a.m. at the absolute latest, though placing them out the night before is generally recommended. Ensure a minimum three-foot buffer zone exists between each bin, as well as away from parked cars, low-hanging tree branches, and mailboxes. The arrows on the cart lids should point directly toward the center of the road. Following local municipal codes, empty bins should be pulled back onto your property within 24 hours of collection.
Composting Rules for Sonoma County Residents
Sonoma County takes organic waste processing very seriously. The green yard waste container is the designated destination for all biodegradable materials under state mandates. This encompasses garden debris like twigs, leaves, and lawn clippings, alongside all household food scraps. Petaluma residents can toss dairy products, bones, coffee filters, and food-soiled paper directly into this bin. It is strictly forbidden to use petroleum-based plastic bags to corral your kitchen scraps, as they completely disrupt the commercial composting ecosystem. Use BPI-certified compostable bags or simply wrap the scraps in old newspaper instead.
What Goes in the Blue Recycling Container?
Navigating the recycling landscape requires attention to detail to avoid contaminating the batch. Petaluma’s blue cart accepts clean paperboard, aluminum cans, glass bottles, and rigid plastic containers holding a #1 through #7 resin code. You must ensure that all food residue is rinsed out before these items are tossed inside. Soft plastics, such as grocery bags, bubble wrap, and plastic cling film, are infamous for jamming the mechanical sorters at the recycling plant and must be excluded. When in doubt about a specific item, the 'What Bin' search tool on the Recology website provides instant categorization guidance.
Disposing of Large Furniture and Appliances
Got an old sofa, a broken washing machine, or a pile of bulky junk? Recology provides Petaluma dwellers with scheduled bulky item pickups, allowing you to dispose of oversized goods without renting a truck or visiting the transfer station. Every residential account is eligible for a designated number of free collections per year, subject to specific volume limits. To utilize this benefit, you have to contact Recology in advance to secure a spot on their route schedule. Leaving massive items on the sidewalk unannounced is considered illegal dumping and can result in citations from local code enforcement.
Garbage Collection During the Holidays
During major federal holidays like Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Year's Day, standard collection routes are adjusted to give sanitation workers time with their families. If your scheduled pickup day falls on or after one of these observed holidays, your service will be pushed back by exactly 24 hours for the remainder of that week. For example, Wednesday collections will occur on Thursday, and Friday routes will be completed on Saturday. During the month of January, Petaluma also rolls out a robust tree recycling initiative, allowing you to leave bare, un-flocked holiday trees next to your green bin for mulching.
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.