Weekly Collection Schedule
Official municipal pickup timing for Rancho Cordova
Trash Day
Monday through Friday, assigned by neighborhood zone
Recycling
Every other week on your assigned trash collection day
Yard Waste
Weekly on your assigned trash collection day
Set Out Time
By 6:00 AM on collection day
Utility Billing & Payments
Manage your local solid waste services
Residential trash, recycling, and organic waste services are contracted through Atlas Disposal. Households are eligible for up to three free bulky item pickups each year.
Billing Cycle
Monthly
Accepted Methods
Online, Auto-Pay, Phone, Mail, In Person
Brown or Black Bin (Trash)
All waste must be contained within the cart with the lid completely closed. Carts must be placed on the street by 6:00 AM on collection day, positioned 3 feet apart and 6 feet from parked cars.
Accepted Items
- ✓Regular household garbage
- ✓Bagged animal waste
- ✓Diapers
- ✓Heavily soiled paper
- ✓Non-recyclable plastics
- ✓Treated wood
- ✓Styrofoam
Blue Bin (Recycling)
Recyclables are collected every other week. Items must be kept loose; do not bag your recyclables. Clean all food residue from containers.
Accepted Items
- ✓Flattened cardboard (can also be placed next to the cart)
- ✓Clean paper and junk mail
- ✓Glass bottles and jars
- ✓Aluminum and tin cans
- ✓Clean rigid plastics
Do NOT Include
- ✕Plastic bags
- ✕Food waste
- ✕Yard clippings
- ✕Tanglers (cords, hoses)
- ✕Batteries
Yard Waste Bin
Organics are collected weekly. Food waste may be placed in compostable bags, but do not use standard plastic bags. Up to 4 additional 30-gallon bags of leaves may be placed next to the cart.
Accepted Items
- ✓Food scraps and plate scrapings
- ✓Yard trimmings and grass clippings
- ✓Leaves and branches
- ✓Food-soiled paper
- ✓Coffee grounds
Bulky Item Pickup
Frequency
3 free pickups per calendar year
Placement
Do not place items out without an appointment. Schedule via the Atlas Disposal app or by calling (916) 288-2800. Place materials neatly on the curb by 6:00 AM on your scheduled day.
Accepted
- ✓ Furniture (sofas, mattresses, chairs)
- ✓ Large household appliances
- ✓ Electronic waste (TVs, computers)
- ✓ Large tree branches and storm debris
Not Accepted
- ✕ Hazardous waste (chemicals, wet paint)
- ✕ Dirt, concrete, rocks, or asphalt
- ✕ Construction and demolition debris
- ✕ Automotive parts
The first 3 collections (up to 10 cubic yards each) are free for residential customers. Additional collections or volumes exceeding the limit will incur fees.
Holiday Schedule
General Rule
If your scheduled collection day falls on or after an observed holiday, your pickup will be delayed by one day for the remainder of that week.
Yard Waste Exception
Organics and recycling collections follow the exact same holiday delay schedule as standard garbage.
If a holiday falls on a weekend, there is typically no disruption to the Monday through Friday collection schedule.
Observed Holidays
Seasonal Information
Winter
November - DecemberTo handle heavy fall/winter foliage, residential street sweeping increases from once a month to twice a month during November and December. Remember to keep green waste in your green cart, not swept into the street gutters.
Winter
December - JanuaryHoliday trees are collected curbside. Remove all ornaments, tinsel, lights, and stands. Flocked trees are generally treated as trash. Cut large trees into manageable sections if they exceed standard lengths.
Local Tips & Community Info
Residential Solid Waste Operations in Rancho Cordova
Homeowners in Rancho Cordova benefit from a comprehensive refuse franchise agreement with Republic Services. This partnership facilitates reliable curbside hauling for standard garbage, mixed recyclables, and green waste across the community. Because keeping the streets adjacent to the American River Parkway pristine is a high priority, all households are required to adhere to the designated sorting and bin placement protocols. Staying informed about your neighborhood's specific pickup rotation helps streamline neighborhood sanitation efforts and prevents overflowing carts.
Cart Alignment and Street Placement Rules
To ensure automated trucks can safely lift and empty your containers, exact street placement is required on your service day. All carts must be rolled to the gutter by 6:00 a.m. with the metal lift bar facing the roadway and the wheels resting against the curb. Give each bin a three-foot clearance on all sides, keeping them far away from parked vehicles, basketball hoops, and low-hanging tree branches. Lids must remain entirely flat to avoid spilling debris into the street. Bins should be stored out of public view on non-service days.
Sorting Food Scraps and Yard Debris
California's state composting mandates have transformed how locals handle organic materials. Your green organics cart is no longer just for leaves, twigs, and grass clippings. It is now the mandatory destination for all kitchen food scraps, including meat, dairy, coffee grounds, and soiled paper napkins. Residents are encouraged to use a countertop caddy to gather daily scraps before dumping them directly into the outdoor green bin. Do not use plastic bags, even those labeled as biodegradable, as they disrupt the commercial composting facilities utilized by Republic Services.
Acceptable Dry Recyclables for the Blue Cart
The blue recycling container is reserved strictly for clean, dry, and unbagged materials. You can confidently toss in flattened cardboard boxes, paper mail, aluminum cans, and empty plastic jugs. Rinsing out food residue from jars and bottles is a critical step, as leftover liquids can contaminate an entire truckload of paper products. Tanglers, such as garden hoses, electrical cords, and thin plastic grocery bags, are strictly banned from the blue cart because they jam the gears at the local material recovery facility.
Scheduling Large Item Removals
Getting rid of old appliances, broken furniture, or large piles of yard pruning is simple thanks to the city's bulky waste program. Republic Services provides Rancho Cordova residents with up to three complimentary bulky item collection appointments per calendar year. Instead of paying landfill dump fees, you can call their customer service center to lock in a pickup date. Acceptable items include couches, mattresses, and bundled branches, but hazardous materials like wet paint, motor oil, and car batteries will be rejected at the curb.
Weather Impacts and Holiday Disruptions
While local trash collection happens rain or shine, severe weather events or national holidays can alter the usual routine. Republic Services observes key holidays, including Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Year's Day. If a recognized holiday lands on a weekday, all subsequent collections for that week are pushed back by one day, culminating in Saturday pickups for Friday routes. During heavy Sacramento Valley windstorms, residents are advised to weigh down their cart lids and hold off on placing lightweight recyclables at the curb until the morning of service.
Drop-off Facilities
Atlas Disposal Compost Pickup Facility
11361 White Rock Road, Rancho Cordova, CA
Materials Accepted
Kiefer Landfill & Special Waste Facility
12701 Kiefer Blvd, Sloughhouse, CA 95683
Materials Accepted
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I schedule a bulky item pickup in Rancho Cordova?
Rancho Cordova residents receive three free bulky item appointments per year (up to 10 cubic yards each). You can schedule a pickup by calling Atlas Disposal at (916) 288-2800 or by using the official Atlas Disposal smartphone app.
What are the rules for disposing of used motor oil at the curb?
You can recycle a maximum of three gallons of used motor oil per pickup. Place the oil in a clear plastic jug with the lid securely taped shut, and set it on the ground next to your blue or green cart. Do not place oil inside the carts.
Can I leave extra bags of leaves outside my green cart?
Yes. Atlas Disposal allows residents to place up to four extra 30-gallon bags filled strictly with leaves next to their green organics cart on their regular weekly collection day at no additional charge.
Where can Rancho Cordova residents get free compost?
Residents can receive up to three cubic yards of free compost per year. Bring proof of residency (like a driver's license or utility bill) to the Atlas Disposal facility at 11361 White Rock Road, Monday-Friday between 8:00 AM and 1:30 PM.