Black or Gray Bin (Trash)
All regular garbage must fit inside the cart with the lid completely closed. Do not pack dirt, rocks, or hot ashes. Place at the curb by 6:00 a.m. on your collection day.
Accepted Items
- ✓Plastic clamshell containers and berry boxes
- ✓Yogurt, sour cream, and butter tubs
- ✓Milk, juice, and soup cartons
- ✓Styrofoam packing materials and cups
- ✓Plastic bags, wrappers, and film
- ✓Diapers and pet waste
Blue Bin (Recycling)
All recyclables must be completely empty, clean, and dry. Do not bag your recyclables in plastic bags; place them loosely in the blue cart.
Accepted Items
- ✓Glass bottles and jars
- ✓Plastic bottles and milk/detergent jugs
- ✓Clean aluminum and tin cans
- ✓Office paper, junk mail, and magazines
- ✓Flattened cardboard and cereal boxes (liners removed)
Do NOT Include
- ✕Plastic bags or shrink wrap
- ✕Clamshell containers or yogurt cups
- ✕Pizza boxes or food-soiled paper
- ✕Milk or juice cartons
- ✕Styrofoam
Yard Waste Bin
Place organic materials directly into the green cart. Do not use plastic bags or 'compostable' bioplastics. Treated wood, dirt, and pet waste are strictly prohibited.
Accepted Items
- ✓Food scraps (meat, bones, dairy, bread, veggies)
- ✓Food-soiled paper and plate scrapings
- ✓Grass clippings and leaves
- ✓Tree trimmings, weeds, and small branches
Bulky Item Pickup
Frequency
On-demand, fee-based service.
Placement
Do not set bulky items at the curb without scheduling a pickup first. Items must be placed curbside by 6:00 a.m. on the agreed-upon collection day.
Accepted
- ✓ Furniture (couches, chairs, tables)
- ✓ Mattresses and box springs
- ✓ Large appliances (refrigerators, washers)
- ✓ Excess yard waste or bulky household items
Not Accepted
- ✕ Household hazardous waste (paint, oil, chemicals)
- ✕ Automotive parts and tires (curbside)
- ✕ Construction and demolition debris
- ✕ Dirt, concrete, or rocks
Curbside collection requires a fee. Alternatively, residents can self-haul bulky items to the Transfer Station on Abernathy Lane, where standard gate fees apply.
Holiday Schedule
General Rule
If an observed holiday falls on a weekday, residential collection services for the remainder of that week will be delayed by one day (e.g., Thursday pickups move to Friday).
Yard Waste Exception
Green waste and recycling carts follow the exact same holiday delay schedule as the regular garbage collection.
Download the 'City of Redding Solid Waste' app to receive automatic push notifications confirming if your specific route is delayed.
Observed Holidays
!Contamination Tips
Skip the Clamshells and Yogurt Cups
In Redding, curbside plastic recycling is generally limited to bottles and jugs (like water bottles or laundry detergent). Plastic clamshells, yogurt cups, and microwave meal trays are not accepted in the blue bin and must be thrown in the trash.
Plastic Bags Jam the MRF
Never place your recyclables in plastic garbage bags or toss loose grocery bags into the blue cart. Plastic film gets tangled in the gears of the Material Recovery Facility, causing costly delays. Take clean plastic bags back to the grocery store for recycling.
Cartons Go in the Trash
Wax-coated or foil-lined cartons used for milk, juice, soup, and ice cream cannot be recycled in Redding's blue bins. These composite materials are difficult to separate and must be placed in your regular garbage cart.
Seasonal Information
Winter
Late December to JanuaryHoliday trees can typically be recycled if they are stripped of all ornaments, lights, tinsel, and stands. Flocked trees cannot be composted and must be disposed of as regular trash. Check the Solid Waste app for exact drop-off or curbside dates.
Summer
June to SeptemberTo prevent odors and deter pests in your green organics cart during the hot Redding summers, consider keeping food scraps in a container in your freezer during the week and emptying them into the green cart the night before collection.
About Redding Waste Management
The City of Redding Solid Waste App
Keeping track of your collection day and holiday delays has never been easier in Redding. The city offers a highly rated, dedicated 'City of Redding Solid Waste' mobile app available on both iOS and Android. Residents can use the app to view their personalized calendar, set up custom push notifications for the night before collection, and access a comprehensive 'Waste Wizard' search tool to find out exactly which cart an item belongs in.
Shifting to SB 1383 Organics Compliance
To comply with California's SB 1383 mandate to reduce short-lived climate pollutants, the City of Redding is transforming its traditional yard waste program into a comprehensive organics and composting operation. Residents are required to place all household food scraps—including plate scrapings, meat, bones, and spoiled produce—directly into their green waste carts alongside leaves and grass clippings to divert methane-producing materials from the landfill.
Manual Sorting at the Redding MRF
All materials placed in Redding's blue recycling bins are transported to the local Materials Recovery Facility (MRF) at the Transfer Station on Abernathy Lane. Because the sorting is done largely by hand along a conveyor belt, it is critical that residents only place clean, acceptable items in the blue cart. Including prohibited items like dirty diapers, plastic bags, or sharp metals directly endangers the sanitation workers manually culling the materials.
The West Central Landfill & Transfer Station
The City of Redding Solid Waste Utility operates both the local Transfer Station and the West Central Landfill (owned by Shasta County). These facilities provide crucial drop-off points for items that cannot be collected at the curb. Residents can safely dispose of household hazardous waste, electronic waste, and used motor oil, and can also take advantage of a limited free mattress recycling program to keep bulky items off the streets.
Drop-off Facilities
City of Redding Transfer Station & Material Recovery Facility (MRF)
2255 Abernathy Lane, Redding, CA 96001
Materials Accepted
West Central Landfill
14095 Clear Creek Road, Igo, CA 96047
Materials Accepted
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I know if my garbage pickup is delayed for a holiday in Redding?
The easiest way to check for holiday delays is to download the free 'City of Redding Solid Waste' app on your smartphone. It provides personalized push notifications reminding you to take your carts out and alerts you if service is delayed due to a holiday like Thanksgiving or Christmas.
Can I put yogurt cups or plastic clamshells in my blue recycling bin?
No. In Redding, curbside recycling is generally limited to plastic bottles and jugs (like water bottles or laundry detergent jugs). Clamshell containers, yogurt cups, and microwave meal trays cannot be recycled at the local manual-sort MRF and must be thrown in the black trash cart.
What goes in the green cart under the new state laws?
To comply with California's SB 1383, the green cart is no longer just for yard trimmings. Residents must place all organic waste—including food scraps like meat, dairy, vegetables, plate scrapings, and food-soiled paper—directly into the green cart to be composted.
Where can I dispose of an old mattress in Redding?
You can call the Solid Waste Utility to schedule a curbside bulky item pickup for a fee, or you can haul it yourself to the City of Redding Transfer Station on Abernathy Lane, which accepts limited mattresses for free recycling under state stewardship programs.