Black Bin (Trash)
Carts must be placed on the street in front of the home no later than 5:00 a.m. on collection day. Space carts 18 inches apart with lid openings facing the street. Lids must be closed completely.
Accepted Items
- ✓Standard household garbage
- ✓Aluminum and tin cans (in blue bags)
- ✓Glass bottles (in blue bags)
- ✓Plastic containers (in blue bags)
- ✓Styrofoam
- ✓Palm fronds
Blue Bags (placed inside the Black Can) Bin (Recycling)
Recyclables must be placed in a tied blue plastic bag and then tossed into the Black garbage can. Do not place anything other than acceptable recyclables inside the blue bags.
Accepted Items
- ✓Aluminum beverage cans
- ✓Bi-metal food and beverage cans
- ✓Glass bottles
- ✓Plastic bottles and containers
Do NOT Include
- ✕Paper and cardboard (these go in the Green can)
- ✕Yard waste
- ✕Household garbage
- ✕Hazardous waste
Yard Waste Bin
Do not put traditional plastic bags, dirt, rock, concrete, palm fronds, or animal waste in this bin. Food waste may be enclosed in a certified biodegradable bag before being placed in the Gray/Green can.
Accepted Items
- ✓Green materials and yard trimmings
- ✓Fiber (clean paper, newspaper, junk mail)
- ✓Cardboard boxes
- ✓Wood waste
- ✓Food scraps and food-soiled paper
- ✓Biodegradable bags (for food waste only)
Bulky Item Pickup
Frequency
2 Bulky Item Pickups and 4 E-Waste Pickups Annually
Placement
Call Gilton to schedule. Place items in the street at the curb no earlier than 6:00 p.m. the night before and no later than 6:00 a.m. on the scheduled day. Do not block sidewalks or mailboxes.
Accepted
- ✓ Refrigerators, washers, and dryers
- ✓ Couches, tables, and dressers
- ✓ Televisions and computer monitors (E-waste pickups)
- ✓ Water heaters and lawn mowers
- ✓ Mattresses and bed frames
Not Accepted
- ✕ Tires and automobile parts
- ✕ Bags or boxes of general trash
- ✕ Construction debris (concrete, asphalt, sheet rock)
- ✕ Pressure-treated wood or railroad ties
- ✕ Hazardous materials
These designated pickups are provided at no additional charge as part of your residential utility service, but an advanced appointment is strictly required.
Holiday Schedule
General Rule
Gilton Solid Waste Management observes these five holidays. If a holiday falls on a weekday, residential pickup schedules are pushed back one day for the remainder of that week.
Yard Waste Exception
Because Riverbank uses split-compartment trucks that pick up both the Black and Gray/Green cans simultaneously, all waste streams follow the exact same holiday delay schedule.
Regular schedules resume the following week. If you have questions about your specific holiday schedule, contact Gilton directly at (209) 527-3781.
Observed Holidays
!Contamination Tips
Do Not Put Paper in Your Blue Bags
It is a common mistake for new residents to treat the Blue Bag like a standard recycling bin. However, all paper products, cardboard, and junk mail must go directly into your Gray/Green organics can, never in the Blue Bag.
Keep Palm Fronds Out of the Green Can
While they are technically plant matter, palm fronds are extremely fibrous and wrap around the gears at the commercial composting facility. Always throw palm fronds into the Black garbage can.
Don't Hide Hazardous Waste
Never place hot ashes, motor oil, wet paint, or car batteries in either the Black or Gray/Green cans. These items can spark fires inside Gilton's split-compartment trucks. Utilize local Household Hazardous Waste disposal options instead.
Seasonal Information
Winter
December - JanuaryFor Christmas tree disposal, you can cut your un-flocked tree into small branches and fit it completely inside your Gray/Green can. Alternatively, Gilton typically offers a special two-week curbside tree pickup program in early January where whole trees (free of lights and stands) can be placed at the curb.
Fall
September - NovemberDuring heavy leaf-drop season, ensure all yard waste is placed entirely inside the Gray/Green can with the lid closed. Excess yard waste cannot be left in piles or standard plastic bags on the street.
About Riverbank Waste Management
Riverbank's Innovative Split-Compartment Truck System
Unlike most California cities that mandate a three-cart system, the City of Riverbank utilizes a unique two-can system collected by advanced split-compartment trucks. Residents are issued one Black can and one Gray/Green can. Both containers are collected every week simultaneously by a single Gilton Solid Waste Management truck, which keeps the differing waste streams completely separate internally.
The Blue Bag Curbside Recycling Program
Because Riverbank does not use a dedicated third bin for recyclables, it operates the 'Blue Bag Recycling Program.' Residents who wish to recycle beverage containers (like aluminum cans, glass bottles, and plastic containers) must purchase blue 30 or 32-gallon plastic bags. Once the blue bag is full of clean recyclables, it is tied off and tossed directly into the Black garbage can. Gilton separates these blue bags from the raw garbage later at their sorting facility.
Cardboard and Paper Belong in the Green Can
In a departure from traditional recycling rules, Riverbank requires all fiber-based products—including clean cardboard, newspapers, junk mail, white paper, and paper bags—to be placed into the Gray/Green organics can, rather than with other recyclables. These fiber materials are processed alongside yard trimmings and food scraps at Gilton's composting facility.
Generous Curbside E-Waste and Bulky Pickups
Gilton provides an exceptional level of on-demand curbside disposal for Riverbank residents. Each residential customer is entitled to two free bulky item collections per calendar year for large furniture and appliances. In addition to this, residents can schedule up to four free curbside Electronic Waste (E-waste) pickups annually for items like old televisions, computers, and stereos, ensuring hazardous electronics stay out of the landfill.
Drop-off Facilities
Stanislaus County Household Hazardous Waste Collection Facility
1710 Morgan Road, Modesto, CA 95358
Materials Accepted
Gilton Resource Recovery / Transfer Facility
800 S. McClure Road, Modesto, CA 95357
Materials Accepted
Frequently Asked Questions
Where does cardboard go in Riverbank?
Unlike traditional recycling programs, Riverbank residents must place all fiber materials—including cardboard, paper bags, junk mail, and newspapers—into the Gray/Green organics can. Do not put paper products in the Black garbage can or in Blue Recycling Bags.
How do I recycle bottles and cans in Riverbank?
Riverbank utilizes a 'Blue Bag Recycling Program.' You must purchase blue plastic bags, fill them with your aluminum cans, glass bottles, and plastic containers, tie them off, and toss the entire blue bag into your Black garbage can. Gilton separates these bags at their sorting facility.
Can I leave my old TV on the curb for bulk pickup?
Yes, but it requires a specific appointment. Gilton offers Riverbank residents four free curbside E-Waste pickups per year, separate from standard bulky item pickups. You must call (209) 527-3781 to schedule the E-waste collection before placing TVs or computers on the curb.
What time do I need to put my trash cans out?
Both your Black can and your Gray/Green can must be placed on the street in front of your home no later than 5:00 a.m. on your designated collection day. Ensure the cans are spaced 18 inches apart so the automated split-compartment truck can service them.