Weekly Collection Schedule
Official municipal pickup timing for Rocklin
Trash Day
Trash is collected once a week, Monday through Friday, depending on your street address and neighborhood route.
Recycling
Collected weekly on your regular trash collection day (clean recyclables and regular garbage are placed together in the grey cart and separated at the Materials Recovery Facility).
Yard Waste
Collected every other week on the same day as trash for customers with green waste cart service.
Set Out Time
By 5:00 AM on collection day
Utility Billing & Payments
Manage your local solid waste services
Residential waste collection is mandatory in Rocklin and serviced by Recology Auburn Placer, which bills residents directly on a quarterly schedule.
Billing Cycle
Quarterly
Accepted Methods
Online, Auto-Pay, Phone, Mail
Pro Tip / Discount
A Senior Citizen discount is available for qualifying senior residents through the City of Rocklin Finance Division.
Grey (One Big Bin) Bin (Trash)
Place all garbage, recyclables, and food waste into this single grey cart. It must be placed at the curb by 5:00 a.m. on your collection day. Do not put yard clippings in this bin.
Accepted Items
- ✓Standard household trash
- ✓Food scraps (meat, bones, dairy, produce)
- ✓Plastic bottles and containers
- ✓Glass jars and aluminum cans
- ✓Cardboard and clean paper products
- ✓Food-soiled paper and pizza boxes
Mixed into Grey Cart Bin (Recycling)
You do not need a separate recycling bin in Rocklin. Toss all of your recyclables directly into the grey 'One Big Bin.' It will be automatically sorted at the Materials Recovery Facility.
Accepted Items
- ✓All standard recyclables are accepted
Do NOT Include
- ✕Batteries
- ✕Electronic waste
- ✕Hazardous chemicals
- ✕Motor oil
Yard Waste Bin
The green cart is strictly for yard waste. Do not place any food scraps, plastic bags, or regular trash into this bin, as it bypasses the MRF sorting process and goes straight to compost.
Accepted Items
- ✓Leaves and weeds
- ✓Grass clippings
- ✓Small branches and prunings
- ✓Flowers and plant trimmings
Bulky Item Pickup
Frequency
By paid appointment or self-haul drop-off only.
Placement
To dispose of bulky items, you must self-haul them to the WPWMA or Auburn Transfer Station. If you need curbside removal, you must call Recology directly to pay for a special pickup or rent a debris box.
Accepted
- ✓ Mattresses
- ✓ Major household appliances
- ✓ Large furniture (couches, desks)
- ✓ Electronic waste (via drop-off)
Not Accepted
- ✕ Household hazardous waste
- ✕ Liquid chemicals
- ✕ Construction and demolition debris
- ✕ Dirt, rocks, and concrete
Because free bulky pickups are not included in your service, you will be subject to landfill gate fees when dropping items off, or specialized service fees if Recology comes to collect them.
Holiday Schedule
General Rule
Recology Auburn Placer operates on a completely normal schedule for all holidays except Christmas Day and New Year's Day. If your regular service day falls on or after these two holidays, your collection will be delayed by exactly one day for the remainder of that week.
Yard Waste Exception
The holiday delay applies uniformly to both your grey One Big Bin and your green yard waste cart.
Service occurs on a normal schedule for major holidays like Thanksgiving, Memorial Day, Independence Day, and Labor Day. Do not delay putting your carts out during these weeks.
Observed Holidays
Seasonal Information
Winter
December - JanuaryThe City of Rocklin offers convenient, free drop-off locations for Christmas tree recycling every year at Johnson-Springview Park and Twin Oaks Park between December 26th and the first week of January. Trees must be bare with no flocking or ornaments.
Spring
April - MayResidents are highly encouraged to participate in Rocklin's annual Spring Clean Up Day. This community-wide event is a great opportunity to responsibly dispose of large items, volunteer, and help keep local creeks and waterways free of pollution.
Local Tips & Community Info
The One Big Bin Program and Standard Garbage Collection
Unlike many traditional municipalities, the City of Rocklin utilizes the unique One Big Bin system in partnership with Recology Auburn Placer and the Western Placer Waste Management Authority (WPWMA). This mixed-waste program means residents do not have to separate normal recyclables from their household garbage. You can place your paper, plastics, glass bottles, and everyday trash directly into the main grey cart. The sorting process is handled professionally at a regional Materials Recovery Facility, recovering recyclables mechanically and manually. This setup guarantees high participation rates and minimizes the number of collection trucks driving through local neighborhoods.
Organics, Food Scraps, and SB 1383 Compliance
While standard recyclables go in the grey garbage cart, organic waste must be kept separate. To comply with California's SB 1383 regulations, all food scraps, food-soiled paper products, and yard trimmings must be placed strictly in your green organics cart. Homeowners are encouraged to scrape dinner plates, dispose of coffee grounds, and toss lawn clippings into this designated bin. Keeping organics out of the grey cart is a crucial step to reducing greenhouse gas emissions and producing nutrient-rich compost for local agricultural use.
Curbside Cart Placement and Timing Rules
For optimal curbside service, Recology requires that carts be rolled out by 6:00 a.m. on your designated collection morning. Carts should be placed at the edge of the street or curb with the lid opening facing the roadway. Space is vital for the automated mechanical arms to function safely; leave a minimum of two to three feet between each bin, and ensure they are parked far away from mailboxes, fire hydrants, and parked vehicles. Also, please keep all bin lids fully closed to deter local wildlife and prevent windblown litter.
Free Curbside Pickups for Household Hazards
Proper disposal of toxic or dangerous materials is strictly enforced to protect sanitation workers and the environment. Household hazardous waste (HHW) such as wet paint, heavy-duty solvents, medications, and syringes are strictly prohibited from all curbside carts. However, Rocklin residents can take advantage of a specialized free doorstep pickup service offered by Recology. By calling to schedule an appointment, you can have items like household batteries, automotive batteries, used motor oil, e-waste, and fluorescent tubes collected right from your property.
Bulky Item Disposal and Local Transfer Stations
If you are doing spring cleaning and need to get rid of larger items like broken furniture or out-of-use appliances, standard bins will not suffice. For bulky waste, residents can schedule specific pickups with Recology or choose to self-haul their extra oversized items. The WPWMA facility located in nearby Lincoln and the Auburn Transfer Station accept various large items and drop-offs. Always call the customer service line ahead of time to learn about specific volume limits and any potential tipping fees associated with self-hauling.
Holiday Collection Interruptions
Garbage collection schedules in Rocklin run smoothly year-round with very few disruptions. Recology Auburn Placer only observes two major holidays that affect your residential pickup: Christmas Day and New Year's Day. If your normal service day happens to fall on or after these winter holidays during the work week, your pickup will be delayed by exactly one day, with Friday routes being serviced on Saturday. For all other national holidays like Thanksgiving or Independence Day, carts should be placed outside on their normal scheduled day.
Drop-off Facilities
Western Placer Waste Management Authority (WPWMA)
3195 Athens Ave, Lincoln, CA 95648
Materials Accepted
Auburn Placer Transfer Station
12305 Shale Ridge Lane, Auburn, CA 95602
Materials Accepted
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I really put my recycling in the garbage bin in Rocklin?
Yes. Rocklin utilizes Placer County's innovative 'One Big Bin' system. You place all your regular trash, recyclables (like glass, plastics, and cardboard), and food scraps into your single grey garbage cart. It is transported to a Materials Recovery Facility (MRF) where advanced equipment and staff sort the recyclables out of the true trash.
Where do my food scraps go under SB 1383 rules?
Unlike cities that force residents to use a third organics bin, Rocklin residents place all food waste—including meat, bones, and bread—directly into the grey One Big Bin. The MRF separates these organics from the trash and sends them to an anaerobic digester to create compost and biofuel.
Does my trash collection change on Thanksgiving or Memorial Day?
No. Recology Auburn Placer only observes two holidays for schedule delays: Christmas Day and New Year's Day. For all other holidays, including Thanksgiving, Memorial Day, and Labor Day, you must place your bins at the curb on your normal scheduled collection day.
How do I get rid of an old mattress or couch in Rocklin?
Because free curbside bulky item pickup is not included in standard residential service, you have two options: self-haul the large items to the Western Placer Waste Management Authority (WPWMA) landfill in Lincoln, or call Recology Auburn Placer to schedule a special, paid curbside pickup.