Gray or Black Bin (Trash)
Place your cart at the curb the night before or by early morning on collection day. Do not over-stuff or compact the garbage inside the cart.
Accepted Items
- ✓Standard household garbage
- ✓Non-recyclable plastics
- ✓Diapers and pet waste
- ✓Styrofoam (foam packaging)
Blue Bin (Recycling)
All recyclable items must be empty, clean, and dry. Place materials loosely inside the blue cart without using any plastic garbage bags.
Accepted Items
- ✓Clean cardboard and mixed paper [1.1.1]
- ✓Glass bottles and jars
- ✓Aluminum and tin cans
- ✓Plastic bottles and rigid containers
Do NOT Include
- ✕Plastic bags and film
- ✕Food waste and liquids
- ✕Electronic waste (TVs and monitors)
- ✕Hazardous materials
Yard Waste Bin
Do not include liquids, dirt, rock, concrete, or plastics. Food scraps can be gathered in your countertop pail before transferring to the green cart.
Accepted Items
- ✓Food-soiled paper (pizza boxes, napkins)
Bulky Item Pickup
Frequency
Two (2) free bulky item pick-ups per calendar year for residential customers.
Placement
All small or loose items must be contained in bags or boxes weighing less than 60 pounds each. Call (800) 243-0291 in advance to schedule; do not place items out unannounced.
Accepted
- ✓ Furniture (couches, recliners, chairs) [2.1.2]
- ✓ Mattresses and box springs
- ✓ Household appliances (washers, dryers, ovens)
- ✓ Bagged household refuse (under 60 lbs per bag)
Not Accepted
- ✕ Construction and demolition debris [2.1.1]
- ✕ Liquids, dirt, rock, cement, or asphalt
- ✕ Hazardous waste (televisions, monitors, batteries, paint, tires)
Any appliance containing Freon (like refrigerators or air conditioners) will incur a hazardous extraction charge of $63.66 per item. Additional pickups beyond the two free ones can be scheduled for a fee.
Holiday Schedule
General Rule
If a recognized holiday falls on a weekday, garbage service will be delayed by one day for the remainder of that week (e.g., Tuesday pickups move to Wednesday).
Yard Waste Exception
No exceptions. The green compost cart and blue recycling cart follow the exact same delayed holiday schedule as regular refuse.
Holidays not explicitly mentioned, such as Memorial Day or Presidents' Day, do not affect the pickup schedule. Regular service resumes the following week.
Observed Holidays
!Contamination Tips
Say No to Plastic Bags
Bagging recyclables is the fastest way to contaminate the blue cart. Plastic bags jam the sorting machinery at Recology’s processing facility. Keep all your paper, glass, and cans completely loose.
E-Waste is Banned from Bins
Televisions, computer monitors, and old cell phones contain hazardous heavy metals and cannot go in your standard carts or even your bulky item pickup. They must be taken to a specialized e-waste drop-off site.
No Dirt or Rocks in Organics
While pulling weeds and doing yard work, ensure you shake off excess dirt and do not throw rocks or sod into the green compost cart, as these materials can severely damage commercial composting equipment.
Seasonal Information
Winter
December - JanuaryFollowing the holidays, holiday trees can be collected as part of your bulky item service. Trees must be stripped of all lights, ornaments, and stands.
Fall
October - NovemberDuring autumn leaf drop, avoid piling leaves in the street gutters. Instead, place them inside your green compost cart to ensure Recology’s street sweepers can clean the neighborhood effectively.
Year-Round
January - DecemberRefuse charges in Rohnert Park are determined by the size of your garbage cart. You can contact Recology to adjust your bin size (available in 20, 32, 64, or 96-gallon options) to fit your actual waste generation and potentially lower your bill.
About Rohnert Park Waste Management
Exclusive Recology Services in Rohnert Park
The City of Rohnert Park maintains an exclusive franchise agreement with Recology Sonoma Marin to handle all residential and commercial waste collection. This comprehensive service guarantees a standard three-cart automated system for single-family homes, efficiently separating landfill refuse, comingled recyclables, and organic compost to align with Sonoma County’s strict zero-waste goals.
Composting Food Scraps with Free Kitchen Pails
To support California's SB 1383 organics mandate, Recology allows residents to place all food scraps—including meats, dairy, and food-soiled paper—directly into the green compost bin. To make this daily separation easier, Rohnert Park residents can visit the Recology Sonoma Marin office in Santa Rosa to pick up a free countertop kitchen pail, helping keep indoor odors contained before dumping scraps outside.
On-Demand Bulky Item Pickups
Instead of relying on a rigid, city-wide annual cleanup week, Rohnert Park residential customers have the flexibility to schedule two free bulky item collections per year on their own timeline. Whether you need to dispose of an old mattress, a broken couch, or up to 14 bags of excess household refuse, you simply call Recology in advance to arrange a convenient curbside pickup without leaving home.
Coordinating with Weekly Street Sweeping
Uniquely, Recology also manages the weekly street sweeping operations throughout Rohnert Park, which typically occur the day immediately following your garbage collection. It is crucial to retrieve your emptied bins from the curb promptly and obey posted 'No Parking' signs so the mechanical sweepers can efficiently clear debris and prevent local storm drain blockages.
Drop-off Facilities
Sonoma County Central Disposal Site (Mecham Road Landfill) [2.1.10]
500 Mecham Rd, Petaluma, CA 94952
Materials Accepted
Zero Waste Sonoma HHW Events
Various rotating locations throughout Sonoma County
Materials Accepted
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I schedule a free bulky item pickup in Rohnert Park?
Rohnert Park residents can schedule up to two free bulky item pickups per year by calling Recology Sonoma Marin at (800) 243-0291. You can put out up to two large furniture items or appliances, or up to 14 bags of standard refuse.
Does my trash get delayed on Memorial Day?
No. Recology Sonoma Marin only observes five holidays in Rohnert Park: New Year’s Day, Fourth of July, Labor Day, Thanksgiving, and Christmas. Your trash will be collected on its normal schedule during Memorial Day and Presidents' Day.
Can I get a smaller garbage can to save money?
Yes! Refuse charges in Rohnert Park are determined by the size of your garbage cart. Recology offers 20, 32, 64, and 96-gallon options. Downsizing to a smaller cart (like the 20-gallon size) is a great way to lower your monthly bill.
Where do I dispose of an old refrigerator or air conditioner?
You can include refrigerators and air conditioners in your bulky item pickup with Recology. However, because these appliances contain Freon, they require special environmental handling and will incur a state-mandated extraction fee of approximately $63.66 per item.