Black lid or Dark Gray cart Bin (Trash)
All trash must be securely bagged and fit loosely inside the cart. The lid must close completely, and the cart weight must not exceed 250 lbs.
Accepted Items
- ✓Standard household garbage
- ✓Chip bags
- ✓Plastic bags
- ✓Lightly used textiles
Blue lid Bin (Recycling)
All recyclables must be completely empty, clean, and dry. Do not bag your recyclables; place them loosely into the blue-lidded cart.
Accepted Items
- ✓Flattened cardboard
- ✓Paperboard
- ✓Glass bottles and jars
- ✓Paper
- ✓Dairy and juice containers
Do NOT Include
- ✕Food waste
- ✕Plastic bags and film
- ✕Polystyrene foam (Styrofoam)
- ✕Needles and syringes
Yard Waste Bin
Place organic matter loosely in the green container without using plastic bags. Food-soiled paper and kitchen scraps are required in this bin per California's SB 1383 mandate.
Accepted Items
- ✓Food scraps
- ✓Grass clippings
- ✓Leaves and branches
- ✓Weeds
- ✓Food-soiled paper
Bulky Item Pickup
Frequency
On-demand via Waste Management, or at scheduled Kern County free community drop-off events.
Placement
Place items curbside by 6:00 a.m. on your scheduled bulk pickup day. Keep them at least 6 feet away from mailboxes, fences, and vehicles.
Accepted
- ✓ Appliances (doors removed or taped shut)
- ✓ Mattresses and box springs
- ✓ Household furniture
- ✓ Cabinets
- ✓ Clean lumber (max 4 inches wide, 5 feet long)
Not Accepted
- ✕ Hazardous waste
- ✕ Concrete, dirt, rocks, or bricks
- ✕ Waste generated from a business
- ✕ Treated wood waste
- ✕ Heavy auto parts
Fees generally apply for scheduled curbside pickups depending on your specific WM service tier. The annual county-hosted drop-off events in Rosamond are completely free for residents.
Holiday Schedule
General Rule
When an observed holiday falls on a weekday, collection is delayed by one day for the remainder of the week.
Yard Waste Exception
Organics and recycling collections follow the exact same holiday delay schedule as regular trash.
If the holiday falls on a Saturday or Sunday, there are no delays in your regular residential service.
Observed Holidays
!Contamination Tips
Secure Your Waste Against Desert Winds
Keep all trash firmly bagged before placing it in the black-lidded cart. Unbagged, loose trash easily blows away when the automated truck arm flips the lid open during collection on high-wind days.
No Treated Wood in Green Waste
Never put railroad ties, painted wood, or chemically treated fencing in your yard waste bin. These materials contaminate the mulch supply and must be taken to a special waste facility.
Keep Food Waste Out of the Trash
To comply with SB 1383, food scraps like eggshells, meat bones, and coffee grounds must go into your green organics cart or a home compost bin, absolutely never in the black trash cart.
Seasonal Information
Spring
March - MayHigh wind season in the Antelope Valley area means residents must place bins with the wheels securely against the curb and lids completely shut to prevent debris from scattering into the streets.
Summer
June - AugustTemperatures in Rosamond regularly exceed 100°F. Layer food waste with dry yard clippings in your green cart and keep the bin shaded when possible to minimize odors and deter desert pests.
Fall
September - NovemberKeep an eye out for Kern County's free Bulky Waste Collection events, which are typically hosted around October in Rosamond, allowing residents to safely and freely dispose of large household items.
Winter
December - FebruaryFollowing the holidays, Kern County provides a Holiday Tree Recycling program. Remove all decorations, lights, tinsel, and stands before placing your real tree out for designated collection.
About Rosamond Waste Management
Navigating the East Kern Universal Collection Area
Rosamond falls within the East Kern Universal Collection Area, where household waste management is structured around a combination of franchise hauling and self-haul alternatives. Waste Management (WM) serves as the primary franchise hauler for curbside service here. Residents typically receive weekly trash service and bi-weekly recycling collection, simplifying the process of keeping the high desert community clean and green.
SB 1383 Organics Mandate Compliance in Rosamond
California’s SB 1383 law requires all residents to properly divert organic waste—which includes food scraps, soiled paper, and yard trimmings—away from the landfill. In Rosamond, residents can subscribe to an organics cart from WM, self-haul their green waste directly to a Kern County drop-off stockpile, or utilize backyard composting to remain compliant with state regulations.
Self-Haul Perks for Kern County Residents
If you frequently generate excess waste or are undertaking a heavy cleanup project, the local Kern County Public Works program offers a substantial benefit. Residents are not charged a gate fee for dropping off ordinary household trash or source-separated green waste at county facilities like the nearby Mojave-Rosamond Landfill.
High Desert Climate and Cart Placement
Rosamond’s location in the Mojave Desert means that heavy Antelope Valley winds are a frequent occurrence. It is crucial to ensure your cart lids are completely closed and that trash is securely bagged inside the black-lidded bin. Loose items can easily become wind-blown litter across the desert landscape during seasonal wind advisories.
Community Bulky Waste Events
While WM offers scheduled curbside bulk pickups for a fee, Kern County Public Works regularly partners with local organizations to host free Bulky Waste Collection Events right in Rosamond, often located at the WMI yard on Sierra Highway. These events provide a perfect opportunity to responsibly dispose of old mattresses, tires, and appliances without incurring extra out-of-pocket costs.
Drop-off Facilities
Mojave-Rosamond Landfill
400 Silver Queen Road, Mojave, CA 93501
Materials Accepted
Frequently Asked Questions
How does holiday trash pickup work in Rosamond?
Waste Management observes six major holidays. If the holiday lands on a weekday, your trash and recycling collection will be pushed back by one day. Weekend holidays do not affect the normal service schedule.
What is the proper way to dispose of old electronics in Rosamond?
E-waste like televisions, monitors, and laptops should not go in your curbside bins. Kern County residents can drop these items off for free at the Mojave-Rosamond Landfill.
How do I dispose of my yard waste and food scraps to follow California law?
Under SB 1383, you must keep organics out of the landfill. You can use your WM green organics cart for food scraps and yard clippings, drop them off at designated county stockpiles without a fee, or use a backyard compost bin.
Does Rosamond have a free bulky item pickup service?
Curbside bulk pickups scheduled through WM may incur a fee based on your account level, but Kern County Public Works hosts free Bulky Waste Collection drop-off events in Rosamond annually (often at the WMI yard), where you can bring large items like furniture and mattresses at no cost.