Tan or Gray Cart Bin (Trash)
All regular garbage must be bagged before being placed in the tan or gray cart. Ensure the cart lid can close completely, and do not overfill.
Accepted Items
- ✓Standard household garbage
- ✓Plastic bags and film wrappers
- ✓Diapers and bagged pet waste
- ✓Polystyrene foam (Styrofoam)
- ✓Treated wood and broken glass
Blue Cart Bin (Recycling)
Do not bag your recyclables. All accepted items must be completely emptied, lightly rinsed, and placed loosely inside the blue cart. This cart is serviced every other week.
Accepted Items
- ✓Clean, flattened cardboard
- ✓Paper, mail, and newspaper
- ✓Aluminum and tin cans
- ✓Glass bottles and jars
- ✓Rigid plastic bottles and tubs
Do NOT Include
- ✕Plastic grocery bags
- ✕Food waste or liquids
- ✕Tanglers (hoses, wires, cords)
- ✕Styrofoam packing peanuts
Green Cart Bin (Yard Waste)
Place organic material loosely inside the green cart without using any plastic bags. Trees longer than 6 feet must be cut in half before being placed inside.
Accepted Items
- ✓Food scraps (meat, dairy, vegetables, bones)
- ✓Grass clippings and weeds
- ✓Leaves and small twigs
- ✓Food-soiled paper (pizza boxes, dirty napkins)
Bulky Item Pickup
Frequency
Two large items per month at no additional charge.
Placement
Place approved bulky items curbside by 6:00 a.m. on your confirmed collection day. Keep them clear of vehicles, mailboxes, and your regular collection carts.
Accepted
- ✓ Household furniture (couches, tables, chairs)
- ✓ Mattresses and box springs
- ✓ Large appliances (refrigerators, washers)
- ✓ Televisions and computers
Not Accepted
- ✕ Hazardous waste (paints, oils, chemicals)
- ✕ Inert debris (dirt, rock, concrete)
- ✕ Green waste and tree trunks
- ✕ Construction or demolition materials
- ✕ Items that cannot reasonably be lifted by two people
Single-family homes receive this service at no extra cost (up to two items per month). Additional items or specialized cleanouts may require renting an on-call 3-yard bin for a fee.
Holiday Schedule
General Rule
When an observed holiday falls on a weekday, curbside collection will be delayed by one day for the remainder of that week.
Yard Waste Exception
Organics and recycling are collected simultaneously with the trash, meaning they will experience the exact same one-day holiday delay.
There is no service interruption or delay when an observed holiday falls on a Saturday or Sunday. Memorial Day and Labor Day are not observed as days off by Varner Bros; service runs normally on those days.
Observed Holidays
!Contamination Tips
Bag Your Pet Waste Securely
Dog waste, soiled kitty litter, and heavily soiled items are toxic contaminants. Always seal them inside a plastic bag and throw them directly into the tan or gray garbage cart, never in the green organics bin.
Keep Film Plastics Out of Recycling
Flimsy plastics like grocery bags, shrink wrap, and dry cleaner bags easily wrap around sorting gears at the recycling facility, causing severe damage. Throw these directly into your tan trash cart.
No Construction Debris in Bulky Pickups
When scheduling your two free monthly large item pickups, remember that construction materials, dirt, rocks, and inert demolition debris are strictly prohibited and will not be collected by the Varner Bros crew.
Seasonal Information
Spring
March - MayThe local area experiences heavy wind events during the spring. Ensure your cart lids are completely closed to prevent loose trash from blowing across Rosedale neighborhoods.
Summer
June - AugustKern County summers regularly exceed 100°F, which can rapidly accelerate odor and pest issues in your organics cart. Freeze highly aromatic food scraps (like meat and fish) until your collection morning.
Winter
December - JanuaryFollowing the holidays, you can recycle your natural Christmas tree in the green cart. You must completely remove all ornaments, tinsel, and stands. Trees taller than 6 feet must be cut in half.
About Rosedale Waste Management
Unincorporated Metro Bakersfield Waste Franchises
Because Rosedale is an unincorporated community outside the Bakersfield city limits, its residential solid waste is governed by the Kern County Public Works Department. Under this franchise system, Varner Bros, Inc. serves as the exclusive waste hauler for the area, providing households with a standardized three-cart system for landfill trash, mixed recycling, and organic green waste.
The Bi-Weekly Blue Cart Collection
While Rosedale residents can expect their tan garbage cart and green organics cart to be emptied every single week, the collection schedule for the blue recycling cart is different. Varner Bros services recycling on a bi-weekly basis (every other week). Residents are encouraged to break down their clean cardboard boxes completely to maximize space between collection days.
Organics and the California SB 1383 Mandate
In strict compliance with California’s SB 1383 legislation, Rosedale residents are required to separate all food waste from their landfill garbage. All kitchen scraps—including meat, dairy, eggshells, and food-soiled paper—must be mixed with yard clippings inside the weekly green organics cart. This material is then diverted to a regional composting facility rather than taking up space in the Bena Landfill.
Generous Monthly Bulky Item Allowances
A major perk of living in the unincorporated Metro Bakersfield franchise zone is the highly accommodating bulky waste program. Rather than waiting for annual cleanup events, Rosedale households are entitled to schedule curbside collection for up to two large items every single month at no additional charge. This makes it incredibly easy to dispose of old mattresses, couches, or broken appliances.
Managing Trash During San Joaquin Valley Winds
The southern San Joaquin Valley frequently experiences strong wind events that can turn loose garbage into widespread neighborhood litter. Varner Bros requires that all standard household trash be bagged before it is tossed into the tan cart. Furthermore, residents must ensure that the lids on all three carts can close completely to prevent debris from blowing out.
Drop-off Facilities
Bena Landfill
2951 Neumarkel Rd, Bakersfield, CA 93307
Materials Accepted
Bakersfield Special Waste Facility (Stop 'N' Shop)
4600 East Truxtun Ave, Bakersfield, CA 93309
Materials Accepted
Frequently Asked Questions
Does my collection day change on holidays in Rosedale?
Varner Bros observes four major holidays: New Year's Day, Independence Day, Thanksgiving Day, and Christmas Day. If the holiday lands on a weekday, your trash and recycling pickup will be pushed back by one day for the rest of that week. Normal service occurs on Memorial Day and Labor Day.
Can I get a free bulky item pickup in Rosedale?
Yes. As part of the unincorporated Metro Bakersfield franchise agreement, Rosedale residents can schedule a free curbside collection of up to two large items (like furniture, mattresses, or TVs) per month by calling Varner Bros at (661) 322-6863.
Where does my leftover food waste go?
Under California's SB 1383 mandate, all food scraps—including meat, bones, dairy, and food-soiled paper—must be placed in your green organics cart alongside your regular yard clippings. It should never be put in the tan or gray trash cart.
How often is the blue recycling cart collected by Varner Bros?
While your tan garbage cart and green organics cart are emptied every single week, Varner Bros services the blue recycling cart on an alternating bi-weekly (every other week) schedule.