Gray Bin (Trash)
All garbage must be securely bagged before being placed in the gray cart. The cart lid must be completely closed, and the cart should weigh no more than 200 pounds to prevent damage to the collection trucks.
Accepted Items
- ✓Standard household refuse
- ✓Styrofoam and packing peanuts
- ✓Pet waste and kitty litter
- ✓Diapers and sanitary products
- ✓Broken glass and ceramics
Blue Bin (Recycling)
Do not bag your recyclables. All items must be placed loosely into the blue cart, empty, and reasonably clean. Break down cardboard boxes to prevent trapped air and save space.
Accepted Items
- ✓Clean paper, mail, and magazines
- ✓Flattened cardboard (cereal boxes, shipping boxes)
- ✓Empty plastic bottles, jugs, and tubs
- ✓Aluminum and tin cans
- ✓Glass bottles and jars
Do NOT Include
- ✕Plastic shopping bags and film wrap
- ✕Food-soiled paper or greasy cardboard
- ✕Tanglers (garden hoses, Christmas lights, wire hangers)
- ✕Clothing, textiles, or shoes
Yard Waste Bin
Organic waste must be placed directly into the green cart. Do not use plastic bags or 'compostable' bio-plastics, as they disrupt the commercial composting process. Keep materials loose.
Accepted Items
- ✓Grass clippings, weeds, and leaves
- ✓Tree and shrub prunings (under 3 feet long and 4 inches diameter)
- ✓Kitchen food waste (meat, dairy, bones, vegetables)
- ✓Food-soiled paper (napkins, paper towels, pizza boxes)
Bulky Item Pickup
Frequency
Two free appointments per calendar year (February through October)
Placement
Place items on the street at the curb, 6 feet away from parked cars. Do not place items on the sidewalk, in the driveway, or in alleys unless specifically instructed by the city.
Accepted
- ✓ Furniture and mattresses
- ✓ Miscellaneous bulky household items
- ✓ Tree branches under six feet in length
- ✓ Untreated wood and disassembled fencing
- ✓ Up to four tires (separated from rims)
Not Accepted
- ✕ Appliances and e-waste (require a separate appointment)
- ✕ Treated wood (decking, fence posts)
- ✕ Dirt, concrete, rock, or sod
- ✕ Household hazardous waste, liquid paint, or motor oil
The two junk appointments are free, as are two separate appliance/e-waste appointments. Piles exceeding the size limit, early set-outs, or cancellations made with less than 48 hours notice may result in fines or loss of the appointment.
Holiday Schedule
General Rule
The City of Sacramento observes no holiday collection delays. Service continues as normal on all federal, state, and local holidays, including Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Year's Day.
Yard Waste Exception
Organics and recycling are collected normally on holidays, exactly like the garbage collection schedule.
While curbside collection never stops, customer service phone lines (311) and physical transfer stations may have modified hours or closures on major holidays.
Observed Holidays
!Contamination Tips
Keep Plastic Bags Out of the Blue Cart
Bagging recyclables is the most common mistake made in Sacramento. Plastic bags wrap around the gears at the sorting facility, causing massive delays and equipment damage. Keep recyclables loose, and take plastic film to a local grocery store for proper recycling.
Treated Wood is Hazardous Waste
State law now classifies treated wood (like railroad ties, fence posts, or deck boards) as hazardous waste. Never place treated wood in your gray trash cart or your household junk pile. It must be taken to a specialized hazardous waste facility.
No Pet Waste in Organics
While it might seem like organic material, dog waste and cat litter carry pathogens that survive the commercial composting process. Always bag pet waste and dispose of it in your gray garbage cart.
Seasonal Information
Winter
November - JanuaryDuring Leaf Season, residents can place yard waste piles in the street for collection by 'The Claw'. Piles should not block bike lanes or storm drains, and must not contain any food scraps or trash.
Spring/Summer
February - OctoberThe free Household Junk Pickup program only runs from February through the end of October. Appointments fill up extremely fast by late summer, so residents are encouraged to book their slots in the spring.
About Sacramento Waste Management
Understanding Sacramento's Three-Cart Collection System
The City of Sacramento provides a robust residential waste management program centered around a three-cart system. Residents utilize a gray cart for landfill garbage, a blue cart for mixed recyclables, and a green cart for organics. While garbage and organic waste are collected weekly, the blue recycling carts are serviced on an alternating every-other-week schedule (Week A or Week B). To ensure service, you must place your carts at the curb by 6:00 a.m. on collection day, maintaining at least three feet of clearance between each bin and surrounding obstacles like parked cars or fire hydrants.
Meeting SB 1383 Organics Mandates in the Capital City
In direct compliance with California's SB 1383 climate law, Sacramento requires all residents to recycle their organic waste. The green organics cart is no longer just for grass clippings and leaves; it is strictly designated for all kitchen food scraps, including cooked meat, bones, dairy, and food-soiled paper like greasy pizza boxes. Diverting these materials from local landfills drastically reduces harmful greenhouse gas emissions. The city even provides free kitchen pails to help residents easily transport scraps from the counter to the curbside green bin.
Taking Advantage of Free Household Junk Pickups
Sacramento offers an excellent residential perk: two free Household Junk Pickup appointments per calendar year. Operating strictly between February and October, this program allows residents to discard up to 4 cubic yards (4' x 4' x 9') of large items, furniture, and bundled yard waste right at the curb. Because these appointments fill up quickly, the city encourages booking via Sacramento 311 as early as possible. Note that appliances and electronic waste are not permitted in these piles, as they require their own separate, free appointment.
The Claw and Sacramento's Famous Leaf Season
Sacramento is renowned for its lush tree canopy, which leads to massive leaf drops during the late fall. From November through January, the city operates its specialized 'Leaf Season' collection, affectionately known by locals as 'The Claw.' During this narrow window, residents are permitted to place loose yard clippings and leaves directly into the street for heavy machinery to scoop up. However, it is vital to keep all food waste and kitchen scraps out of these street piles; those must remain exclusively inside your green organics cart.
Uninterrupted Holiday Collection Schedules
Unlike nearly every other major municipality in California, the City of Sacramento does not delay residential waste collection for holidays. Whether it is Thanksgiving Day, Christmas Day, or the Fourth of July, your curbside pickup will occur on its normal scheduled day. Residents never have to guess whether they should push their bins out a day late during a holiday week. Service runs seamlessly Monday through Friday, 52 weeks a year.
Drop-off Facilities
North Area Recovery Station (NARS) HHW
4450 Roseville Road, North Highlands, CA 95660
Materials Accepted
Kiefer Landfill & Special Waste Facility
12701 Kiefer Blvd, Sloughhouse, CA 95683
Materials Accepted
Frequently Asked Questions
What holidays delay trash pickup in Sacramento?
Unlike most cities, Sacramento does not delay residential trash collection for any holidays. Your garbage, recycling, and organics will be collected on your regular day, even if it falls on Christmas Day, Thanksgiving, or New Year's Day.
How do I get rid of an old refrigerator or TV in Sacramento?
Appliances and e-waste are not allowed in standard household junk piles. However, residential customers can schedule up to two free appliance and e-waste pickup appointments per year by calling 311. Items must be placed at the end of your driveway, not in the street.
Can I put food waste in the street piles during Leaf Season?
No. While you can put yard trimmings and leaves in the street for 'The Claw' from November through January, all kitchen food scraps and food-soiled paper must remain strictly inside your green organics cart.
Can I use compostable bags for my food scraps?
The City of Sacramento prefers that you keep organic waste loose in the green bin, or line your kitchen pail with newspaper or paper bags. Bio-plastics and compostable bags are heavily discouraged as they interfere with the local composting facilities.