Gray Bin (Trash)
All non-hazardous solid waste must be bagged and fit inside the gray cart so the lid can fully close. Do not overload your cart.
Accepted Items
- ✓Pet waste and diapers
- ✓Compostable or biodegradable plastics
- ✓Styrofoam and packing peanuts
- ✓Treated wood and broken glass
- ✓Non-recyclable plastics and wrappers
Blue Bin (Recycling)
Items must be clean, dry, and tossed loosely into the blue cart. Never bag your recyclables, as plastic bags interfere with the sorting facility.
Accepted Items
- ✓Empty plastic bottles and containers
- ✓Glass bottles and jars
- ✓Aluminum and tin cans
- ✓Clean cardboard and paperboard
- ✓Mixed paper, junk mail, and magazines
Do NOT Include
- ✕Plastic bags or shrink wrap
- ✕Food-soiled paper or pizza boxes
- ✕Electronic waste
- ✕Styrofoam packaging
Yard Waste Bin
Do not bag your organics. Place food waste and yard trimmings loosely into the green cart. 'Compostable' or 'biodegradable' plastics are strictly prohibited.
Accepted Items
- ✓Grass clippings, leaves, and weeds
- ✓Tree trimmings and small branches
- ✓Food scraps (meat, dairy, bones, fruits, veggies)
- ✓Food-soiled paper (100% plant fiber)
Bulky Item Pickup
Frequency
Three (3) free collections per year for single-family customers.
Placement
You must call San Luis Garbage at (805) 543-0875 at least 5 days before your collection day to schedule. Place items at the curb by 6:30 AM on the scheduled day.
Accepted
- ✓ Mattresses and box springs
- ✓ E-Waste (TVs, microwaves)
- ✓ White goods and large appliances
- ✓ Scrap metal and furniture
- ✓ Bundled yard waste or lumber (under 4 feet)
Not Accepted
- ✕ Items weighing more than 200 lbs
- ✕ Concrete or construction debris
- ✕ Hazardous waste (paints, motor oil)
- ✕ Unbundled carpet or wood longer than 4 feet
Additional bulky item pickups beyond the free yearly allocations can be scheduled for a discounted rate.
Holiday Schedule
General Rule
San Luis Garbage operates 364 days a year. If your collection day falls on or after Christmas Day, your service will be delayed by one day for that week.
Yard Waste Exception
The one-day delay for Christmas applies to all three carts: trash, recycling, and organics.
For all other major holidays, including Thanksgiving, New Year's Day, Independence Day, and Labor Day, collection runs on a normal schedule without any delays.
Observed Holidays
!Contamination Tips
Compostable Plastics Go in the Trash
Despite their labels, single-use items or bags marked as 'compostable' or 'biodegradable' cannot be processed in SLO County's organics facilities. Always place these items in the gray trash cart.
No Bags in the Blue or Green Carts
Only the waste in your gray trash cart should be bagged. Plastic bags (and even paper bags containing recyclables) cause severe jams in the recycling sorting machinery. Keep your recyclables and organics loose.
Keep Extra Clean-Up Bags Free of Organics
During the semi-annual Clean-Up Weeks, the extra 6 free bags you are allowed to put out go directly to the landfill. Never put yard trimmings, food scraps, or recyclables in these extra bags.
Seasonal Information
Winter
December - JanuarySan Luis Garbage operates 364 days a year, with Christmas Day being the only holiday that causes a one-day service delay. Following the holiday, you can place your natural, undecorated Christmas trees at the curb for collection.
Spring
April - MaySan Luis Garbage hosts one of its two annual Clean-Up Weeks during the spring. Be sure to call at least 5 days in advance to schedule your free bulky item pickup for this designated week.
Summer
June - AugustThe city strictly enforces its 'Roll in Your Cart' policy. Ensure your carts are fully screened from public view and not stored in your front yard during the summer months to avoid citations.
About San Luis Obispo Waste Management
Strict Organics Rules and the IWMA
San Luis Obispo coordinates its waste compliance through the San Luis Obispo County Integrated Waste Management Authority (IWMA). Under SB 1383, the city requires all food scraps and yard trimmings to be placed in the green organics cart. However, the IWMA has a strict prohibition against any 'compostable' or 'biodegradable' plastics. Even if a single-use product or bag claims to be compostable, it cannot go into the green cart and must be thrown in the trash.
Semi-Annual Clean-Up Weeks
San Luis Garbage provides a highly beneficial Clean-Up Week program twice a year. During these designated weeks, single-family residential customers can place up to 6 extra 32-gallon trash bags at the curb for free. Each bag must not exceed 75 pounds and can only contain landfill-bound waste. Organics and recyclables are strictly prohibited in these extra bags.
Structured Bulky Item Allocations
The city offers a unique structure for large item disposal. Single-family households are allotted three free bulky item pickups per year. To utilize this benefit effectively, one collection must be scheduled during each of the two semi-annual Clean-Up Weeks, leaving one 'floating' pickup that can be used at any time throughout the calendar year. Multi-family residents receive up to 12 annual pickups under a similar structure.
Do Your Part—Roll in Your Cart!
To maintain the aesthetic appeal of the city, San Luis Obispo strictly enforces its cart placement regulations. The 'Do Your Part—Roll in Your Cart' initiative mandates that all gray, blue, and green carts must be removed from the curb promptly after collection. Furthermore, carts cannot be stored in front yards and must be fully screened from public view on non-collection days.
Drop-off Facilities
Cold Canyon HHW Center
2268 Carpenter Canyon Rd, San Luis Obispo, CA 93401
Materials Accepted
Frequently Asked Questions
What holidays cause a delay in trash pickup in San Luis Obispo?
San Luis Garbage operates 364 days a year. The only holiday that causes a one-day delay in your collection service is Christmas Day [1.2.2]. For all other holidays, including Thanksgiving and New Year's Day, service runs normally.
How many extra bags can I put out during Clean-Up Week?
During the semi-annual Clean-Up Weeks, single-family residents can place up to 6 extra 32-gallon trash bags at the curb for free. Each bag must weigh less than 75 pounds and contain only landfill waste, with no organics or recyclables.
Can I use compostable bags for my food waste?
No. The SLO County Integrated Waste Management Authority strictly prohibits any plastics labeled 'compostable' or 'biodegradable' in the green cart. All food scraps must be placed loosely into the organics bin.
How do I schedule a bulky item pickup?
Single-family residents get three free bulky item collections per year. Two are allocated for the Clean-Up Weeks, and one can be used anytime. You must call San Luis Garbage at (805) 543-0875 at least five days before your collection day to schedule the pickup.