Weekly Collection Schedule
Official municipal pickup timing for San Pablo
Collections in California municipal routes run weekly (Mon-Fri). Your specific collection day is determined by your local neighborhood route.
State Mandate
Follow SB 1383 guidelines for food waste.
Utility Billing & Payments
Manage your local solid waste services
Solid waste and recycling services in San Pablo are provided and billed directly by Republic Services. Single-family residential households are also entitled to three free on-call curbside cleanup pickups per calendar year.
Billing Cycle
Bi-Monthly
Accepted Methods
Online, Auto-Pay, Phone, Mail, Online Banking
Pro Tip / Discount
Discounted rates are available for qualifying senior residents (age 62+) and low-income households enrolled in CARE or FERA programs. On-site cart collection assistance is also offered for residents with disabilities.
Black or Brown Bin (Trash)
Lids must be securely shut with no materials extending past the rim. Ensure all household garbage is securely bagged before placing it in the trash cart.
Accepted Items
- ✓Single-use plastic wrap, film, and bags
- ✓Polystyrene and Styrofoam cups, plates, or blocks
- ✓Disposable baby diapers and sanitary wipes
- ✓Mylar chip bags, snack wraps, and candy packaging
- ✓Broken ceramics, dishes, mirrors, and window glass
- ✓Garden hoses, PVC pipes, and plastic cutlery
- ✓Plywood, painted wood, and treated timber
Blue Bin (Recycling)
Do not bag recyclables; place all accepted glass, metal, plastic, and paper completely loose, dry, and clean inside the blue recycling cart.
Accepted Items
- ✓Clean cardboard and paperboard
- ✓Dry mixed paper, junk mail, catalogs, and newspapers
- ✓Glass bottles and jars (emptied and rinsed)
- ✓Aluminum beverage cans and clean foil
- ✓Steel, tin, and bi-metal food cans
- ✓Plastic containers with numbers #1, #2, and #5 only
Do NOT Include
- ✕Plastic grocery bags or loose stretch film
- ✕Styrofoam products of any kind
- ✕Food-soiled cardboard or greasy pizza boxes
- ✕Garden hoses, electrical cords, and wire hangers
- ✕Batteries and electronic waste
- ✕Plastics #3, #4, #6, and #7
Yard Waste Bin
No plastic bags of any kind are allowed. You may line your green bin or food pail with paper bags, newspapers, or BPI-certified compostable bags.
Accepted Items
- ✓Kitchen food scraps (raw/cooked meat, bones, dairy, fruit, bread, pasta)
- ✓Food-soiled paper napkins, plates, and greasy pizza boxes
- ✓Grass clippings, yard weeds, leaves, and flowers
- ✓Clean, untreated, unpainted natural wood scraps
- ✓Small prunings and branches under 4 inches in diameter
Bulky Item Pickup
Frequency
3 free scheduled collections per calendar year (under the 2025/2026 agreement)
Placement
Place all scheduled bulky items within three feet of your curbside edge by 6:00 AM on the pre-arranged collection morning, ensuring they do not block sidewalks or pedestrian pathways.
Accepted
- ✓ Large home appliances (refrigerators, washers, dryers, stoves - doors sealed or removed)
- ✓ Oversized furniture (sofas, tables, chairs, mattresses, box springs)
- ✓ Electronic waste (TVs, computer monitors, stereos)
- ✓ Yard trimmings and unpainted wood (up to 4 feet in length and bundled)
- ✓ Extra bagged municipal solid waste (up to 15 bags, under 40 lbs each)
Not Accepted
- ✕ Construction and home demolition debris (drywall, tiles, concrete)
- ✕ Rocks, dirt, bricks, and sod
- ✕ Automobile parts and vehicle engines
- ✕ Household hazardous waste (liquid paints, automotive fluids, chemical cleaners)
The initial three collections are free. Piles exceeding program limits or additional requests outside of the three annual credits can be arranged through Republic Services for an added fee.
Holiday Schedule
General Rule
Republic Services observes five major holidays. If your scheduled collection day falls on or after an observed weekday holiday, your collection service will be delayed by exactly one day for the remainder of that holiday week.
Yard Waste Exception
All organics and recycling collection routes shift uniformly in accordance with the holiday delay schedule.
Collections proceed exactly as scheduled on normal weekdays for all other federal or state holidays, including Memorial Day or Veterans Day.
Observed Holidays
Seasonal Information
Autumn Leaf Fall Management
October - DecemberHeavy autumn leaf accumulation must be placed directly inside your green organics cart. Residents are strictly prohibited from sweeping, blowing, or piling leaves into street gutters, as they clog storm drains and block street sweeping operations.
Post-Holiday Christmas Tree Recycling
JanuaryNatural, undecorated Christmas trees can be recycled curbside. Strip all tinsel, stands, lights, and ornaments. Cut the tree down to fit entirely inside your green organics cart with the lid closed. Artificially flocked trees belong in the garbage.
Local Tips & Community Info
Navigating San Pablo's RecycleMore Solid Waste Program
In the city of San Pablo, residential garbage and recycling operations are overseen by RecycleMore (the West Contra Costa Integrated Waste Management Authority) and actively serviced by Republic Services. Standard collections happen once a week for all three primary bins: garbage, recycling, and organics. To ensure your address is not skipped, residents must wheel their carts to the curb edge no later than 6:00 AM on their designated neighborhood collection day. Be sure to position the carts with the handles facing your property and leave roughly three feet of clearance between each container.
Strict Organics and Composting Mandates
Complying with California's rigorous organic waste reduction laws is mandatory for all San Pablo households. Your green cart is strictly designated for yard trimmings, uncoated soiled paper products, and all food scraps, including meat, dairy, and bones. Republic Services conducts routine route audits, and putting non-compostable items like plastic wrappers, glass, or treated wood into the green container can result in warning tags and eventual contamination surcharges on your municipal bill.
Proper Disposal of West County Hazardous Waste
Never throw toxic chemicals or combustible materials into your curbside carts. San Pablo residents have complimentary access to the West County HHW Collection Facility located nearby in Richmond. This facility safely processes hazardous materials like leftover latex or oil-based paint, motor oil, swimming pool chemicals, pesticides, and old fluorescent light bulbs. When transporting these items, leave them in their original containers and ensure the lids are tightly sealed to prevent transit spills.
Annual On-Call Cleanups for Oversized Freight
Whether you are clearing out a cluttered garage or replacing old furniture, San Pablo homeowners are entitled to pre-scheduled, on-call bulky item cleanups each year through Republic Services. This benefit covers large appliances, mattresses, bundled yard debris, and oversized furniture. You must contact the customer service center by phone to reserve your specific pickup date well in advance, as route calendars fill up rapidly during the spring and summer months.
Adjustments for Major Holidays
Republic Services recognizes a limited number of major holidays, primarily Thanksgiving Day, Christmas Day, and New Year's Day. If your standard collection day falls on or after one of these dates during the workweek, your pickup will be delayed by one 24-hour period. For instance, Thursday routes will be serviced on Friday, and Friday routes will shift to Saturday. Regular scheduling always resets on the following Monday.
Drop-off Facilities
West Contra Costa Household Hazardous Waste (HHW) Facility
101 Pittsburg Ave, Richmond, CA 94801
Materials Accepted
Golden Bear Transfer Station
1 Parr Blvd, Richmond, CA 94801
Materials Accepted
Frequently Asked Questions
Who do I call if Republic Services missed my trash pickup?
If your containers were out by 6:00 AM but were skipped, you should report the missed collection directly to the local Republic Services dispatch at (510) 262-7100 within 24 hours to schedule a driver return.
Can I put plastic grocery bags in my blue recycling cart?
No. Flimsy plastics like grocery bags, bubble wrap, and shrink wrap jam the mechanical sorting gears at the recycling plant. Take plastic film to local grocery store drop-offs or throw it in the regular trash.
How do I request a replacement for a broken trash lid or cracked wheel?
If your cart is damaged through normal wear and tear, contact Republic Services. They will dispatch a technician to either repair the damaged components or swap out the entire bin at no cost to you.