Gray Bin (Trash)
All trash must fit inside the cart with the lid completely closed. Hazardous waste, construction debris, electronics, and liquids are strictly prohibited.
Accepted Items
- ✓Bagged cat litter and animal feces
- ✓Mylar bags (chip bags, candy wrappers)
- ✓Diapers and feminine hygiene products
- ✓Ceramic dishware and glassware
- ✓Styrofoam and foam packing materials
- ✓Non-compostable plastics and plastic wrappers
- ✓Extinguished cigarette butts
Blue Bin (Recycling)
All recyclables must be empty, clean, and dry. Do not bag recyclables in plastic bags; place items loose in the cart.
Accepted Items
- ✓Clean, unsoiled paper and non-waxed cardboard
- ✓Plastic bottles, tubs, and jugs (caps left on)
- ✓Glass bottles and jars (metal lids included)
- ✓Aluminum and tin cans
- ✓Junk mail, magazines, and cereal boxes
Do NOT Include
- ✕Plastic bags, wrappers, or film
- ✕Items labeled 'compostable' or 'biodegradable'
- ✕Food scraps and liquids
- ✕Styrofoam
- ✕Clothing or textiles
- ✕Batteries and electronics
Yard Waste Bin
No 'compostable' or 'biodegradable' plastics allowed. Use paper bags or place materials loosely inside the green cart.
Accepted Items
- ✓Food scraps (meat, bones, dairy, bread, vegetables, shells)
- ✓Food-soiled paper (greasy pizza boxes, coffee filters, paper napkins)
- ✓Leaves, grass clippings, and weeds
- ✓Tree trimmings and branches (under 6 inches diameter and 4 feet long)
Bulky Item Pickup
Frequency
2 free pickups per year per residential account.
Placement
Items must be placed at the curb. No single item may exceed 4 feet by 4 feet by 2 feet, with the exception of household appliances and televisions.
Accepted
- ✓ Furniture (couches, recliners, loveseats)
- ✓ Mattresses and box springs
- ✓ Large appliances (washers, dryers, dishwashers)
- ✓ Large TVs and household electronics
- ✓ Water heaters
Not Accepted
- ✕ Liquids and hazardous waste
- ✕ Dirt, rock, concrete, and asphalt
- ✕ Items with internal combustion engines (lawnmowers)
- ✕ Auto parts containing fluids
- ✕ Propane tanks
Items containing Freon (like refrigerators) will incur a $73.26 processing fee, even if utilizing a free bulky item pickup.
Holiday Schedule
General Rule
If an observed holiday falls on a weekday, service for that day and the remainder of the week will be delayed by one day. If the holiday falls on a weekend, residential service usually remains on schedule.
Yard Waste Exception
Organics and yard waste are collected on the same delayed schedule as regular trash and recycling.
Not all Recology service areas observe the exact same holidays. For Santa Rosa specifically, holidays like Thanksgiving and Labor Day prompt service delays for the city, even if neighboring jurisdictions operate differently.
Observed Holidays
!Contamination Tips
Ditch the Compostable Plastics
Even if a plastic cup, utensil, or bag clearly says 'biodegradable' or 'compostable,' it cannot go in the green compost cart. Regional Sonoma County facilities cannot process them. Put them in the gray landfill bin instead.
Keep Plastic Bags Out of Recycling
Never bag your recyclables in plastic garbage bags, and never throw loose plastic wrappers or grocery bags into the blue bin. They tangle in the sorting machinery at the material recovery facility and cause system shutdowns.
Clean and Dry Recyclables Only
A half-full soda bottle or an unrinsed peanut butter jar can ruin an entire load of clean paper and cardboard. Always rinse out and dry your plastic, glass, and metal containers before tossing them in the blue cart.
Seasonal Information
Fall/Winter
November to JanuaryDuring heavy leaf drop season, ensure all yard debris is placed inside the green cart with the lid closed. Branches must be cut to less than 4 feet long and under 6 inches in diameter.
Winter Holidays
December to JanuaryNatural holiday trees can be recycled after Christmas. They must be cut up to fit inside your green organic cart with the lid closed, or you can schedule a pickup using one of your free annual bulky item collections.
Spring
March to MaySpring cleaning is the perfect time to utilize your two free annual bulky item collections offered by Recology Sonoma Marin. Remember that construction materials, rocks, dirt, and hazardous liquids are not accepted in these cleanups.
About Santa Rosa Waste Management
Santa Rosa's Comprehensive Waste Franchise
Residential trash, recycling, and organic waste collection in Santa Rosa is exclusively managed by Recology Sonoma Marin. Operating under a long-term franchise agreement with the city that extends through 2032, Recology provides a standardized three-bin system. This framework is explicitly designed to meet California's strict diversion goals, shifting as much waste as possible away from local landfills and into Sonoma County's recycling and composting streams.
Heavy Emphasis on Organics and Composting
Unlike many municipalities that limit yard waste to basic grass clippings, Santa Rosa places a massive emphasis on a comprehensive organics program. The green compost cart is meant for all food scraps, food-soiled paper products like greasy pizza boxes, and standard yard trimmings. However, Recology strongly cautions against using any 'compostable' plastic bags or utensils. Regional processing facilities cannot break these plastics down, so residents are instructed to use paper bags or simply toss organics directly into the bin.
Strict Bin Placement and 24-Hour Grace Period
To maintain neighborhood aesthetics and keep the public right-of-way clear, the City of Santa Rosa enforces a strict 24-hour grace period for garbage carts. Residents can roll their bins to the curb no earlier than 24 hours before their scheduled collection day. Following pickup, bins must be removed from the curb within 24 hours and stored out of public view, such as behind a fence or in a garage.
Free Annual Bulky Item Allowances
Dealing with bulky household junk in Santa Rosa is heavily subsidized by your standard residential rates. Every household account includes two free curbside bulky item pickups per year. Each pickup allows for up to three cubic yards of material—roughly equivalent to twelve 50-gallon bags. This program seamlessly accepts broken furniture, mattresses, and non-freon appliances, which drastically cuts down on illegal dumping in Sonoma County.
Synergy with Street Sweeping
Waste collection in Santa Rosa goes hand-in-hand with municipal street sweeping efforts to prevent debris from entering the local watershed. The city urges residents to make sure cart lids are closed completely to prevent overflow on windy days. Furthermore, residents are asked to keep vehicles parked in driveways on sweeping days, ensuring both Recology collection trucks and city sweepers have unimpeded access to the curb.
Drop-off Facilities
Laguna Treatment Plant (Trucked Waste Program)
4300 Llano Road, Santa Rosa, CA 95407
Materials Accepted
Recology Sonoma Marin Administration Office
3400 Standish Avenue, Santa Rosa, CA 95407
Materials Accepted
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I put compostable plastic bags in my green organics cart in Santa Rosa?
No. Recology Sonoma Marin strictly prohibits 'biodegradable' or 'compostable' labeled plastics in the green bin, as regional compost facilities cannot break them down. Use standard paper bags or put your food scraps directly into the cart.
How long can I leave my trash bins on the curb in Santa Rosa?
The City of Santa Rosa enforces a strict 24-hour grace period. You may place your bins out no earlier than 24 hours before your collection day, and you must return them to a location out of public view within 24 hours after collection.
Does Recology pick up old refrigerators or mattresses for free?
Yes, residential customers in Santa Rosa receive two free bulky item collections per year (up to 3 cubic yards each). Mattresses and appliances are accepted, though items containing Freon, like refrigerators, will incur a $73.26 environmental processing fee.
What should I do if my recycling or trash bin overflows?
All lids must close completely to prevent litter and allow the automated trucks to lift the bins safely. If you have excess waste, you can request an extra bag pickup for a small fee, upgrade your cart size, or utilize one of your free bulky item pickups for larger overflow.