Weekly Collection Schedule
Official municipal pickup timing for Soledad
Trash Day
Collection runs weekly Monday through Friday depending on your neighborhood route.
Recycling
Recycling is collected weekly on the same day as trash in the blue cart.
Yard Waste
Yard and organic waste is collected weekly on the same day as trash in the green cart.
Set Out Time
By 5:00 AM on collection day
Utility Billing & Payments
Manage your local solid waste services
Residential trash collection services are bundled with municipal water and sewer charges on your monthly City of Soledad utility bill.
Billing Cycle
Monthly
Accepted Methods
Online, Bank Bill Pay, Mail, In Person, Authorized Cash Payment Locations
Brown Bin (Trash)
All trash placed in the brown garbage cart must be bagged to prevent litter from high Salinas Valley winds. Roll carts to the curb by 5:00 a.m. on your regular collection day.
Accepted Items
- ✓Foam and Styrofoam
- ✓Food or grease-soiled paper and cardboard
- ✓Fast-food wrappers and to-go cups
- ✓Napkins, paper towels, and tissue paper
- ✓Juice pouches and straws
- ✓Pressure-treated or painted wood
- ✓Garden hoses and tanglers
- ✓Window and mirror glass
Blue Bin (Recycling)
Put items into the recycling cart loose, not bagged or bundled. Containers must be empty, clean, dry, and loose. Flatten cardboard if possible.
Accepted Items
- ✓Clean paper and cardboard
- ✓Aluminum and tin cans
- ✓Plastics (empty and rinsed)
- ✓Glass bottles and jars
- ✓Shredded paper (in a clear plastic bag)
Do NOT Include
- ✕Food waste
- ✕Plastic grocery bags and film
- ✕Broken drinking glasses, vases, or mirrors
- ✕Yard waste
- ✕Hoses, wires, and cords
Green Bin (Yard Waste)
Place food scraps and yard trimmings directly into the green cart without any bags. Do not put bio-plastics, pressure-treated wood, or painted wood in this cart.
Accepted Items
- ✓Food scraps (meat, dairy, fruits, veggies, bones)
- ✓Leaves and grass clippings
- ✓Plant and flower trimmings
- ✓Small pieces of clean wood (up to 4 inches diameter)
- ✓Weeds
Bulky Item Pickup
Frequency
4 free pickups per year
Placement
Call 1-888-678-6798 to schedule your appointment in advance. Place the agreed-upon items at the curb by 5:00 a.m. on your scheduled pickup day.
Accepted
- ✓ Furniture (couches, tables, chairs)
- ✓ Mattresses
- ✓ Appliances (refrigerators, washers)
- ✓ Large household items
- ✓ Electronic waste
Not Accepted
- ✕ Hazardous waste and chemicals
- ✕ Building materials (bricks, dirt, concrete)
- ✕ Auto batteries
- ✕ Liquid waste
The first four bulky item pickups per calendar year (up to 5 items each) are completely free for residential customers.
Holiday Schedule
General Rule
If a recognized service holiday falls on a weekday, collections for the remainder of the week will be pushed back one day (e.g., Thursday service moves to Friday). If the holiday is on a weekend, there are no delays.
Yard Waste Exception
Organics and recycling follow the exact same holiday delay schedule as the brown garbage cart.
Tri-Cities Disposal only delays service for these four specific holidays. Pickups run on a normal schedule for all other holidays, including Memorial Day and Labor Day.
Observed Holidays
Seasonal Information
Summer/Fall
August - OctoberTri-Cities Disposal typically hosts a free community cleanup and drop-off event in Soledad every September. This is a great opportunity to safely dispose of excess household junk and yard debris that won't fit in your weekly carts.
Winter
December - JanuaryTri-Cities observes route delays for Christmas Day and New Year's Day. Additionally, residents can place natural holiday trees at the curb for green waste collection, provided all lights, ornaments, tinsel, and stands are completely removed.
Local Tips & Community Info
Tri-Cities Disposal & Recycling Services
For residents living in the heart of the Salinas Valley, the City of Soledad partners with Tri-Cities Disposal & Recycling to handle all residential and commercial waste needs. This franchise agreement ensures that household garbage, recyclable materials, and organic yard trimmings are collected efficiently every week. By utilizing modern sorting technologies, the community actively supports regional landfill reduction goals managed by the Salinas Valley Solid Waste Authority.
Early Morning Cart Placement Rules
A successful collection day starts with proper cart alignment. Soledad residents are required to push their bins out to the edge of the street no later than 6:00 a.m. on their scheduled pickup morning. To ensure the automated lifting arms on the garbage trucks can safely grab the containers, you must leave a minimum of three feet of space between each bin. Keep them well away from parked vehicles, basketball hoops, and mailboxes.
Complying with State Organics Mandates
Like the rest of California, Soledad is strictly enforcing the SB 1383 organics recycling laws. Your green yard waste bin is no longer just for grass clippings and branches. You are legally required to place all food scraps, coffee grounds, eggshells, and food-soiled paper products directly into the green cart. Mixing these items into the regular trash contributes to harmful methane emissions at the local dump, so strict adherence is vital.
Managing Oversized Household Waste
Disposing of an old couch or a broken refrigerator requires a bit of planning. Tri-Cities Disposal offers annual community clean-up events where residents can drop off bulky items. Alternatively, you can schedule a personalized curbside pickup for large, unwieldy objects by calling their customer support team. If you prefer to haul it yourself, the Johnson Canyon Landfill, located just outside of town, accepts various oversized items and construction debris for a nominal gate fee.
Safe Hazardous Material Disposal Sites
Never toss automotive fluids, harsh cleaning chemicals, wet paint, or lithium-ion batteries into your curbside bins. These volatile materials can spark massive fires inside collection trucks or leach toxins into the Salinas Valley groundwater. Soledad locals must transport their Household Hazardous Waste (HHW) to a designated Salinas Valley Solid Waste Authority drop-off site, such as the Sun Street Transfer Station or the Johnson Canyon facility, where these dangerous items are processed safely and free of charge.
Adjustments for Major Annual Holidays
Throughout the year, your weekly trash routine will remain largely uninterrupted. However, Tri-Cities Disposal does suspend operations for three specific holidays: Thanksgiving Day, Christmas Day, and New Year's Day. If your normal pickup falls on or after one of these observed dates during the workweek, your collection will slide back by 24 hours. Friday routes, for instance, will be collected on Saturday during those specific holiday weeks.
Drop-off Facilities
Johnson Canyon Landfill
31400 Johnson Canyon Rd, Gonzales, CA 93926
Materials Accepted
Madison Lane Recycling Center
340 West Madison St, Salinas, CA 93907
Materials Accepted
Frequently Asked Questions
Who provides garbage pickup services in the City of Soledad?
Residential and commercial waste collection in Soledad is exclusively provided by Tri-Cities Disposal & Recycling.
What time must my trash cans be placed at the curb?
All waste, recycling, and organic carts must be on the curb and ready for collection by 6:00 a.m. on your designated service day.
Where can I take my old car batteries and motor oil?
Automotive fluids and batteries must be taken to a designated Salinas Valley Solid Waste Authority HHW facility, such as the Johnson Canyon Landfill, for safe disposal.