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
!Contamination Tips
Food-Soiled Paper Goes in the Trash
Unlike many California cities, Tri-Cities Disposal requires residents to throw food-soiled paper, napkins, paper towels, and greasy pizza boxes into the brown garbage cart. The local composting facility cannot process these fiber materials.
No Compostable Bio-Plastics in the Green Cart
Just because a cup or utensil is labeled 'compostable' does not mean it belongs in your green cart. Bioplastics do not break down efficiently in the Salinas Valley regional composting system and must be treated as regular trash.
Bag Your Trash, But Keep Recycling Loose
High winds in the Salinas Valley can easily turn loose garbage into street litter. Tri-Cities Disposal mandates that all refuse in the brown cart be securely bagged. Conversely, items in the blue recycling cart must remain entirely loose, with the sole exception of shredded paper in a clear bag.
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.
About Soledad Waste Management
Exclusive Franchise Collection with Tri-Cities Disposal
In the City of Soledad, residential solid waste collection is exclusively managed by Tri-Cities Disposal & Recycling Service, working in conjunction with the Salinas Valley Solid Waste Authority. This partnership ensures that residents receive comprehensive weekly services, including standard refuse, mixed recycling, and organics collection. Carts must be rolled to the curb by 5:00 a.m. on collection day to avoid missed pickups.
Proper SB 1383 Organics Sorting in the Salinas Valley
California's SB 1383 legislation mandates that all Soledad households separate organic waste from landfill-bound garbage to curb methane emissions. Residents must toss food scraps like meat, bones, dairy, and fruit peels directly into the Green Cart alongside yard trimmings. Keep in mind that bioplastics and 'compostable' fiber containers do not break down in the local Salinas Valley composting system and must be thrown in the brown trash cart.
Mastering the 'Empty, Clean, Dry, and Loose' Recycling Rules
Tri-Cities Disposal emphasizes a strict 'Empty, Clean, Dry, and Loose' policy for the Blue Recycling Cart. Residents should never bag their recyclables, as plastic bags jam the sorting machinery at the materials recovery facility. The only exception to this rule is shredded paper, which must be secured in a clear plastic bag. Everything else—from aluminum cans to cardboard—should be tossed loosely into the bin.
Convenient Curbside Motor Oil and Filter Collection
A standout feature of Soledad's waste program is the free curbside collection of used motor oil and filters. Rather than driving to a household hazardous waste facility, residents can call Tri-Cities Disposal to request approved oil recycling jugs. Once filled, these jugs can simply be placed beside the green waste cart on your regularly scheduled pickup day for safe, hassle-free disposal.
Four Free Bulky Item Pickups Annually
Soledad residents are afforded generous bulk waste disposal options directly through their standard utility service. Households can schedule up to four bulky item pickups each year at no additional cost. Each appointment allows for the curbside removal of up to five large items, such as broken furniture, mattresses, or old appliances, helping keep the community free of illegal dumping.
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
How do I set up or change my trash service in Soledad?
To establish new residential or commercial garbage service, you must contact the City of Soledad City Hall directly at 831-223-5000. However, for bulky item pickups or missed collection issues, you should contact Tri-Cities Disposal directly at 1-888-678-6798.
Where do I dispose of used motor oil in Soledad?
Tri-Cities Disposal offers free curbside used motor oil and filter collection. You must call 1-888-678-6798 to request an approved oil recycling container. Once full, simply place it next to your green yard waste cart on your regular collection day.
Does my garbage get picked up on Thanksgiving Day in Soledad?
No. Tri-Cities Disposal observes Thanksgiving Day, Christmas Day, New Year's Day, and the 4th of July. If your normal pickup day falls on or after the holiday, your service will be delayed by one day for the remainder of that week.
Why can't I put compostable plastics in my green cart?
The regional composting facilities operated by the Salinas Valley Solid Waste Authority cannot fully break down bioplastics and fiber food containers within their processing timeframe. These items contaminate the finished compost and must be placed in the brown garbage cart instead.