Gray Lid (Brown or Green Body) Bin (Trash)
Trash should be bagged to prevent litter. Carts must be placed curbside after 6:00 p.m. the day before your scheduled collection day and removed by 11:00 p.m. on collection day.
Accepted Items
- ✓Non-recyclable household garbage
- ✓Styrofoam and packing peanuts
- ✓Cold ashes
- ✓Pet waste and kitty litter
- ✓Diapers and wipes
- ✓Broken ceramics or glassware
Blue Lid (Brown or Green Body) Bin (Recycling)
All recyclables must be clean, empty, and dry. Keep materials loose inside the cart; never bag your recycling.
Accepted Items
- ✓Clean cardboard and paper
- ✓Junk mail and magazines
- ✓Glass bottles and jars
- ✓Aluminum and tin cans
- ✓Rigid plastic bottles, jugs, and tubs
Do NOT Include
- ✕Plastic bags
- ✕Food waste
- ✕Tanglers (cords, hoses, wires)
- ✕Styrofoam packaging
- ✕Clothing or textiles
Yard Waste Bin
Do not place organic waste in plastic bags. Place yard trimmings and food scraps directly into the cart or utilize compostable paper bags.
Accepted Items
- ✓Grass clippings and leaves
- ✓Tree trimmings and weeds
- ✓Food scraps (meat, bones, solid dairy, produce)
- ✓Food-soiled paper products
- ✓Greasy pizza boxes
Bulky Item Pickup
Frequency
One free collection per household annually (February through October).
Placement
Place approved items curbside in front of your property prior to 5:00 a.m. on your scheduled Clean Sweep day, ensuring they do not block sidewalks or traffic.
Accepted
- ✓ Mattresses and box springs
- ✓ Furniture (sofas, desks, chairs)
- ✓ Large household appliances
- ✓ Electronic waste (TVs, computer monitors)
- ✓ Excess bagged yard waste
Not Accepted
- ✕ Household hazardous waste
- ✕ Tires with rims
- ✕ Construction materials (dirt, concrete, rocks)
- ✕ Liquids and chemicals
- ✕ Commercial or industrial waste
If you miss the Clean Sweep window or need more than one pickup, additional bulky waste collections can be scheduled year-round with your hauler for an extra fee.
Holiday Schedule
General Rule
Collection schedules remain identical on all holidays except for Christmas Day and New Year's Day. During these two specific holiday weeks, collection services are delayed by one day.
Yard Waste Exception
Organics and recycling follow the exact same one-day delay rule as regular trash during the Christmas and New Year's weeks.
Holidays such as Memorial Day, Independence Day, Labor Day, and Thanksgiving do NOT cause a delay in your standard garbage collection schedule in Stockton.
Observed Holidays
!Contamination Tips
Keep Plastic Bags Out of Bins
Plastic bags wrap around the sorting gears at the recycling facilities, causing major delays. Never bag your recyclables, and keep plastic bags entirely out of your blue and green carts.
Cool Your Fireplace Ashes
If you are disposing of ashes from a fireplace or barbecue, ensure they are completely cooled before putting them into a bag and tossing them into the gray trash cart to prevent truck fires.
Say No to Tanglers
Old garden hoses, holiday lights, and electrical cords are considered 'tanglers.' They do not belong in the blue recycling cart and should either be reused, donated, or placed in the trash.
Seasonal Information
Winter
December to JanuaryDuring the Christmas and New Year's holiday weeks, collections are delayed by one day. Holiday trees can be collected curbside; ensure they are cut in half if over 6 feet tall and remove all lights, ornaments, and stands. Flocked trees cannot be recycled.
Fall
October to DecemberStockton enters 'Leaf Season' during these months, prompting the city to increase residential street sweeping from bi-weekly to weekly. Ensure your carts and vehicles are removed from the street on sweeping days.
Spring to Fall
February to OctoberThe Clean Sweep bulky item pickup program is active. Residents must call their specific hauler two weeks in advance to utilize their one free annual curbside collection for large household items.
About Stockton Waste Management
Stockton's Dual-Hauler System Explained
Residential solid waste in Stockton is managed through specialized franchise agreements split geographically between two major haulers: Republic Services and Waste Management. While all standard collection carts share uniform lid colors—gray for trash, blue for recycling, and green for organics—the body color of your carts dictates your provider. Brown-bodied carts signify Republic Services territory, while green-bodied carts are serviced by Waste Management.
Mastering Organics and SB 1383 Compliance
To meet California's SB 1383 climate mandates, Stockton residents must separate all organic material from standard landfill waste. Your green-lidded cart is designed to handle all yard trimmings alongside kitchen food scraps, including vegetable peels, solid dairy, meat, bones, and greasy pizza boxes. If your household generates substantial organic waste, the City of Stockton allows residential customers to request an additional 90-gallon organics cart entirely free of charge.
The Clean Sweep Bulky Waste Program
Between the months of February and October, eligible households living in single-family homes, duplexes, or triplexes can take advantage of the Clean Sweep program. This initiative grants one free curbside pickup of bulky items per year. Since this service operates strictly by appointment, residents must contact their respective hauler at least two weeks in advance to secure a collection slot for old furniture, mattresses, or large household appliances.
Leaf Season and Street Sweeping Schedules
Stockton operates a rigorous street sweeping program to prevent debris from infiltrating the San Joaquin River via local storm drains. Standard residential sweeping occurs on a bi-weekly basis for most of the year. However, during the heavy "Leaf Season" spanning from October through December, the city proactively increases its street sweeping frequency to a weekly schedule across all municipal roads.
Drop-off Facilities
San Joaquin County Household Hazardous Waste Consolidation Facility
7850 R.A. Bridgeford Street, Stockton, CA 95206
Materials Accepted
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I know if my hauler is Republic Services or Waste Management in Stockton?
In Stockton, all carts have standard lid colors based on the state mandate, but the cart body color identifies your specific hauler. Brown-bodied carts belong to Republic Services, while green-bodied carts are serviced by Waste Management. You can also verify your service provider by entering your address into the City's 'About Your Address' GIS portal.
Are there any free bulky item pickups for Stockton residents?
Yes, through the city's Clean Sweep program, eligible single-family homes, duplexes, and triplexes receive one free bulky waste pickup annually. This program runs exclusively from February through October. You must contact your specific garbage company two weeks in advance to schedule the appointment.
How do I properly dispose of food waste to comply with SB 1383?
All food scraps—including meat, bones, solid dairy, and food-soiled paper—must be placed into your green-lidded organics cart alongside your yard trimmings. Never put food waste in the gray trash cart, and do not use plastic bags to collect your compostable materials.
Why does the street sweeping schedule change in the fall?
From October through December, Stockton experiences its 'Leaf Season.' To prevent fallen leaves and debris from clogging storm drains and polluting local waterways, the city temporarily increases residential street sweeping services from a bi-weekly to a weekly schedule.