Weekly Collection Schedule
Official municipal pickup timing for Stockton
Trash Day
Collection runs Monday through Friday depending on your neighborhood and service area. Specific service days can be verified via the City's 'About Your Address' online tool.
Recycling
Collected weekly on the same day as trash in the designated recycling cart.
Yard Waste
Collected weekly on the same day as trash in the green-lid organics cart.
Set Out Time
Place carts curbside after 6:00 PM the evening before or by 5:00 AM on collection day
Utility Billing & Payments
Manage your local solid waste services
Stockton is divided between two haulers—Republic Services (brown-bodied carts) and Waste Management (green-bodied carts). Monthly service includes 12 extra trash stickers per year and one free annual Clean Sweep bulky item pickup.
Billing Cycle
Monthly
Accepted Methods
Online, Phone, Mail, Drop Box, In Person
Pro Tip / Discount
Eligible senior and disabled residents can receive free backyard collection service with medical verification. Lower rates are also offered for choosing smaller 30-gallon trash carts.
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
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.
Local Tips & Community Info
Stockton Trash & Recycling Pickup Schedule
Residents in Stockton, California, receive weekly curbside garbage and recycling collection services through private haulers like Waste Management (WM) and Republic Services. To ensure a smooth pickup, it is crucial to know your specific collection day. You can view your neighborhood's service schedule online or log into your hauler account to get ETA updates on collection day. Bins should be placed on the street with wheels against the curb by 5:00 a.m. on your designated service day. Make sure to remove your empty bins from the street by the end of the same day to comply with city neighborhood regulations.
Bin Placement and Collection Guidelines
Proper cart placement helps keep Stockton streets clean and ensures automated trucks can safely empty your bins. Always leave at least three feet of space between your carts and keep them away from vehicles, mailboxes, and trees. Ensure that cart lids are completely closed; overfilled carts with open lids can result in a non-collection notice or extra charges. Additionally, all standard household trash should be bagged before going into the dark gray or black cart. However, do not bag recyclables or yard waste, as this interferes with the sorting facilities.
Organics, Food Scraps, and Yard Waste Rules
Following California's SB 1383 mandate, all Stockton residents must separate food scraps, food-soiled paper, and yard debris into their designated green waste carts. You are no longer allowed to toss food waste into your regular trash container. Yard waste, such as grass clippings, leaves, and small branches, must be placed loosely in the green bin without plastic bags. By properly composting organics, Stockton is actively reducing landfill methane emissions. If you exceed the standard 250-pound limit on your 96-gallon cart with heavy wet grass or sod, the driver might be unable to service it.
Holiday Collection Delays
Stockton trash collection follows a standard holiday schedule. When a major holiday falls on a weekday, services for the rest of that week are typically pushed back by one day. For example, if Thanksgiving is on a Thursday, Thursday routes will be collected on Friday, and Friday routes on Saturday. However, if a holiday falls on a Saturday or Sunday, there are no delays to the regular weekly service. It is always best to check your local hauler's online calendar during Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Year's to confirm your exact pickup day.
Bulk Waste Disposal and Junk Removal
You cannot throw large household items, construction debris, concrete, or hazardous waste into your weekly trash carts. If you are doing a minor home remodel or a major garage cleanout, Stockton residents can schedule special bulk waste collections. Both WM and Republic Services offer options for large item pickup, or you can hire permitted private junk removal services to haul away old furniture, appliances, and yard debris. Hazardous materials such as paint, motor oil, and electronics must be taken to the San Joaquin County Household Hazardous Waste facility.
What to Do If You Experience a Missed Pickup
Even with the best planning, sometimes a trash pickup gets missed. If your carts were out by 5:00 a.m. and met all clearance rules but were skipped, you can easily report a missed pickup. Residents can go online or call their specific waste hauler within five days of the missed service attempt. Just ensure your containers weren't tagged for overfilling, excess weight, or containing unacceptable materials like construction waste. Providing clear access to your bins and following local disposal guidelines usually prevents these issues.
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.