Gray Bin (Trash)
Place your cart out by 6:00 AM on your scheduled pickup day with wheels against the curb. Maintain 2 feet of clearance between carts and 5 feet from other obstacles like parked cars.
Accepted Items
- ✓Standard household garbage
- ✓Snack wrappers and chip bags
- ✓Styrofoam (polystyrene)
- ✓Diapers and pet waste
- ✓Broken ceramics and glassware
- ✓Treated or painted wood
Blue Bin (Recycling)
Never bag your recyclables. All items must be empty, clean, dry, and placed loosely inside the blue cart. Flatten all cardboard boxes so they fit entirely inside the container.
Accepted Items
- ✓Plastics #1 through #7 (bottles, jugs, and tubs)
- ✓Clean paper, newspaper, and junk mail
- ✓Flattened corrugated cardboard
- ✓Glass bottles and jars (all colors)
- ✓Aluminum cans, tin cans, and clean foil
Do NOT Include
- ✕Plastic grocery bags
- ✕Food waste and liquids
- ✕Styrofoam packaging
- ✕Electronic waste
- ✕Hazardous materials and batteries
Yard Waste Bin
Place all food scraps and yard trimmings directly into the green compost cart. Do not line the cart or your kitchen pail with standard plastic bags.
Accepted Items
- ✓Grass clippings, leaves, and weeds
- ✓Small tree branches and prunings
- ✓Meat, fish, poultry, and bones
- ✓Fruits, vegetables, and dairy products
- ✓Coffee grounds and filters
- ✓Food-soiled paper products
Bulky Item Pickup
Frequency
Two free collections per calendar year
Placement
Place approved items at the curb no earlier than 24 hours in advance, and no later than 6:00 a.m. on the scheduled pickup day. The total set-out cannot exceed an 8-cubic yard area.
Accepted
- ✓ Couches, chairs, and household furniture
- ✓ Major appliances (one of each type per event)
- ✓ Mattresses and box springs
- ✓ Clean, unfinished wood (max 4 ft long and tied)
- ✓ Bagged or bundled yard trimmings
Not Accepted
- ✕ Hazardous waste and liquid paint
- ✕ Construction and demolition debris (concrete, dirt, tiles)
- ✕ Electronics (TVs, computers, monitors)
- ✕ Auto parts and tires
- ✕ Items exceeding 150 lbs or 5 feet in length
The first two bulky collections are free. Exceeding the size limit, weight limits, or requesting additional cleanups will result in additional bulky item collection fees.
Holiday Schedule
General Rule
When a recognized holiday falls on a weekday, curbside collections for the remainder of that week will be delayed by one day. For example, if your normal service day is Thursday, it will be delayed to Friday.
Yard Waste Exception
This one-day holiday delay applies uniformly to all three collection streams: the gray landfill, blue recycling, and green compost carts.
If the holiday falls on a Saturday or Sunday, there is no disruption, and the regular weekday collection schedule remains unchanged.
Observed Holidays
!Contamination Tips
Keep the Blue Cart Bag-Free
Bagging recyclables in standard plastic trash bags ruins the recycling process because they easily jam the sorting machinery at the Tri-CED facility. Always place your glass, plastic, metal, and paper items loosely into the blue cart.
Styrofoam is Strictly Garbage
While some plastics are highly recyclable, expanded polystyrene (commonly known as Styrofoam) is not accepted in your blue bin. Styrofoam takeout containers, cups, and packing peanuts must go into the gray landfill cart.
Batteries Require Special Handling
Never dispose of household batteries in any of your three curbside bins, as they are a leading cause of dangerous fires in collection trucks. Take them to the local Fremont Household Hazardous Waste (HHW) facility for safe processing.
Seasonal Information
Fall
October to NovemberDuring the heavy autumn leaf drop, remember that all yard waste must fit inside your green compost cart with the lid closed. If you have excessive yard waste, you may utilize one of your free annual bulky item appointments to have bagged or bundled green waste collected.
Winter
December to JanuaryDuring the wet winter months, ensure the lids on all your carts remain tightly closed to prevent rainwater from accumulating inside. Saturated cardboard and paper in the blue bin become unrecyclable and will end up in the landfill.
About Union City Waste Management
A Unique Split-Hauler System for Union City
Union City operates a distinct dual-provider system to manage its residential waste streams efficiently. Republic Services serves as the exclusive hauler for all gray landfill (garbage) carts and curbside bulky item collections. Meanwhile, Tri-CED Community Recycling—California's largest non-profit recycling collection organization—manages the blue recycling and green compost carts. Residents must contact the appropriate provider based on the specific service or cart they need assistance with.
Recent Transition to Direct Residential Billing
In a significant administrative shift that took effect in July 2025, single-family homeowners in Union City no longer pay for their landfill, compost, and recycling services directly through their annual Alameda County property tax bills. Instead, Republic Services transitioned to direct quarterly billing. This change provides better transparency for households regarding the actual costs of their three-cart curbside collection services, while the annual stormwater fee remains on the property tax statement.
Maximizing Organics Diversion Under SB 1383
To meet California's stringent SB 1383 regulations, Union City mandates that all food scraps, soiled paper, and yard trimmings be separated from landfill waste. Residents are issued a 96-gallon green compost cart managed by Tri-CED, along with a free Food Scraps Kitchen Pail to easily collect indoor organics like meat, dairy, and coffee grounds. Diverting these organic materials from the landfill directly reduces potent greenhouse gas emissions and generates nutrient-rich compost.
Convenient Self-Haul and CRV Buyback Services
Beyond regular curbside service, Union City provides accessible options for excess waste and recycling. If you have extra garbage that exceeds your gray cart's capacity, you can self-haul materials to the nearby Fremont Recycling and Transfer Station on Boyce Road. Alternatively, residents looking to earn money for their California Refund Value (CRV) beverage containers can visit the Tri-CED Community Recycling facility on Western Avenue for local buyback services.
Drop-off Facilities
Fremont Recycling & Transfer Station
41149 Boyce Road, Fremont, CA 94538
Materials Accepted
Tri-CED Community Recycling
33377 Western Avenue, Union City, CA 94587
Materials Accepted
Fremont Household Hazardous Waste (HHW) Facility
41149 Boyce Road, Fremont, CA 94538
Materials Accepted
Frequently Asked Questions
Who do I contact to replace a broken trash or recycling cart in Union City?
Since Union City uses two different haulers, you must contact Republic Services at 510-657-3500 for issues with your gray landfill cart. For any issues regarding your blue recycling or green compost carts, you need to contact Tri-CED Community Recycling at 510-429-8030.
Why did my garbage billing switch from my property taxes to a quarterly bill?
As of July 2025, Republic Services transitioned to direct quarterly billing for all single-family residential collection services. This change was implemented to provide residents with a clearer understanding of the actual costs of their curbside services, although the annual stormwater fee still remains on the property tax bill.
What happens if I have more garbage than fits in my gray cart?
Overflow materials left on the ground next to your cart will not be collected. If you occasionally have extra trash, you must contact Republic Services to purchase a prepaid 'overage' bag. If you consistently have too much waste, you should consider upgrading to a larger landfill cart.
Where can I safely dispose of an old television or computer monitor?
Electronics and e-waste are not accepted in your curbside bins or during standard bulky item pickups. You should take electronic waste directly to the Fremont Household Hazardous Waste Facility on Boyce Road or contact Tri-CED for local e-waste recycling options.