Gray Bin (Trash)
All standard waste must be bagged and fit inside the gray cart with the lid completely closed. Do not overpack the bin; it cannot exceed 200 pounds.
Accepted Items
- ✓Standard household garbage
- ✓Plastic bags and film wrap
- ✓Diapers and pet waste
- ✓Styrofoam
- ✓Broken ceramics and dishware
- ✓Non-recyclable packaging
Blue Bin (Recycling)
Keep recyclables loose, clean, and dry. Do not bag recyclables in plastic bags. Household batteries can be placed in a sealed zip-top bag directly on top of the blue cart lid.
Accepted Items
- ✓Clean paper and flattened cardboard
- ✓Plastic bottles and jugs (empty)
- ✓Glass bottles and jars
- ✓Aluminum and tin cans
- ✓Junk mail and magazines
Do NOT Include
- ✕Plastic bags or film wrap
- ✕Food waste or liquids
- ✕Tanglers (cords, wires, hoses)
- ✕Styrofoam
- ✕Household hazardous waste
Yard Waste Bin
Keep all organics loose inside the green cart. Do not use plastic bags, even those labeled 'compostable' or 'biodegradable', as they contaminate the compost.
Accepted Items
- ✓Grass clippings and leaves
- ✓Tree branches and pruning
- ✓Food scraps (meat, dairy, produce)
- ✓Food-soiled paper (pizza boxes, napkins)
Bulky Item Pickup
Frequency
1 free curbside pickup and 1 free landfill pass per year
Placement
Once scheduled, place your approved bulky items at the curb next to your gray trash cart by 6:00 a.m. on your collection day.
Accepted
- ✓ 2 bulky items (furniture, appliances)
- ✓ Or 2 cubic yards of bagged household material
- ✓ Or 3 electronic waste items
Not Accepted
- ✕ Household hazardous waste
- ✕ Dirt, concrete, and rocks
- ✕ Construction and demolition debris
- ✕ Vehicle parts and tires
The first annual pickup of eligible items is free. Additional pickups or items beyond the limit will incur extra fees. You can also request a free annual landfill pass for up to 1,000 lbs.
Holiday Schedule
General Rule
If your regular collection day falls on or after an observed holiday (Thanksgiving, Christmas, or New Year's Day), your service will be delayed by one day for the remainder of that week.
Yard Waste Exception
The green organics cart follows the exact same holiday delay schedule as the standard trash and recycling carts.
If a major holiday falls on a Saturday or Sunday, there are no delays to the weekday residential curbside collection schedule.
Observed Holidays
!Contamination Tips
Tape Your Batteries
Never throw household batteries inside any of your carts. Instead, tape the contact points of lithium batteries, seal them in a clear plastic bag, and place the bag on top of your blue recycling cart on collection day.
Keep the Blue Cart Loose
Never place your clean recyclables inside a plastic garbage bag. The plastic film gets tangled in the sorting screens at the material recovery facility and can shut down the whole system.
No 'Compostable' Plastics in Organics
Even if a plastic bag, cup, or utensil is marketed as '100% compostable', it cannot be processed at the Jepson Prairie Organics facility. These must be thrown into your gray trash cart.
Seasonal Information
Winter
NovemberRecology frequently partners with local charities for a 'Give Winter Garb a Second Chance' program. You can place clean, unwanted coats and blankets in a clear plastic bag marked 'Winter Garb' next to your bins on collection day to donate to families in need.
Winter (Post-Holiday)
December to JanuaryAfter the holidays, you can recycle bare, unflocked Christmas trees. Remove all lights, stands, and ornaments. Check the Recology calendar for the specific tree pickup weeks where you can leave them at the curb.
About Vacaville Waste Management
Streamlined Three-Cart Collection by Recology
The City of Vacaville partners with Recology Vacaville Solano to provide weekly curbside solid waste collection [1.1.3]. Residents are issued a three-cart system consisting of a gray garbage cart, a blue recycling cart, and a green organics cart. To ensure smooth automated pickup, place all carts at the curb by 6:00 a.m. on your designated collection day. Position the bins with handles facing the curb, lids completely closed, and leave at least three feet of space between each cart and any vehicles or mailboxes.
Maximizing Your Green Organics Cart
Vacaville complies with California's SB 1383 organic waste mandates by requiring all food scraps and yard debris to go into the green cart. You can safely dispose of meat, dairy, bones, vegetable clippings, and food-soiled paper alongside grass clippings and leaves. Remember to keep these materials loose; do not place any type of plastic bag, even those labeled compostable, into your organics bin, as they can ruin the composting process at the Jepson Prairie Organics facility.
Free Curbside Battery Collection
Household batteries can spark dangerous fires in collection trucks and are strictly prohibited inside your carts. However, Recology offers a unique and convenient curbside collection for used household batteries. Simply seal your alkaline, button, and rechargeable batteries inside a clear plastic zip-top bag and set it directly on top of your blue recycling cart on collection day. For safety, always tape the contact points of lithium batteries before bagging them.
Taking Advantage of the Residential Cleanup Program
Disposing of old furniture or excess waste is easy with Vacaville's Residential Cleanup Program. Once a year, residential customers are entitled to a free curbside bulk pickup of either two large bulky items, two cubic yards of bagged household material, or three e-waste items. You must schedule this service by calling Recology at least one business day before your regular pickup. Additionally, every household can request one free annual pass to the Recology Hay Road Landfill to dispose of up to 1,000 pounds of waste at no cost.
Safe Disposal of Household Hazardous Waste (HHW)
Toxic materials such as paint, pool chemicals, pesticides, and motor oil should never be thrown into your curbside bins. Vacaville residents can safely recycle these dangerous products by visiting the Recology Vacaville Solano Recycling Center on Davis Street. The HHW drop-off facility is open every Saturday from 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. Just bring a valid photo ID or a recent Recology utility bill to prove your residency and take advantage of this free service.
Drop-off Facilities
Recology Vacaville Solano Recycling Center & HHW Facility
855 1/2 Davis Street, Vacaville, CA 95687
Materials Accepted
Recology Hay Road Landfill
6426 Hay Road, Vacaville, CA 95687
Materials Accepted
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I throw away an old mattress or large furniture in Vacaville?
Vacaville residential customers get one free Residential Cleanup Program pickup per year, which covers up to 2 bulky items like mattresses or furniture. You must call Recology at (707) 448-2945 to schedule it. Alternatively, you can drop off up to 5 mattresses for free at the Recology Recycling Center on Davis Street.
Can I use compostable bags for my food waste in the green cart?
No. Vacaville's Jepson Prairie Organics facility cannot process bio-plastics or compostable bags. All food scraps, including meat and dairy, must be tossed into the green organics cart completely loose alongside your yard trimmings.
What is the rule for placing trash carts on the street?
Recology requires you to place all three carts at the curb by 6:00 a.m. on your scheduled collection day. Ensure the lids are fully closed, the handles are facing the street, and there is at least a three-foot gap between each bin, parked cars, and mailboxes.
How do I get my free annual landfill pass?
Every residential household in Vacaville is entitled to one free landfill pass each year, allowing you to dispose of up to 1,000 pounds of waste at the Recology Hay Road Landfill for free. You simply need to call Recology customer service to request the pass.