Gray Bin (Trash)
Carts must be placed at the curb by 6:00 a.m. on collection day with the handles facing the curb and the lid completely closed. Leave at least 3 feet of space between carts and parked cars.
Accepted Items
- ✓Compostable and biodegradable plastics (even BPI certified)
- ✓Diapers and feminine hygiene products
- ✓Pet waste and cat litter
- ✓Polystyrene foam packaging and bubble wrap
- ✓Chip bags, wrappers, and non-recyclable plastics
Blue Bin (Recycling)
Empty all recyclables loosely into the blue container. Never place recyclables inside plastic bags. Lightly rinse out containers to ensure they are free of food residue.
Accepted Items
- ✓Clean, dry paper and flattened cardboard
- ✓Glass bottles and jars (with metal caps)
- ✓Aluminum and tin cans
- ✓Rigid plastics (bottles, jugs, and tubs)
Do NOT Include
- ✕Plastic bags, film, and wrappers
- ✕Food waste and liquids
- ✕Polystyrene foam (Styrofoam)
- ✕Electronic waste or batteries
Yard Waste Bin
Do not put ANY plastic in the green cart, including bags labeled 'compostable'. Small amounts of cooking oil can be soaked up with a paper towel and included.
Accepted Items
- ✓Food scraps (meat, bones, seafood shells, dairy, fruits, vegetables)
- ✓Food-soiled paper (greasy pizza boxes, coffee filters, paper towels)
- ✓Plant debris (flowers, leaves, weeds)
- ✓Tree trimmings (less than 6 inches in diameter and 4 feet long)
Bulky Item Pickup
Frequency
Four (4) free bulky item pickups per calendar year for single-family property owners.
Placement
You must call Recology Vallejo at (707) 552-3110 to schedule the pickup in advance. Apartment tenants must coordinate with their property manager to schedule a pickup.
Accepted
- ✓ Couches and bulky furniture
- ✓ Refrigerators and major appliances
- ✓ Excess bagged garbage
- ✓ Mattresses
Not Accepted
- ✕ Household hazardous waste (paint, oil, chemicals)
- ✕ Dirt, rocks, concrete, and construction debris
- ✕ Liquid waste
- ✕ Explosives or radioactive materials
If you exceed your four free annual pickups, or if you are a commercial customer, additional bulky item removals can be scheduled for an extra fee.
Holiday Schedule
General Rule
Recology Vallejo operates as usual on all holidays EXCEPT Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Year's Day. If your collection day falls on or after one of these three holidays, service will be delayed by one day for the remainder of that week.
Yard Waste Exception
Organics and recycling follow the exact same holiday delay schedule as the gray garbage cart.
For all other major holidays, such as Memorial Day, Labor Day, or Independence Day, Recology drivers operate on a normal schedule. Do not delay putting out your carts.
Observed Holidays
!Contamination Tips
Keep Bioplastics in the Gray Cart
Unlike some regional programs, Recology Vallejo strictly forbids bioplastics and compostable plastics from the green organics cart. Cups, bags, or utensils labeled 'biodegradable' must go to the landfill.
Recycle Loosely, Never in Bags
Plastic garbage bags and film wrap severely tangle the sorting equipment at the Vallejo Materials Recovery Facility. Toss your clean recyclables completely loose into the blue cart.
Shredded Paper Strategy
Loose shredded paper can blow away and cause litter during collection. To safely dispose of shredded paper, place it inside a sealed paper bag before tossing it into your blue recycling cart, or layer it within your green organics cart.
Seasonal Information
Summer
June - SeptemberTo combat extreme odors and fruit flies during hot Vallejo summers, Recology recommends storing your meat, dairy, and food scraps in a container in your freezer. Transfer the frozen scraps directly into your green cart the night before your collection day.
Winter
December - JanuaryIf your normal collection day falls on or immediately after Christmas Day or New Year's Day, your service will be delayed by one day. Recology also typically provides dedicated holiday tree collection during the weeks following Christmas.
About Vallejo Waste Management
Streamlined Waste Collection with Recology Vallejo
The City of Vallejo partners exclusively with Recology to provide weekly curbside solid waste collection. Every residential customer receives a bundled three-cart setup: a gray cart for landfill garbage, a blue cart for mixed recycling, and a green cart for organic waste. To encourage maximum diversion, residents are automatically provided a 64-gallon organics bin at no extra cost alongside their paid garbage subscription.
Taking Advantage of Four Free Bulky Item Pickups
For large cleanouts or furniture disposal, single-family property owners in Vallejo receive an exceptional perk: four free bulky item pickups every calendar year. Each scheduled collection allows you to discard up to two cubic yards of material—roughly equivalent to ten 32-gallon trash bags. You must call Recology Vallejo at (707) 552-3110 to schedule the pickup for large items like couches, refrigerators, or bagged excess garbage.
SB 1383 Compliance and the Compostable Plastics Ban
While Vallejo actively enforces California's SB 1383 mandate to divert food scraps and food-soiled paper into the green organics cart, the city enforces a strict local contamination rule. Absolutely no 'compostable' or 'biodegradable' plastics are accepted in the green bin. Even if a utensil or cup is stamped as BPI-certified compostable, the local processing facilities cannot break it down fast enough, meaning these bioplastics must be thrown in your gray landfill cart.
Accessible Drop-Off for Household Hazardous Waste
Toxic items such as leftover paint, motor oil, batteries, and strong cleaning chemicals pose extreme fire and environmental risks if placed in standard curbside carts. Fortunately, Vallejo residents have access to the Napa-Vallejo Household Hazardous Waste Collection Facility located on Devlin Road in neighboring American Canyon. The facility is completely free for residential drop-offs and operates every Friday and Saturday from 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
Drop-off Facilities
Napa-Vallejo Household Hazardous Waste Collection Facility
889A Devlin Road, American Canyon, CA 94503
Materials Accepted
Recology Vallejo-American Canyon Recycling Facility
2021 Broadway Street, Vallejo, CA 94589
Materials Accepted
Frequently Asked Questions
How many free bulky item pickups do Vallejo residents get?
Single-family property owners in Vallejo are entitled to four free bulky item pickups every calendar year. Each pickup allows for up to 2 cubic yards of material (about ten 32-gallon bags). You must call Recology Vallejo to schedule.
Can I put compostable plastic cups in the green organic cart?
No. Recology Vallejo strictly prohibits all bioplastics and compostable plastics, including BPI-certified items, from the green organics cart. They do not break down efficiently at the local facility and must be placed in your gray landfill cart.
Will my garbage be picked up on Labor Day or Memorial Day?
Yes. Recology Vallejo works a normal schedule on almost all holidays, including Labor Day, Memorial Day, and Independence Day. The only three holidays that cause a one-day service delay are Thanksgiving Day, Christmas Day, and New Year's Day.
How should I dispose of used cooking oil?
Small amounts of cooking grease or oil can be soaked up with a paper towel and tossed directly into your green organics cart. Large quantities should be contained and taken to the Napa-Vallejo Household Hazardous Waste Collection Facility.