Black or Grey Bin (Trash)
Use the landfill cart solely for non-recyclable, non-organic, and non-hazardous materials. Bag your trash to prevent littering.
Accepted Items
- ✓Pet waste and cat litter
- ✓Diapers
- ✓Treated wood and painted materials
- ✓Styrofoam packing peanuts
- ✓Broken ceramics and glass
- ✓Chip bags and snack wrappers
Blue Bin (Recycling)
All recyclables must be Empty, Clean, and Dry. Place items loosely in the blue cart without bagging them.
Accepted Items
- ✓Clean cardboard and paper
- ✓Plastic containers #1-7
- ✓Small household metal cans
- ✓Glass bottles and jars
- ✓Junk mail and magazines
Do NOT Include
- ✕Food waste or liquids
- ✕Plastic bags (unless used to hold batteries on top of the lid)
- ✕Styrofoam
- ✕Tanglers like hoses or cords
- ✕Ceramics or mirrors
Yard Waste Bin
You may use newspaper, paper bags, or BPI-Certified compostable bags to contain wet food scraps before placing them in the green cart. Never use regular plastic bags.
Accepted Items
- ✓Meat, dairy, and bones
- ✓Fruits, vegetables, and cooked leftovers
- ✓Uncoated food-soiled paper (pizza boxes, napkins)
- ✓Grass clippings and weeds
- ✓Leaves and small branches
Bulky Item Pickup
Frequency
Twice a year via the scheduled Reuse & Cleanup Days (Spring and Fall).
Placement
Place accepted items neatly at the curb by 5:00 A.M. on your assigned Reuse & Cleanup Day. Ensure items do not block sidewalks or street traffic.
Accepted
- ✓ Old furniture and mattresses
- ✓ Large appliances
- ✓ Electronic waste
- ✓ Bagged household debris
Not Accepted
- ✕ Hazardous waste (paint, oil)
- ✕ Dirt, concrete, or rock
- ✕ Construction and demolition debris
- ✕ Vehicle parts and tires
The bi-annual pickups are included in your regular service rates. Additional on-call bulk collections scheduled through Republic Services will incur an extra charge.
Holiday Schedule
General Rule
Republic Services typically observes major winter holidays. If your scheduled service day falls on or after an observed holiday within that week, your pickup will be delayed by one day. For example, Thursday pickups move to Friday.
Yard Waste Exception
Organics and recycling carts follow the exact same holiday shift as the landfill cart.
Minor holidays such as the 4th of July, Memorial Day, and Labor Day generally do not affect the pickup schedule in the RecycleSmart service area.
Observed Holidays
!Contamination Tips
Expect Route Audits
To comply with state law SB 1383, RecycleSmart conducts annual route audits in Walnut Creek neighborhoods to check carts for proper sorting. If contamination is found, helpful tips and educational tags may be left on your carts to guide you.
Keep Recyclables Unbagged
Never bag your recyclables. The sorting machines at the Mt. Diablo Resource Recovery facility cannot easily process materials wrapped in plastic garbage bags, causing massive slow-downs on the sorting line.
BPI-Certified Bags Only
When collecting food scraps in your kitchen pail, use only BPI-Certified compostable bags or line the pail with newspaper. Traditional plastic bags will contaminate the organics stream and ruin the final compost product.
Seasonal Information
Spring and Fall
February-March & August-SeptemberThese months mark the scheduled bi-annual Reuse & Cleanup Days. Walnut Creek residents will automatically receive a mailer confirming their specific curbside bulk pickup dates.
Post-Holiday
Late December to Mid-JanuaryRepublic Services provides curbside holiday tree collection. Remove all stands, lights, and ornaments, and place your natural, unflocked tree next to your green cart on your normal collection day.
About Walnut Creek Waste Management
Collaborative Waste Management with RecycleSmart
Solid waste services in Walnut Creek are governed by RecycleSmart, the Central Contra Costa Solid Waste Authority [1.2.1]. This Joint Powers Authority partners exclusively with Republic Services for the collection of residential and commercial landfill, recycling, and organic materials, while Mt. Diablo Resource Recovery handles the processing of recyclables. This regional approach ensures Walnut Creek residents benefit from highly efficient, environmentally progressive waste programs that keep materials out of local landfills.
Meeting SB 1383 Mandates for Food Waste
In compliance with California State Law SB 1383, Walnut Creek enforces mandatory organics recycling. All food scraps, including meat, bones, and dairy, alongside food-soiled paper and yard trimmings, must be sorted into the green organics cart. To make kitchen collection easier, residents can request a free 3-gallon kitchen food scrap pail directly from Republic Services once every two years. Keeping organics out of the landfill significantly cuts down on harmful methane gas emissions.
Convenient Curbside Battery and Cell Phone Recycling
Walnut Creek offers a remarkably convenient solution for hard-to-dispose-of household items. Residents can place household batteries in a clear, sealed plastic bag directly on top of their blue recycling cart lid on their regular collection day. Compact fluorescent lightbulbs (CFLs) and old cell phones are also accepted for weekly curbside collection. This eliminates the need for separate trips to specialized drop-off centers for these common hazardous items.
Bi-Annual Reuse & Cleanup Days
Unlike cities that require residents to call in for bulk waste pickups, RecycleSmart schedules automatic 'Reuse & Cleanup Days' twice a year for Walnut Creek—typically during the spring (February/March) and fall (August/September). Residents receive a detailed brochure in the mail at least two weeks prior to their pre-scheduled date. This program makes discarding oversized furniture, appliances, and extra bagged trash straightforward and predictable.
Proper Disposal at the Central San HHW Facility
For hazardous materials that cannot go into your curbside carts—such as paint, pesticides, prescription medications, and toxic cleaning chemicals—Walnut Creek residents have free access to the Central San Household Hazardous Waste (HHW) facility. Located nearby on Imhoff Place in Martinez, this center ensures dangerous liquids and heavy metals are processed securely without contaminating the local soil or water supply.
Drop-off Facilities
Central San Household Hazardous Waste (HHW) Facility
4797 Imhoff Place, Martinez, CA 94553
Materials Accepted
Concord Recycling Center
1320 Concord Ave, Concord, CA 94520
Materials Accepted
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I request a kitchen food scrap pail in Walnut Creek?
Residents can call Republic Services at (925) 685-4711 to request a free 3-gallon kitchen food scrap pail once every two years. Multi-family residents should direct requests through their property managers.
Can I put meat and bones in my green yard waste cart?
Yes. Walnut Creek follows SB 1383 guidelines, meaning all organic material, including meat, dairy, bones, cooked leftovers, and food-soiled paper, must go into the green organics cart.
Does Walnut Creek have a free curbside bulky item pickup?
Yes, through RecycleSmart's 'Reuse & Cleanup Days' program. Instead of calling to schedule, residents are given pre-assigned pickup dates twice a year (in Spring and Fall) and are notified via mail two weeks prior.
How do I safely recycle household batteries?
You do not need to drive to a facility. Walnut Creek residents can simply place household batteries in a clear, sealed plastic bag and leave it resting on top of their blue recycling cart lid on their standard collection day.