Black Bin (Trash)
Place carts out by 5:00 a.m. on your collection day with handles facing the house, spaced 3-5 feet apart. Carts must be removed from the street or alley on non-service days.
Accepted Items
- ✓Normal household garbage
- ✓Diapers and sanitary items
- ✓Pet waste and animal bedding
- ✓Styrofoam (EPS)
- ✓Flocked Christmas trees (cut up)
- ✓Non-recyclable plastics
Blue Bin (Recycling)
Do not bag your recyclables; place them loosely in the blue cart. The only exception is shredded paper, which must be in a clear bag. All recycling carts are serviced on Fridays.
Accepted Items
- ✓Clean paper and flattened cardboard
- ✓Glass bottles and jars
- ✓Aluminum and tin cans
- ✓Plastic bottles and jugs
- ✓Shredded paper (in a clear plastic bag)
Do NOT Include
- ✕Food waste
- ✕Standard plastic grocery bags
- ✕Yard waste
- ✕Tanglers (hoses, cords, hangers)
- ✕Hazardous chemicals
Yard Waste Bin
All organic waste must go into the green cart. Do not use plastic bags for food scraps. Limbs longer than 4 feet, rocks, earth, and animal waste are strictly prohibited.
Accepted Items
- ✓Grass clippings and leaves
- ✓Tree limbs (under 4 feet in length)
- ✓Vegetation and weeds
- ✓Household food scraps
- ✓Natural, unflocked holiday trees
Bulky Item Pickup
Frequency
Biannual Drop-Off Events (Spring and Fall)
Placement
Items must be safely transported and dropped off at the designated locations (such as Barker Park) during the official hours of the scheduled Spring and Fall cleanup events.
Accepted
- ✓ Mattresses and box springs
- ✓ Couches and large furniture
- ✓ Major home appliances
- ✓ Large outdoor toys and patio furniture
Not Accepted
- ✕ Household Hazardous Waste (paint, motor oil, chemicals)
- ✕ Tires
- ✕ Construction, demolition, or remodeling materials
- ✕ Commercial waste
Drop-off is completely free for Wasco residents during the specific community cleanup events. Otherwise, bulky items must be hauled to the landfill at the resident's expense.
Holiday Schedule
General Rule
If an observed holiday falls on your scheduled service day, your trash and green waste collection will take place on the next business day.
Yard Waste Exception
Green waste collection follows the exact same holiday delay policy as the black trash cart.
American Refuse, which services the blue recycling carts every Friday, follows a similar schedule. If a holiday disrupts the week, Friday recycling pickups generally shift to Saturday.
Observed Holidays
!Contamination Tips
Only Clear Bags for Shredded Paper
While you should never bag your standard recyclables in the blue cart, American Refuse requires that shredded paper be placed inside a clear plastic bag. This prevents the tiny paper shreds from blowing away during collection and littering Wasco's streets.
No Bulky Limbs in the Green Cart
While yard waste is highly encouraged, tree branches and limbs placed in the green organics cart cannot exceed 4 feet in length. Oversized limbs will cause your cart to be tagged as contaminated and left at the curb.
Treated Wood and Hazardous Waste are Banned
The black trash cart is strictly for regular household refuse. Construction materials, treated lumber, automotive parts, dirt, rocks, and wet paint are explicitly banned by the City and must be taken directly to the Shafter-Wasco Landfill.
Seasonal Information
Winter
December - JanuaryFor Christmas tree disposal, un-flocked (natural) trees can be cut down to fit inside the green organics cart. However, if your tree is flocked with artificial snow, it is considered contaminated and must be placed in the black trash cart.
Spring/Fall
April & OctoberTake advantage of Wasco's Biannual Community Cleanup Days. Since the City does not offer on-demand curbside bulky pickups, these drop-off events at Barker Park are your best opportunity to dispose of old mattresses, couches, and appliances for free.
About Wasco Waste Management
Wasco's Shared Hauler Model
Wasco utilizes a unique shared system for its residential waste program. The City's own Public Works Sanitation Department manages the collection of the black trash and green yard waste carts early in the week. However, the Friday collection of the blue recycling carts is contracted out and handled by American Refuse, a private franchise hauler. This collaborative effort ensures Wasco residents meet strict state waste diversion goals while maintaining local utility control.
Compliance with SB 1383: Food Waste in the Green Cart
To comply with California's SB 1383 mandate targeting short-lived climate pollutants, Wasco has updated its green waste collection rules. The green cart is now designated for both yard trimmings and household food scraps. Residents must place their food waste directly into the green cart alongside grass clippings and leaves. Remember, never put plastic bags into the green cart, as they severely contaminate the commercial compost created from the organic material.
Clean and Loose Recycling on Fridays
American Refuse mandates a strict 'Empty, Clean, Dry, and Loose' policy for the blue recycling cart, which is serviced citywide every Friday. Plastic grocery bags and films are strictly banned because they tangle and jam the sorting machinery at the material recovery facility. The single exception to the 'no bags' rule is shredded paper, which must be contained in a clear plastic bag to prevent littering the streets during automated collection.
Curbside Enforcement and Local Code
The City of Wasco actively enforces strict curbside placement rules under Municipal Code Section 8.12.050. Carts must be placed at the curb by 5:00 a.m. on collection days with the handles facing the home and spaced 3 to 5 feet apart. More importantly, bins must be removed from the alley or sidewalk on non-pickup days. Leaving your bins out indefinitely is a code violation and can result in a formal citation and fine.
Biannual Community Cleanup Events
Unlike many municipalities, Wasco does not offer free at-home curbside bulky item pickups as part of its standard utility service. Instead, the City hosts Biannual Community Cleanup Days—typically occurring in the Spring and Fall—at locations like Barker Park. Residents can use these dedicated events to drop off large furniture, mattresses, and bulky appliances at no cost to help keep the city clean and deter illegal dumping.
Drop-off Facilities
Shafter-Wasco Landfill
17621 Scofield Avenue, Shafter, CA 93263
Materials Accepted
American Refuse Wasco Office (Sharps Drop-Off)
1316 J Street, Wasco, CA 93280
Materials Accepted
Frequently Asked Questions
Who do I call if my trash or green waste can is broken in Wasco?
Since the City of Wasco Public Works handles the black and green carts, you must call (661) 758-7271 to report a damaged cart, and they will repair or replace it. If your cart is completely missing, call (661) 758-7230 (a $40 replacement fee may apply).
Does the City of Wasco pick up old couches or mattresses from my house?
No, the City of Wasco does not offer on-demand curbside bulky waste pickup. Instead, the City hosts Biannual Community Cleanup Days in the Spring and Fall where you can drop off bulky items for free at central locations like Barker Park.
Where should I place my food scraps to comply with California's SB 1383?
In Wasco, all household food waste—including produce, meat, and plate scrapings—must be placed directly into your Green Waste cart alongside your yard trimmings. Do not use plastic bags to hold your food scraps, as they ruin the composting process.
When is my blue recycling cart collected?
While your black trash and green waste carts are collected early in the week directly by the City, all blue recycling carts are contracted out and serviced citywide by American Refuse specifically on Fridays.