Gray or Black Bin (Trash)
Trash must fit completely inside the cart. Set your cart out the night before your collection day, ensuring wheels touch the curb, handles face the house, and 3 feet of clearance is left on all sides.
Accepted Items
- ✓Pet waste and diapers
- ✓Non-recyclable plastics and wrappers
- ✓Linoleum and vinyl flooring
- ✓Rigid or fiberglass insulation
- ✓Restroom waste
Blue Bin (Recycling)
Curbside recycling collection occurs every other week. Items must be placed loosely in the blue 95-gallon cart. Do not overload the cart; you can request a larger or second cart for free if needed.
Accepted Items
- ✓Clean cardboard and paperboard
- ✓Mixed paper, junk mail, and magazines
- ✓Glass bottles and jars
- ✓Aluminum and tin cans
- ✓Hard plastic containers and jugs
Do NOT Include
- ✕Plastic shrink wrap and film
- ✕Styrofoam
- ✕Pressure-treated lumber
- ✕Food-soiled materials
Yard Waste Bin
Place all yard waste, kitchen food scraps, and BPI-certified compostable containers loosely in the green organics cart. Do not use standard plastic bags.
Accepted Items
- ✓Grass clippings, leaves, and weeds
- ✓Tree trimmings and untreated wood
- ✓Food scraps (meat, bones, dairy, fruits, vegetables)
- ✓BPI-certified compostable food service ware
Bulky Item Pickup
Frequency
One (1) free pickup per calendar year for eligible residents.
Placement
Call at least 48 hours in advance to schedule. Place the exact 3 declared items on the curb by 7:00 a.m. on your collection day, leaving 3 feet of space between items and carts.
Accepted
- ✓ Furniture and lawn furniture
- ✓ Washers, dryers, and appliances
- ✓ Up to two (2) tires without rims
- ✓ Bathroom fixtures and BBQ grills (no propane tanks)
Not Accepted
- ✕ Household hazardous waste
- ✕ Electronic waste (must go to drop-off center)
- ✕ Carpet and pad (must go to Buena Vista Landfill)
- ✕ Sheetrock and drywall
Free for residents living within city limits who pay a garbage utility bill (excluding apartment complexes). Additional services carry a fee.
Holiday Schedule
General Rule
The City of Watsonville only suspends service on Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Year's Day. If your normal service day falls on one of these holidays, your collection will be postponed by one day for the remainder of that week.
Yard Waste Exception
The holiday delay rule applies to all municipal carts: garbage, recycling, and organics.
If a holiday falls on a weekend, or if it is a holiday not listed above (such as Labor Day or Memorial Day), there are no changes to your service schedule.
Observed Holidays
!Contamination Tips
Keep Plastic Shrink Wrap Out
Plastic wrapping, shrink wrap, and plastic grocery bags are strictly prohibited in the blue recycling cart. They tangle in the sorting machinery. Drop off clean, dry plastic bags at local grocery store bins instead.
Maintain a 3-Foot Clearance
Watsonville's automated collection trucks require space to operate. You must leave at least 3 feet of clearance on all sides of your carts, keeping them away from parked cars, mailboxes, and street signs.
Styrofoam is Banned
Watsonville has banned the use of Styrofoam containers. If you receive Styrofoam packaging from online deliveries, you cannot recycle it. It must be placed securely in the gray garbage cart.
Seasonal Information
Winter
December - JanuaryDuring the winter holidays, collection is delayed by one day only if your regular service day falls on Thanksgiving Day, Christmas Day, or New Year's Day.
Spring
March - MaySpring is an excellent time to utilize your one free annual bulky item pickup. Ensure you call 48 hours in advance, and remember to tape all appliance doors shut before placing them at the curb.
Autumn
September - NovemberWhen clearing fall leaves, do not sweep them into the street or storm drains. All yard debris must fit inside your green organics cart to prevent local flooding.
About Watsonville Waste Management
Municipal Solid Waste Services in Watsonville
Unlike many neighboring communities that contract with private franchise haulers, the City of Watsonville manages its own residential trash, recycling, and organic waste collection through the municipal Solid Waste Division. Because city crews start their routes early, residents must place their 32-, 68-, or 95-gallon carts at the curb the night before collection, as service officially begins at 4:30 a.m.
Leading the Charge on Single-Use Plastics and BPI Compostables
Watsonville has enacted some of California's strictest local ordinances regarding waste reduction. The city strictly prohibits the sale and use of expanded polystyrene (Styrofoam) food service ware and coolers. Furthermore, under Ordinance 1389-19, all disposable take-out and dine-in food service ware provided by local businesses must be compostable and clearly labeled with the BPI (Biodegradable Products Institute) compostable logo, ensuring these items break down properly in the city's organics stream.
Annual Curbside Bulky Item Collection
Watsonville residents living within city limits who pay a municipal garbage utility bill (excluding apartment complexes) are entitled to one free bulky item pickup per calendar year. You can request the collection of up to three large items, such as furniture, appliances, or up to two rimless tires. You must call Customer Service at least 48 hours in advance to schedule the appointment and list the exact three items to be collected.
The Harvest Drive Waste & Recycling Drop-Off Center
For waste that cannot wait for a scheduled bulky pickup, or for Household Hazardous Waste (HHW), the city operates a dedicated Waste & Recycling Drop-Off Center located at 320 Harvest Drive (Gate 4). Open Tuesday through Saturday from 9:00 a.m. to 3:30 p.m., this facility allows Watsonville residents to safely dispose of e-waste, paints, motor oil, and excess garbage.
Drop-off Facilities
Watsonville Waste & Recycling Drop-off Center
320 Harvest Drive (Gate 4), Watsonville, CA 95076
Materials Accepted
Buena Vista Landfill
1231 Buena Vista Dr, Watsonville, CA 95076
Materials Accepted
Frequently Asked Questions
Who picks up the trash in Watsonville, CA?
Unlike cities that use private companies, the City of Watsonville picks up residential trash, recycling, and organic waste directly through its own municipal Solid Waste Division.
How do I throw away large items like couches in Watsonville?
City residents with a municipal garbage account get one free bulky item pickup per year for up to three items. Call Customer Service at (831) 768-3133 at least 48 hours before your collection day to schedule. You can also take items to the Drop-off Center on Harvest Drive.
Does Watsonville pick up trash on Thanksgiving?
No. The City of Watsonville suspends garbage and recycling collection on Thanksgiving Day, Christmas Day, and New Year's Day. If your service day falls on one of these holidays, it will be delayed by one day.
Can I put styrofoam in my blue recycling bin?
No. Styrofoam is completely banned for sale or use as food service ware in Watsonville. Any Styrofoam you receive from packaging must be thrown in the gray/black garbage cart, as it cannot be recycled.