Gray Bin (Trash)
Do not put dirt, rocks, concrete, or hazardous waste in the gray cart. Close the lid tightly to prevent windblown litter.
Accepted Items
- ✓Plastic bags, film, wrappers, and bubble wrap
- ✓Compostable plastics and bioplastics
- ✓Styrofoam/Polystyrene
- ✓Pet waste and diapers
- ✓Plastic-coated paper products
- ✓Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)
- ✓Damaged textiles and household dishware
Blue (Split Cart) Bin (Recycling)
All recyclables must be empty and clean. Except for shredded paper, do not bag your recyclables. Sort materials correctly into the Blue or Yellow side.
Accepted Items
- ✓Blue Side: Glass bottles and jars
- ✓Blue Side: Aluminum and tin cans
- ✓Blue Side: Rigid plastics (#1, #2, #5)
- ✓Yellow Side: Corrugated cardboard and paper boxes
- ✓Yellow Side: Newspapers, magazines, catalogs
- ✓Yellow Side: Shredded paper (must be in a clear plastic bag)
Do NOT Include
- ✕Plastic bags and film
- ✕Styrofoam
- ✕Compostable plastics
- ✕Ceramics or glass dishware
- ✕Food waste
Yard Waste Bin
Do not use plastic bags or "compostable" bioplastic bags. Keep a small kitchen pail for food scraps and transfer it loosely into the green cart.
Accepted Items
- ✓Food scraps (fruits, vegetables, meat, bread, bones)
- ✓Food-soiled paper (napkins, paper towels, coffee filters)
- ✓Grass clippings and plant cuttings
- ✓Leaves, flowers, and twigs
- ✓Small untreated wood scraps
Bulky Item Pickup
Frequency
Two free curbside clean-ups per year by appointment
Placement
Place all items at the curbside by 6:00 a.m. on your scheduled clean-up day. Loose miscellaneous items must be bagged in trash bags. One large item (like a mattress) counts as roughly 1 cubic yard.
Accepted
- ✓ Furniture (sofas, mattresses, area rugs)
- ✓ Large appliances (dishwashers, water heaters)
- ✓ Electronic waste (TVs, computers, stereos)
- ✓ Tires (without rims)
- ✓ Textiles and housewares
- ✓ Bagged miscellaneous household trash
Not Accepted
- ✕ Hazardous waste (paint, chemicals, motor oil)
- ✕ Dirt, rocks, and concrete
- ✕ Construction and demolition debris
- ✕ Glass and mirrors
The two annual clean-ups are free of charge. Extra-large items (such as oversized refrigerators, large sectionals, or king mattresses) will count as 2 to 4 cubic yards toward your 4-cubic-yard total.
Holiday Schedule
General Rule
If your regular service day falls on or after an observed holiday, your collection will be delayed by one day that week. Normal collection resumes the following week.
Yard Waste Exception
Organics and recycling follow the exact same one-day delay as regular landfill trash.
If a holiday falls on a Sunday, there are no delays for the week.
Observed Holidays
!Contamination Tips
The 'Wish-Cycling' of Compostable Plastics
Compostable plastics, bioplastic cups, and 'plant-based' utensils cannot be processed by Sonoma County's commercial composting facilities. These items do not break down fast enough and will contaminate the green bin. Always throw compostable plastics into your gray landfill cart.
Keep Household Batteries Out of the Bin
Never place batteries inside any of your carts, as they are a severe fire hazard for collection trucks and sorting facilities. Instead, Windsor residents can place standard household batteries (A, AA, AAA, C, D, and 9-volt) inside a clear sealed plastic bag and leave it directly on top of the blue recycling cart on collection day.
Utilize School Cardboard Dumpsters
If the Yellow side of your recycling cart is full, do not jam extra cardboard into the Blue side or the gray trash bin. Windsor provides free cardboard-only drop-off bins at several local schools, including Brooks Elementary and Windsor Middle School. Please flatten boxes completely before dropping them off.
Seasonal Information
Summer/Fall
June to OctoberDuring fire season and dry summer months, residents are encouraged to regularly clear dry brush, twigs, and leaves to maintain defensible space around their homes. Ensure all green waste fits completely inside the green cart so the lid can fully close.
Winter
December to FebruaryWhen heavy winter rains hit Sonoma County, make sure your gray cart lid is firmly shut. Rainwater collecting in an open cart creates excessively heavy loads for trucks and can cause toxic leachate to leak into the street, eventually washing into the Russian River watershed.
About Windsor Waste Management
Navigating Windsor's Split-Cart Waste Services
The Town of Windsor utilizes an innovative approach to curbside collection through its exclusive franchise agreement with Sonoma County Resource Recovery (SCRR). Under this contract, collection is managed using specialized split-body trucks capable of servicing two different material types simultaneously. This reduces neighborhood traffic and vehicle emissions, as residents only need two truck passes per service day—one for gray landfill waste and green organics, and a second for the dual-stream blue recycling cart.
The Unique Dual-Chamber Recycling System
Unlike many neighboring cities that use single-stream recycling, Windsor residents utilize a split blue cart with two distinct compartments. The blue side is reserved strictly for glass, metal, and approved plastics (#1, #2, and #5). The yellow side is dedicated entirely to dry paper and cardboard. This source-separated method drastically reduces contamination, ensuring that paper fibers aren't ruined by residual liquids from glass bottles or crushed cans.
Organics, SB 1383, and Local Composting
To comply with California's SB 1383 mandate, all Windsor residents must separate food scraps and food-soiled paper from their landfill trash and place them in the green organics cart. This includes everything from meat and bones to coffee filters and wooden utensils. For residents who want to see the fruits of their labor, Windsor also hosts a community Compost Hub on Bluebird Drive (funded by a Zero Waste Sonoma grant), where residents can pick up free organic compost for their gardens.
Free Curbside Clean-Ups for Bulky Items
You don't need to haul your old mattress or broken television to the dump yourself. SCRR provides Windsor residents with two free curbside clean-up appointments every calendar year. Each appointment entitles you to dispose of up to 4 cubic yards of material right from your curb, including large furniture, e-waste, appliances, and extra bagged household trash. Be sure to schedule these at least 30 days apart by contacting SCRR directly.
Rightsizing Your Carts for Cost Savings
Windsor residential waste collection operates on a bundled rate structure based primarily on the size of your gray landfill cart. If you actively compost and recycle, you may notice extra space in your gray bin each week. SCRR encourages residents to downgrade their landfill cart to a smaller size (such as the 32-gallon or 20-gallon option) if they regularly have at least a third of the cart empty. Downsizing not only reduces your quarterly bill but actively supports Sonoma County's zero-waste initiatives.
Drop-off Facilities
Household Hazardous Waste (HHW) Facility at Central Disposal Site
500 Mecham Rd, Bldg 5, Petaluma, CA 94952
Materials Accepted
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I properly sort items into my blue recycling cart?
SCRR provides a unique split blue cart for Windsor residents to prevent cross-contamination. Place glass bottles, metal cans, and plastic containers (#1, #2, & #5) loosely in the Blue side. Place all flattened corrugated cardboard, newspaper, magazines, and paper loosely in the Yellow side. Shredded paper is the only item that should be bagged, and it must go in the Yellow side in a clear plastic bag.
How do I schedule a curbside pick-up for a broken refrigerator or mattress?
Windsor residents are entitled to two free curbside clean-up appointments per calendar year through SCRR. You can set out up to 4 cubic yards of material, which can include bulky appliances, e-waste, and furniture. Call SCRR customer service at (707) 795-7470 to schedule your appointment.
What should I do with excess cardboard that won't fit in the yellow side of my recycling bin?
If you have more cardboard than your cart can handle, Windsor offers free cardboard-only dumpsters located at several local schools, including Brooks Elementary, Cali Calmécac, Mattie Washburn Elementary, and Windsor Middle School. Please break down all boxes completely and do not leave any cardboard on the ground.
Does my collection day change during Thanksgiving or Christmas?
Yes. SCRR observes Thanksgiving and Christmas Day. If your regular collection day falls on or after these holidays, your service will be pushed back by one day for the remainder of the week. If a holiday falls on a Sunday, your weekday schedule will not be impacted.