Gray Bin (Trash)
All refuse must fit inside the gray cart with the lid closed. Hazardous waste, construction debris, and hot ashes are strictly prohibited.
Accepted Items
- ✓Flimsy plastics (bags, film, and wrap)
- ✓Styrofoam and packaging peanuts
- ✓Cat litter and animal waste
- ✓Ceramics, broken glass, and mirrors
- ✓Diapers and sanitary products
- ✓Non-recyclable food wrappers
Blue Split-Cart (Black Lid / Blue Lid) Bin (Recycling)
Materials must be separated into their proper compartments. Do not bag recyclables. Extra cardboard can be flattened to 3'x3' and stacked next to the cart for free collection.
Accepted Items
- ✓Clean paper and small cardboard (Black Lid side)
- ✓Junk mail and magazines (Black Lid side)
- ✓Plastics #1-#7 bottles and jugs (Blue Lid side)
- ✓Aluminum and steel/tin cans (Blue Lid side)
- ✓Glass bottles and jars (Blue Lid side)
Do NOT Include
- ✕Plastic grocery bags and film
- ✕Food-soiled paper and greasy pizza boxes
- ✕Styrofoam packaging
- ✕Tanglers (hoses, wires, cords)
- ✕Ceramics and Pyrex glass
Yard Waste Bin
Food scraps can be placed loosely in the cart or bagged in a paper bag. Do not use standard plastic bags. Keep the cart free of dirt, rocks, and treated wood.
Accepted Items
- ✓Food scraps (meat, bones, dairy, and produce)
- ✓Food-soiled paper (pizza boxes, napkins, paper plates)
- ✓Grass clippings, leaves, and weeds
- ✓Tree trimmings (under 8 inches in diameter)
- ✓Coffee grounds and paper filters
Bulky Item Pickup
Frequency
Four (4) free curbside Bulky Item Collection appointments per calendar year for single-family residences.
Placement
Place items at the curb in front of your residence by 5:00 a.m. on your scheduled pickup day. Attach a sign that reads 'RECOLOGY' to the pile. Do not block the sidewalk or street.
Accepted
- ✓ Furniture (sofas, tables, mattresses)
- ✓ Large appliances (refrigerators, washers)
- ✓ Electronic waste (TVs, computers, monitors)
- ✓ Up to 4 passenger tires (no rims)
- ✓ Bagged or bundled excess garbage and yard waste
Not Accepted
- ✕ Hazardous waste and liquid paint
- ✕ Construction and demolition debris (concrete, asphalt, dirt)
- ✕ Treated or pressure-treated wood
- ✕ Hot ashes or infectious waste
- ✕ Auto parts (other than 4 tires)
The four annual collections are free. If you exceed this limit or have items exceeding the size/weight restrictions, you must pay an additional service fee or rent a temporary debris box.
Holiday Schedule
General Rule
Recology Yuba-Sutter collects residential garbage, recycling, and organics 365 days a year. There are NO delays in curbside collection for any holiday, including Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Year's Day.
Yard Waste Exception
Yard waste and organics follow the exact same non-delayed, 365-day schedule.
While collection trucks run on holidays, they often finish their routes earlier than usual. You must place your carts at the curb the night before a major holiday to avoid missing the truck. Administrative offices and transfer stations are closed on Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Year's Day.
Observed Holidays
!Contamination Tips
Respect the Split Compartments
Never throw glass or plastic containers into the black-lidded side of your recycling cart [1.2.4]. That side is strictly for dry paper products. Mixing materials ruins the sorting process and can result in your cart not being serviced.
Keep Plastic Bags Out of the Blue Cart
Flimsy plastic film, grocery bags, and bubble wrap frequently tangle up the gears at the Marysville Materials Recovery Facility. Always throw these plastic wraps into your gray garbage cart or return clean grocery bags to local retail drop-offs.
Stack Excess Cardboard Correctly
If you have more cardboard than the black-lidded side of your split-cart can hold, do not jam it in. Instead, break the boxes down flat, cut them to a maximum size of 3 feet by 3 feet, and stack them neatly on the ground right beside your recycling cart for free manual collection.
Seasonal Information
Winter
December 26th to January 31stRecology offers a massive window for curbside holiday tree collection [1.2.3]. Strip the tree of all tinsel, lights, and stands, cut it down so no section is longer than 6 feet, and place it next to your carts by 6:00 a.m. on your normal collection day.
Year-Round
PeriodicThe Regional Waste Management Authority occasionally distributes free 'Waste Tire Amnesty Coupons' through a state grant. During these events, Yuba City residents can drop off up to 20 passenger car and light truck tires for free at the Marysville Transfer Station.
About Yuba City Waste Management
Yuba City's Split-Cart Recycling System
Yuba City utilizes a highly specialized dual-compartment 'split-cart' for residential recycling to maximize material purity [1.2.4]. Instead of mixing all recyclables together, residents receive a single blue cart equipped with two distinctly colored lids. The side with the black lid is exclusively for dry paper, junk mail, and small pieces of cardboard. The side with the blue lid is reserved solely for rinsed plastic containers, aluminum cans, and glass bottles. Recology Yuba-Sutter’s automated trucks feature specialized dual-chambers that keep these materials completely separate from the curb to the material recovery facility.
No Delays: Curbside Collection Happens 365 Days a Year
Unlike almost every other municipality in California, Yuba City residents never need to worry about adjusting their curbside collection schedule during the holidays. Recology Yuba-Sutter employees conduct scheduled residential pickups even on Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Year's Day. However, because crews receive additional routing assistance and often finish their routes much earlier on these holidays, the city strictly advises placing your carts at the curb the night before your scheduled collection to ensure you aren't missed.
Four Free Bulky Item Pickups Annually
As part of an updated franchise agreement, single-family residents in Yuba City are entitled to an exceptionally generous bulky waste program. Homeowners receive up to four (4) free curbside Bulky Item Collection appointments per calendar year. Residents can set out up to 10 large items or 2 cubic yards of material per appointment—including mattresses, old furniture, e-waste, and even up to four passenger tires—without having to pay landfill gate fees or haul heavy debris to the transfer station.
The Local HHW Facility and Free 'Reuse Center'
Keeping toxic chemicals out of the Ostrom Road Landfill is a top priority for the Regional Waste Management Authority. Residents can safely dispose of paints, pesticides, fluorescent tubes, and motor oil for free at the Yuba-Sutter Household Hazardous Waste Facility located right in Yuba City on Burns Drive. Even better, this facility hosts a public 'Reuse Center' where locals can shop for partially used, high-quality household cleaners, automotive fluids, and gardening supplies absolutely free of charge.
Drop-off Facilities
Yuba-Sutter Household Hazardous Waste Collection Facility & Reuse Center
134 Burns Drive, Yuba City, CA 95991
Materials Accepted
Recology Yuba-Sutter Transfer Station & MRF
3001 N Levee Road, Marysville, CA 95901
Materials Accepted
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I use the split-recycling cart in Yuba City?
Yuba City utilizes a specialized split-recycling cart to keep materials clean [1.2.4]. You must place clean paper, magazines, and small cardboard pieces into the side with the black lid. Plastics, aluminum foil, glass bottles, and tin cans go into the side with the blue lid. The Recology trucks have separate compartments to maintain this sorting.
Is my trash pickup delayed on Thanksgiving or Christmas?
No! Recology Yuba-Sutter is one of the rare haulers that operates 365 days a year for residential curbside collection. Your carts will be serviced on your normal day, even if it falls on Thanksgiving, Christmas, or New Year's Day. Make sure to put your carts out the night before, as drivers usually finish holiday routes early.
How do I dispose of old furniture or a mattress in Yuba City?
Single-family residents in Yuba City receive four free bulky item pickups every year. You can schedule a pickup by calling Recology at (530) 743-6933. You are allowed to set out up to 10 items per appointment, including furniture, mattresses, appliances, and e-waste.
Can I put greasy pizza boxes in the blue recycling cart?
No, heavily greased or food-soiled cardboard ruins the paper recycling process. However, because Yuba City complies with state organics laws, you should place greasy pizza boxes directly into your green compost cart along with your food scraps!