Elk Grove, CA Trash and Recycling Collection Schedule

Knowing your city’s trash and recycling pickup schedule is important to ensure your waste is properly collected each week. This article provides an overview of trash and recycling collection in Elk Grove, CA including pickup days, acceptable materials, and key contacts.

Trash and Recycling Pickup Days

• Trash, recycling, and yard waste are collected weekly on the same day of the week in Elk Grove. Your pickup day depends on your address.

• Use the Find Your Garbage/Trash Pick Up Day tool on the City of Elk Grove website to find your scheduled pickup day.

• If your normal collection day falls on a holiday, pickup will be delayed by one day through the end of that week.

Curbside Cart Overview

Elk Grove provides three carts for trash, recycling, and yard waste:

• Black cart: For all non-recyclable trash and food waste. No limit on amount.

• Blue cart: For recyclable containers, paper, cardboard, and clean scrap metal. No limit on amount.

• Green cart: For yard waste like leaves, grass clippings and branches. Limited to 6 cubic yards per week, excess will not be collected.

Carts must be placed at the curb by 6 AM on your pickup day, with lids closed and at least 3 feet between carts. It’s important materials go in the right carts so they can be properly recycled or composted.

Acceptable Curbside Recycling

The following common items can be placed in your blue recycling cart:

• Plastic bottles, jars, jugs, and tubs (empty and rinse clean)

• Glass bottles and jars (empty and rinse clean)

• Aluminum cans, clean foil, and scrap metal

• Milk and juice cartons and boxes (empty and rinse clean)

• Cereal and cracker boxes (empty and flatten)

• Newspaper and inserts (remove plastic bags)

• Magazines, catalogs, and phone books

• Junk mail, envelopes, office paper (no plastic liners)

• Corrugated cardboard boxes (flatten)

Acceptable Curbside Yard Waste

Acceptable materials for the green yard waste cart include:

• Grass clippings and leaves

• Small branches and prunings (less than 4 inches diameter)

• Plants, flowers, and weeds

• Wood chips, sawdust, and wood shavings

Food Waste and Non-Recyclables

Place all food waste and soiled paper in your black trash cart:

• Fruit and vegetable scraps

• Meat, fish, and bones

• Eggshells, coffee grounds and filters

• Soiled paper towels and tissues

• Pet waste and kitty litter

• Non-recyclable plastics and wrappers

• Styrofoam and bubble wrap

• Diapers, feminine products

• Empty hazardous waste containers

Bulky Item and Excess Waste Pickup

For large items like furniture and mattresses that don’t fit in your cart, Elk Grove residents can schedule up to 3 bulky item collections per year on your regular pickup day. Contact Republic Services at 916-635-2500 to schedule.

If you occasionally have extra waste that won’t fit in your cart, you can place additional trash bags or boxes next to carts on pickup day. Republic Services may charge an extra collection fee.

Hazardous Waste Disposal

Don’t place household hazardous waste in your normal trash. These items require special disposal:

• Paint, pesticides, automotive fluids, cleaning products

• Fluorescent bulbs and tubes, batteries

• Sharps and medical waste

• Electronics like TVs and computers

Elk Grove residents can drop these items off for free at the Special Waste Collection Center. Located at 9255 Disposal Ln and open Sun-Wed, 9am-4pm.

Key Contacts

• For missed pickups, cart repairs, bulky item pickup, vacation holds, and general questions – Contact Republic Services at 916-635-2500

• To report illegal dumping or recycling cart violations – Call Elk Grove Code Enforcement at 916-478-2235

• For hazardous waste disposal – Special Waste Collection Center at 916-478-2228

Following Elk Grove’s trash and recycling schedule helps ensure waste is disposed of properly. Let us know if you have any other questions!