Complete information about the significant improvements to residential recycling services

Scroll down or go directly to: What, When, Why, Frequently Asked Questions

What?

Weekly yard trimmings (green cart) collection in all parts of Oakland

• All 1-4 unit residences now get weekly green cart collection.

Unlimited yard trimmings

• 1-4 unit residences may set out extra yard trimmings that were generated on property, in addition to the contents of the green cart.
• Properly prepared extra yard trimmings may be set out, at no extra charge, 3 different ways:
  1. Place material in your own container next to your yard trimmings cart. Waste Management will empty and return it to the curb.
  2. Bundle and tie branches no larger than 4' long and 6" in diameter and place next to your yard trimmings cart.
  3. Place material in a brown paper bag next to your yard trimmings cart. 30-gallon brown paper bags are inexpensive, convenient and available from many local hardware stores.
  NOTE: Material set out in plastic bags cannot be recycled! You may be charged for extra garbage if you set out your extra yard trimmings in plastic bags.

Kitchen food scraps recycling added to yard trimmings recycling

• 1-4 unit residences may recycle kitchen food scraps into the green cart.
• 1-4 unit residences should have received a 2-gallon food scrap pail for use in the kitchen (call Waste Management of Alameda County at 510-613-8710 if you have not received a pail).
• Pails are provided for convenient collection of food scraps in your kitchen. You may also recycle food scraps collected in your kitchen in compostable containers, such as:
  1. Paper milk cartons
  2. Paper ice cream cartons
  3. Brown paper bags lined with newspaper
• Place the entire carton or bag into your green yard trimmings cart.
• NOTE: Material set out in plastic bags cannot be recycled! You may be charged for extra garbage if you place food scraps in plastic bags into your green yard trimmings cart.

One cart recycling

• Gray 64-gallon wheeled carts have replaced the blue and yellow bins.
• No more separating papers from cans/bottles/jars.
• Combine all the items you used to separate into yellow and blue bins into one cart.
• 5+ unit buildings that already have carts may combine paper and cans/bottles/jars in each cart.

Weekly recycling collection in all parts of Oakland

• All participating residents now get weekly recycling collection.

When? Now!

• Weekly Yard Trimmings collection began in ALL parts of Oakland the week of January 31, 2005.
• Unlimited Yard Trimmings collection began in ALL parts of Oakland the week of January 31, 2005.
• Food Scraps Recycling began in ALL parts of Oakland the week of January 31, 2005.
• Weekly Recycling collection began in ALL parts of Oakland the week of January 31, 2005.
• Deliveries of Gray Recycling Carts and Food Scrap Pails throughout the City were completed in April 2005.
  
• Contact your recycling company if you did not receive a gray recycling cart.
• Contact Waste Management of Alameda County at 510-613-8710 if you did not receive a food scraps pail.

Why?

• The new gray carts reduce material that used to spill or blow out of the old yellow and blue bins and created litter, and protect recyclable paper from rain.
• Residents may roll the new gray recycling cart to the curb, instead of carrying the yellow and blue bins.
• The addition of kitchen scraps recycling recovers valuable organic material that is processed into nutrient-rich soil amendment products instead of going to waste in a landfill.
• Unlimited yard trimmings for material generated on property helps reduce fire hazards.
• Weekly green cart collection and weekly recycling collection makes it easier for Oakland residents to recycle more and waste less.
• Residents may potentially reduce their garbage bill by recycling more and reducing the size of their garbage container.
• Oakland will move closer to the achievement of the City Council's goal of 75% waste reduction by 2010.

Frequently Asked Questions

What should I put into the new gray recycling carts?

• All the same items that were accepted in the yellow and blue bins.

What should I do with my old yellow and blue bins?

• You may use your old yellow and blue bins around your household for storage or utility. Or, if you do not want them, place them in your new gray recycling cart and they will be recycled.

What should I put into the green cart?

• Yard trimmings including: grass clippings, tree trimmings, leaves, brush, and weeds
• Food scraps including: fruit, vegetables, meat, poultry, seafood, shellfish, bones, rice, beans, pasta, bread, cheese, and eggshells.
  • Food-soiled paper including: waxed cardboard, paper napkins, paper towels, paper plates, paper milk cartons, ice cream cartons, tea bags, coffee grounds and paper coffee filters.
• Not allowed in the green cart: styrofoam, plastic bags, plastic flower pots, plastic trays, diapers, kitty litter or animal feces, rocks, dirt.

Why may I put meats, poultry, bones and dairy products in the green cart for composting but not in my backyard compost pile or bin?

• Although households that compost at home do need to keep animal products out of their compost pile or bin, because they attract animal scavengers and are slow to decompose, commercial composting facilities readily and safely compost meats, poultry, bones and other animal products, which are rich in organic nutrients. The material is ground before processing and carefully managed to decompose completely.

What is the food scraps pail for?

• The pails are provided for convenient collection of food scraps in your kitchen. You may also use alternative containers to collect food scraps in your kitchen.

What is the best way to line my food scraps pail?

• Use a whole section of newspaper or a brown paper bag to line your pail. Newspaper and food-soiled papers will absorb moisture from food scraps in your pail, the same way it used to in your kitchen garbage can, and may be dumped into the green cart for composting along with the food scraps. NOTE: Plastic bags are not compostable and are not allowed in the green cart.

Should I put my food scraps pail at the curb for collection?

• No. The food scraps pail is only for indoor use in your kitchen, to help you collect food scraps. Empty the contents of your pail into the green cart for weekly collection.

If I recycle everything allowable in the new program in 2005 and have less garbage, will I be able to reduce my garbage service?

• If you are not already using the minimum 20-gallon Mini-can you may be able to switch to a smaller cart and save (click here to see current rates - pdf format). Call Waste Management of Alameda County at (510) 613-8710 change your garbage service level.
  

Go:

• The New Weekly Pickup - Complete information about all the significant improvements to residential recycling services
• Green cart - weekly yard trimmings and food scraps recycling
• Gray cart - weekly bottles, cans, jars, paper and cardboard recycling
• Burgundy cart - weekly garbage and non-recyclables collection
• Contact your recycling company
• Used motor oil and oil filters - weekly collection for recycling
• Bulky pickup and recycling (household appliances and other bulky items)
• Services for disabled and senior Oakland residents
• Discounted rates for low-income Oakland seniors
• Holiday collection (what happens when your service day is also a holiday)
• Holiday tree recycling each January
• Back to residential homepage