Oakland Trash Pickup Schedule, Recycling, Compost & Bulk 2026
Everything Oakland residents need to know about the city’s two-provider system, weekly three-cart collection, batteries and motor oil at the curb, bulk pickup, and how to find your specific day on the Oakland Recycles lookup tool.
City of Oakland · Waste Management of Alameda County · California Waste Solutions · Oakland Recycles · Updated March 2026
Find Your Oakland Collection Day
Select your collection day to instantly see your full weekly schedule — trash, recycling, compost, batteries, motor oil, and 2026 holiday impact.
👈 Select your day above to see your complete Oakland collection schedule.
⚠ Don’t know your day? Use the Oakland Recycles Schedule Lookup at oaklandrecycles.com — enter your address for your exact day and a printable calendar. Also available: WM MyWaste app (iOS/Android) and My WM account at wm.com. See all contact options ↓
Oakland Waste Collection — Quick Facts
Oakland’s residential waste collection is a collaboration between the City of Oakland, Waste Management of Alameda County (WM), and California Waste Solutions (CWS). All three streams — trash, recycling, and compost — are collected weekly on the same day. However, two different companies send separate trucks: WM handles trash and compost, CWS handles recycling, batteries, and motor oil.
Oakland’s Two-Provider System — WM & California Waste Solutions
What makes Oakland’s system unique is that two separate companies send two separate trucks on the same collection day. This is one of the most distinctive waste collection arrangements of any major US city. You will see two different trucks pass your property on collection day — this is normal and expected.
🚚 WM — Waste Management of Alameda County
Provides and services:
- Black cart — garbage / trash
- Green cart — compost / organics
- Bulky item pickup (appointment required)
- Extra waste stickers
📞 WM: (510) 613-8710 • wm.com • csnorthbay@wm.com
🚚 CWS — California Waste Solutions
Provides and services:
- Blue cart — recycling
- Household batteries (zip-lock bag on top of blue cart)
- Used motor oil & filter (CWS-provided jug, placed next to blue cart)
- Scrap metal (placed next to blue cart)
📞 CWS: 510-OAKLAND (510-625-5263) • calwaste.com • OaklandCS@calwaste.com
Oakland’s Three Carts — Black, Blue & Green
Oakland provides three carts in four available sizes: 20, 32, 64, and 96 gallons. Your service rate is based on the size of your black trash cart. You can change your blue recycling and green compost cart sizes for free once per year without affecting your rate. All carts must have lids closed with materials fitting inside — no overfilling.
⚫ Black Cart — TRASH
All non-recyclable, non-compostable household waste. Rate determined by this cart’s size. Extra waste: buy a WM sticker for a 32-gal bag placed beside cart.
Weekly • WM • 20/32/64/96 gal🔵 Blue Cart — RECYCLING
All accepted recyclables, loose and clean. Also: batteries in zip-lock ON TOP, motor oil jug NEXT TO cart, scrap metal NEXT TO cart. All collected by CWS.
Weekly • CWS • 20/32/64/96 gal🟢 Green Cart — COMPOST
All food scraps, food-soiled paper, and yard debris. Mandatory under SB 1383. Extra yard waste: paper bags or container ≤75 lbs next to cart. NO plastic bags.
Weekly • WM • 20/32/64/96 gal⏰ Set-Out Rules — All Three Carts
- Place all three carts on the sidewalk curb by 6:00 a.m. on your collection day. Do not place carts in the street where parked cars sit — this prevents effective street sweeping.
- Cart lids must be closed. Materials must fit inside with lid down. Overfilled carts may be left or charged extra.
- Place carts with handles and wheels facing away from the street (fronts facing the street).
- Keep at least 3 feet of clearance from parked cars, mailboxes, and other obstacles.
- Contamination surcharges apply if wrong materials are found in recycling or compost carts. WM or CWS may refuse to collect a contaminated cart and will leave a notice. Repeated contamination results in fees.
Oakland Holiday Collection Schedule 2026 — Only 3 Delays
Oakland is one of the simplest cities in the series for holiday schedules. Only three holidays affect service: Thanksgiving Day, Christmas Day, and New Year’s Day. All other holidays — MLK Day, Presidents’ Day, Memorial Day, Independence Day, Labor Day, Veterans’ Day — are fully normal collection days. This applies to WM (trash and compost) and CWS (recycling) equally.
When one of the three holidays falls on a weekday, collection for that day and all subsequent days that week shifts one day later. Friday routes move to Saturday.
| Holiday | 2026 Date | Impact | What Happens |
|---|---|---|---|
| New Year’s Day | Thu, Jan 1 | 1-Day Delay | Thu → Fri | Fri → Sat | Mon–Wed: fully normal |
| MLK Day | Mon, Jan 19 | Normal | WM and CWS work. Full service Mon–Fri. |
| Presidents’ Day | Mon, Feb 16 | Normal | WM and CWS work. Full service all routes. |
| Memorial Day | Mon, May 25 | Normal | WM and CWS work. Full service all routes. |
| Independence Day | Sat, Jul 4 | Normal | Falls on Saturday — no weekday impact. |
| Labor Day | Mon, Sep 7 | Normal | WM and CWS work. Full service all routes. |
| Veterans’ Day | Wed, Nov 11 | Normal | WM and CWS work. Full service all routes. |
| Thanksgiving Day | Thu, Nov 26 | 1-Day Delay | Thu → Fri | Fri → Sat | Mon–Wed: fully normal |
| Christmas Day | Fri, Dec 25 | 1-Day Delay | Fri → Sat | Mon–Thu: fully normal that week |
Oakland Recycling — What Goes in the Blue Cart
Oakland uses single-stream recycling collected weekly by California Waste Solutions in the blue cart. All items must be empty, rinsed, and placed loose — never in bags. Extra recyclables that don’t fit in the cart can be placed in a small or medium paper bag or cardboard box beside the blue cart. Extra cardboard must be tied or bundled in pieces no larger than 3 feet by 3 feet.
✅ Accepted in the Blue Cart
- Paper: newspapers, magazines, catalogs, junk mail, office paper, phone books, paperback books
- Cardboard: corrugated boxes (flattened), cereal boxes, paperboard — dry only
- Glass: all bottles and jars (clear, brown, green) — rinsed
- Metal: aluminum and steel cans, aluminum foil, empty aerosol cans, pots and pans, scrap metal (next to cart)
- Plastic: all rigid containers #1–7 — rinsed
- Cartons: milk, juice, broth, soup cartons
🚫 Never in the Blue Cart
- Plastic bags or film → retail store drop-off
- Styrofoam / polystyrene → HHW or special events
- Food or liquids — rinse all containers first
- Electronics → schedule as bulky or take to HHW, 2100 E 7th St
- Batteries → zip-lock bag on TOP of cart (not inside)
- Motor oil → CWS-provided jug NEXT TO blue cart
- Yard waste, food scraps → green compost cart
Oakland Compost Collection — Mandatory Under California Law
Under California State Bill 1383, all Oakland residents are required to separate organic waste — food scraps, food-soiled paper, and yard debris — from trash and place it in the green compost cart. This is California state law, not just a City of Oakland rule, and it is enforced by StopWaste (the Alameda County Waste Management Authority). Fines for non-compliance start at $50–$100 and can increase to $500 for continued non-compliance.
✅ Goes in the Green Compost Cart
- All food scraps: fruits, vegetables, meat, bones, shells, dairy, eggshells, expired food
- Food-soiled paper: pizza boxes, paper napkins, paper bags, paper plates, paper towels, paper cups
- Yard and plant debris: grass clippings, leaves, branches (≤4 ft long, ≤6 in diameter), flowers, houseplants
- Extra yard waste that doesn’t fit: use paper gardening bags or a container ≤75 lbs. Place next to green cart. No plastic bags for yard waste — plastic-bagged yard waste is charged as extra trash.
🚫 Never in the Green Cart
- Plastic bags or wrap — even if labeled biodegradable
- Non-compostable packaging or containers
- Pet waste, cat litter, diapers
- Trash or recyclables
- Construction materials, dirt, rocks, concrete
Oakland Batteries & Motor Oil — Free Curbside Pickup by CWS
One of Oakland’s most unique collection features: California Waste Solutions collects household batteries and used motor oil at the curb for free on your regular collection day. No separate appointment, no special trip to a drop-off facility. Just prepare them correctly and place them at the curb alongside your blue recycling cart.
🟢 Batteries — On Top of the Blue Cart
- Accepted types: Alkaline, Button Cell, and Ni-Cadmium (NiCd) batteries only
- Place all batteries in a clear zip-lock plastic bag, sealed closed
- Place the sealed bag on top of the blue recycling cart lid (not inside the cart)
- For Button Cell and NiCd batteries: tape the ends of the batteries first to prevent short-circuiting, then place in separate clear zip-lock bags
- CWS will collect the bag from on top of the cart on your regular recycling day
- Lithium-ion, lead-acid, and car batteries are not accepted in this program → take to the HHW Facility at 2100 East 7th Street
⛭ Used Motor Oil & Filter — Next to the Blue Cart
- CWS provides free oil jugs and filter bags to Oakland residents. Call 510-OAKLAND (510-625-5263) or email OaklandCS@calwaste.com to request yours.
- Pour used motor oil into the CWS-provided jug and close the cap tightly.
- Place the used oil filter into the CWS-provided zip-tight filter bag (or a zip-close plastic bag if the CWS bag isn’t available).
- On your collection day, place the oil jug and filter bag next to your blue recycling cart at the curb.
- CWS picks up oil and filter on the same day as recycling. The jug is returned clean for reuse.
Oakland Bulky Item Pickup — Appointment Required, Free
All Oakland residents — both owners and renters, single-family homes and apartments — are entitled to free bulky item pickup included with their trash service. An appointment is required. Do not place items at the curb without a confirmed appointment — doing so may result in a City fine.
📅 How to Schedule Bulky Pickup
- Call 1-888-WM-BULKY (1-888-962-8559) or schedule online at oaklandrecycles.com/bulky-pickup-services at least 24 hours before your next regular collection day.
- Place items at the curb by 6:00 a.m. on the day of your appointment. Do not place items out more than one day before your scheduled appointment.
- Keep bulky items in a separate pile from your regular carts. Items should be accessible — not blocked by vehicles or other obstacles.
- Up to 4 cubic yards of bulky waste per appointment. Additional items may incur extra charges.
✅ Accepted in Bulky Pickup
- Furniture: sofas, chairs, tables, dressers
- Mattresses and box springs
- Large appliances (doors removed/secured on refrigerators)
- Electronics and e-waste (TVs, computers)
- Tires (limited quantity — confirm with WM)
- Branches (≤4 ft long, ≤6 in diameter, bundled)
- Clean wood (must be bundled)
- Bagged trash exceeding cart capacity (within 4 cu yd limit)
🚫 Not Accepted in Bulky Pickup
- Hazardous waste (paint, chemicals, oil) → HHW Facility, 2100 E 7th St
- Medical waste
- Rocks, dirt, or concrete (fee applies if taken to Davis St)
- Fiberglass
- Construction or demolition debris
📍 Drop-Off Option: Davis Street Resource Recovery Complex
As an alternative to curbside bulky pickup, Oakland residents can drop off up to 4 cubic yards of bulky waste at the Davis Street Resource Recovery Complex in San Leandro (serviced by WM). An appointment is also required for drop-off. Call 1-888-WM-BULKY (1-888-962-8559) or schedule online. Bring a form of identification confirming your Oakland address. Note: hazardous waste, rocks, dirt, and concrete are not accepted at this site either. There are two drop-off areas at Davis Street (Area A and Area B for different materials) — pack your vehicle accordingly when booking.
Oakland HHW & E-Waste — Alameda County Facility, 2100 East 7th Street
Oakland residents can take household hazardous waste (HHW) and electronics to the Alameda County Household Hazardous Waste Facility at 2100 East 7th Street, Oakland 94606. The facility is operated by StopWaste / Alameda County and is available to all Alameda County residents. No appointment is needed. Call (800) 606-6606 for current days and hours.
📍 HHW Facility Details
Address: 2100 East 7th Street, Oakland 94606
Phone: (800) 606-6606 — call for current days and hours
Limit: 15 gallons / 125 pounds per vehicle per visit
Cost: Free for Alameda County residents
Find complete information at stopwaste.org/at-home/hazardous-waste
✅ Accepted at HHW Facility
- Fluorescent bulbs and CFLs
- Oil-based paints and stains
- Solvents, thinners, and adhesives
- Pesticides and garden chemicals
- Automotive products: motor oil (accepts, but curbside via CWS is easier), antifreeze, brake fluid
- Spray cans and aerosols (full or partially full)
- Batteries: all types including lithium-ion, lead-acid, car batteries
- Electronics: computers, TVs, phones, tablets, printers
🚫 Not Accepted at HHW Facility
- Latex paint → dry it with kitty litter or sand, then in trash
- Business or commercial waste
- Explosives or ammunition
- Radioactive materials
- Medical or biomedical waste
What to Do If Your Collection Wasn’t Made in Oakland
- Remember: two trucks come on the same day. If only one truck has passed, wait until the end of the day — the second truck may still be on its way. Do not report a missed pickup until after 6 p.m. on your collection day.
- Confirm your correct collection day. Use the schedule lookup at oaklandrecycles.com or the WM MyWaste app. Verify your address is in the City of Oakland.
- Check for a holiday delay. Only Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Year’s cause delays. All other holidays are normal. If one of these occurred, collection may have shifted one day later for the rest of the week.
- Verify cart rules: all carts out by 6 a.m., lids closed, fronts facing street, handles/wheels away from street, 3 feet from obstacles, not blocking street sweeping area. Contaminated blue or green carts may be left uncollected.
- Report missed pickup within 3 days. For WM (black/green cart): report via wm.com or call (510) 613-8710. For CWS (blue cart, batteries, oil): call 510-OAKLAND (510-625-5263) or email OaklandCS@calwaste.com. Missed pickups reported after 3 days may not qualify for a makeup collection.
Oakland Trash & Recycling Tips Every Resident Should Know
🏠 New to Oakland or Just Moved In?
Use the schedule lookup at oaklandrecycles.com to find your collection day and print a calendar. You should have three carts already — call WM at (510) 613-8710 if the black or green cart is missing, CWS at 510-OAKLAND if the blue cart is missing. Call CWS to request your free motor oil jug and filter bag. Start composting in the green cart — it’s required by California state law. Remember: two separate trucks come on collection day, both on the same day.
🚫 5 Mistakes Oakland Residents Make
- Putting batteries inside the blue recycling cart — they go in a sealed clear zip-lock bag on top of the blue cart, not inside
- Putting yard waste in plastic bags for the green compost cart — plastic-bagged yard waste is charged as extra trash; use paper bags only
- Placing bulky items at the curb without a WM-BULKY appointment — a City fine may result
- Contaminating the blue or green cart with wrong materials — surcharges apply and WM/CWS may refuse collection
- Reporting a missed CWS pickup to WM or vice versa — they are separate providers; report recycling misses to CWS, trash/compost misses to WM
Contact WM, CWS & Oakland Recycles
| Contact | Details |
|---|---|
| WM — Trash & Compost | 📞 (510) 613-8710 · 📧 csnorthbay@wm.com — black cart, green cart, bulky, missed trash or compost pickup, extra waste stickers, cart size changes |
| WM Bulky Pickup | 📞 1-888-WM-BULKY (1-888-962-8559) · oaklandrecycles.com/bulky — schedule appointments online or by phone, 24 hours in advance |
| CWS — Recycling, Batteries & Oil | 📞 510-OAKLAND (510-625-5263) · 📧 OaklandCS@calwaste.com — blue cart, missed recycling pickup, battery collection, oil jug/filter bag requests, scrap metal, cart size changes |
| Oakland Recycles | oaklandrecycles.com — schedule lookup, What Goes Where guide, holiday schedule, bulky appointment, all program information |
| City of Oakland Waste Info | oaklandca.gov/My-Household/Waste-and-Recycling — City overview of all waste and recycling services for residents |
| HHW Facility (Alameda County) | 2100 East 7th Street, Oakland 94606 · 📞 (800) 606-6606 · Free for Alameda County residents · 15 gal/125 lbs per visit · Call for current hours |
| StopWaste (SB 1383 / HHW) | stopwaste.org · 📞 (510) 891-6575 — RE:Source guide, SB 1383 compliance, ORRO enforcement, composting resources |
Frequently Asked Questions — Oakland Trash Pickup
Still Can’t Find Your Collection Day?
If the Collection Day Finder above and all the information on this page haven’t resolved your question, use the Oakland Recycles schedule lookup. Enter your address to see your exact collection day, print a calendar, set up service reminders, and report a missed pickup. Calling WM or CWS directly is the most direct option for immediate service issues.
🔍 Official Oakland Recycles Lookup & Contact
All of the following are free and will confirm your exact schedule and service details:
🔍 Open Oakland Recycles Lookup 📞 Call CWS — 510-OAKLAND| Oakland Recycles Schedule Lookup | oaklandrecycles.com — enter address for exact collection day, printable calendar, service reminders, and missed pickup reporting. |
| WM (Trash & Compost) | 📞 (510) 613-8710 · wm.com · csnorthbay@wm.com — black/green cart issues, bulky appointments, extra waste stickers. |
| CWS (Recycling, Batteries, Oil) | 📞 510-OAKLAND (510-625-5263) · calwaste.com · OaklandCS@calwaste.com — blue cart, oil jug requests, battery program, scrap metal. |
| What Goes Where | oaklandrecycles.com/what-goes-where — complete guide for any item; holiday information; special materials disposal. |
| HHW & StopWaste | 2100 East 7th St, Oakland · (800) 606-6606 · stopwaste.org — HHW, electronics, SB 1383 resources, RE:Source directory. |
You will leave this website when using any of the links above.
Trash & Recycling Schedules for Cities Near Oakland
Looking for waste collection information in another Bay Area or California city? Here are the five closest cities we’ve already covered: