City of Oakland Trash, Compost & Recycling Rates Effective July 1, 2016

1-4 Unit Residences

5+ Unit Apartments & Condos

5+ Unit Apartment & Condos – Sample minimum trash container combinations table

Businesses

Special Events

Improved 20-Gallon Carts Arrive in October
New Cart Sizes Available for All Materials

New carts have arrived! Oakland Recycles is now making compact 20-gallon carts available for all discards: Trash, Compost and Recycling, for residents’ convenience. As a first step, in October and November Waste Management will be delivering new wheeled 20-gallon carts to households that currently subscribe to 20-gallon trash service. These households currently have either a container without wheels, or a 32-gallon cart with an insert that reduces the capacity to 20 gallons.

The new 20-gallon carts are true 20-gallon containers, with no inserts. They are smaller and lighter than the standard 64-gallon carts used for Compost and Recycling, are easier to use, and fit in smaller storage spaces.

“For years residents have been asking for a better container for 20-gallon trash service,” said Sean Maher, Zero Waste Communications Manager, “and we were able to deliver that with the new contract. What’s more, now all residents can select 20-gallon or 32-gallon carts for Recycling or Compost. Twenty-gallon Compost carts are great for households that produce only food scraps and little or no yard trimmings.”

The new 20-gallon trash carts will be delivered on regular service days to residents who currently subscribe to 20-gallon trash service. These customers will see their old Compost carts replaced with new 64-gallon Compost carts at the same time. Residents will receive a notification postcard in advance of their cart replacement, and an automated phone call reminder the week their replacement is scheduled, through November 13. Residents should set out both Trash and Compost carts, even if they are not full, and leave them at the curb until 6:00 pm, each service day until they are replaced, through November 13.

Residents may call Waste Management at 510-613-8710 to replace their standard 64-gallon Compost cart with any available cart size (20-gallon, 32-gallon or 96-gallon), at no additional charge. Residents may call California Waste Solutions at 510-OAKLAND (510-613-8710) to replace their standard 64-gallon Recycling cart with any available cart size (20-gallon, 32-gallon or 96-gallon), also at no additional charge.

New Cart Sizes Available for All Materials

Now all residential customers may select the best size Recycling or Compost cart for their needs.

• To switch to a 20-gallon, 32-gallon, 64-gallon or 96-gallon Compost cart, contact Waste Management at (510) 613-8710 or csnorthbay@wm.com.  Service rates remain the same, regardless of the Compost cart size you select. One free replacement per year. Charges apply for additional changes.
• To switch to a 20-gallon, 32-gallon, 64-gallon or 96-gallon Recycling cart, contact California Waste Solutions at 510-OAKLAND (510-625-5263) or OaklandCS@calwaste.com. Service rates remain the same, regardless of the Recycling cart size you select.  One free replacement per year. Charges apply for additional changes.
• Service rates change when you switch to a different size Trash cart. You can reduce your rate by switching to a smaller container. Contact Waste Management at 510-613-8710 or csnorthbay@wm.com.

Oakland Reduces Commercial Compost Rates and Restores Discount Program for Low-income Seniors

Oakland, CA – City leaders approved on Tuesday night (October 6, 2015) an agreement with Oakland’s trash and compost service provider to reduce compost rates for businesses and restore a discount program for low-income seniors.

In July the City launched “Oakland Recycles,” a new zero waste program of trash, compost and recycling services with a goal to divert all compostable and recyclable material away from landfills. Under the new program, commercial composting service rates charged by Waste Management of Alameda County, Inc. (WMAC) were “upside down” – higher, in most cases, than the comparable rates for trash service, creating a disincentive for businesses to compost. The City met with WMAC officials to address those issues.

With Tuesday’s agreement, WMAC will reduce commercial composting rates to 30 percent below the corresponding trash rates, effective October 1 until July 2016. Starting in July 2016, composting rates will be set at 25 percent below trash rates.

In addition, WMAC committed to funding a low-income senior discount program that had sunsetted in July. The program had provided a 12.5 percent discount to about 1,500 low-income senior customers at an annual cost of approximately $80,000 per year. Recently the City set aside $100,000 to restore that discount program for one year. WMAC’s commitment is to fund that program thereafter, supported by Waste Management’s charitable fund.

For more information, businesses with questions about their services or bills should call WMAC at (510) 613-8700. Residents should call (510) 613-8710.

If a customer has contacted WMAC and needs additional assistance, they can contact the City’s Recycling Hotline at (510) 238-SAVE (7283) or recycling@oaklandnet.com.

Q&A: Push Charges for Trash, Compost & Recycling Services from Oakland Recycles