COMPOST
COMPOSTING IS AS EASY AS 1 -2- 3!

- SEPARATE
- While preparing meals or when cleaning the refrigerator, separate any food scraps and always scrape any extra food from your plate into the compost bin.
- COLLECT
- Use a kitchen pail, a reusable plastic tub or any compostable paper container such as take-out boxes or paper bags.
- Include food-soiled paper such as coffee cups and filters, paper plates, napkins, paper towels, waxed/parchment paper, and take-out containers.
- Freezing food scraps or wrapping them in newspaper can prevent leaks and odors.
- EMPTY
- Empty food scraps, food-soiled paper and plant debris into green compost cart.
- By collecting food scraps, we’ll reduce waste and create compost for local farms and gardens.
Watch a video on how to compost in your home!
What goes into the Compost Cart?
Food Scraps, Food Soiled Paper, Yard Debris, Untreated Wood
Food Scraps Collection:
As easy as 1-2-3: Separate, Collect, then Place in Compost Cart.
See service information panel for extra yard debris details.






What DOES NOT go into the Compost Cart?
Do not place non-compostable items in your green compost cart. No plastic bags of any kind. Contamination charges may apply if the wrong material is found in the compost cart. Refer to the section CONTAMINATION & OVERAGES for more information.



Extra yard debris
- Tie or bundle branches (must be less than 4’ long and 6” across).
- Use large paper gardening bags available at most hardware stores (or purchase directly from WM). Use your own extra container (cannot exceed 75 pounds or contain dirt).
- Set out next to Compost Cart for pickup.
Note: Plant debris set out in a plastic bag will be charged as extra trash collection.
Click here for Holiday Treecycling | Árbol de navidad | 聖誕樹 | Cây mừng lễ
RECYCLE
What goes into the Recycle Cart?
Empty Glass, Aluminum, Metal & Plastic Containers, Beverage & Soup Boxes, Clean Paper & Cardboard






What goes near the Recycle Cart?
Break down and fold cardboard boxes to smaller than 3’ x 3’ and set them behind or against your cart or bin.
Put household batteries in sealed plastic bag on top of recycle cart or bin.
Place full Motor Oil Recycling Kit(s) next to cart. Request a free kit from California Waste Solutions at 510-625-5263 or OaklandCS@calwaste.com.
What DOES NOT go into the Recycle Cart?
Any food scraps, non-recyclable or hazardous items. This includes polystyrene and foam packaging, paint, and light bulbs. Contamination charges may apply if the wrong material is found in the recycling cart. Refer to the section CONTAMINATION & OVERAGES for more information.



TRASH
What goes into the Trash Cart?
Non-Recyclable & Non-Hazardous Materials
Used Clothing:
Donate gently worn items to a second-hand store or clothing drive.
Tattered and stained clothes belong in the trash.







What DOES NOT go into the Trash Cart?
Do not place food scraps, recyclables, or household hazardous waste into trash cart.



HAZARDOUS
Residential Used Motor Oil and Filter Recycling
Used motor oil can be refined and reconditioned to become usable again. Paper, steel, and plastic from used oil filters can also be recycled. There are three options for recycling used motor oil and filters:
- Residential recycling pickup
- Certified Collection Center drop-off locations
- Household Hazardous Waste (HHW) collection facility
No matter where you live in the city, there is a free and easy recycling option close to you. Visit recycleusedoil.org to find a location near you.
See the Guide below for details on residential pickup, and how to properly prepare oil and filters for recycling:
- Used Motor Oil and Filter Recycling Guide
- Guía De Reciclaje de Aceite de Motor Y Filtro de Aceite Usados
- 舊機油和機油濾心回收指南
Hazardous Waste Facility at 2100 East 7th Street, Oakland
Take fluorescent bulbs, paints, stains, solvents, thinners, adhesives, pesticides, cleaners, household garden and auto chemicals, spray cans, batteries and electronic waste to the Household Hazardous Waste Facility at 2100 East 7th Street, Oakland. Drop offs are limited to 15 gallons/125 pounds per vehicle. Call (800) 606-6606 for days and hours of operation. Visit household-hazwaste.org or call (800) 606-6606.





Service
Info
Weekly Trash, Compost & Recycling collection
Set your carts out curbside by 6 a.m. on your scheduled pickup day, with lids closed and handles facing away from the street.
Holiday Schedule
There is no Trash, Compost or Recycling collection on Thanksgiving Day, Christmas Day or New Year’s Day. During years when these holidays fall on a weekday, pickup is one day later for the rest of the week, including Saturday. For example, if your regular service day is Tuesday service will occur on Wednesday, or if your regular service day is Friday service will occur on Saturday.
Trash, Compost and Recycling collection schedules are not affected by any other holidays.
Selecting and Changing Your Cart Size
Trash, Compost and Recycling carts are available to you in four sizes: 20-gallon, 32-gallon, 64-gallon and 96-gallon. To avoid Trash overage charges, or Compost or Recycling contamination fees, select the right size carts to meet your needs.
Your service rate is based on the size Trash cart you select. You may request any size Recycling or Compost cart without affecting your service rate.
You may make one free cart size change per year for each of your carts. Charges apply for additional changes.
- 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.
- 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.
- Service rates change when you switch to a different size Trash cart. Contact Waste Management at 510-613-8710 or csnorthbay@wm.com.
Free Backyard Service for Disabled and Elderly Customers
Backyard service is available at no additional cost for qualifying elderly or disabled residents. Call Waste Management of Alameda County at (510) 613-8710.
Service Rates
Service Rates: 1-4 unit Single Family Homes (July 1, 2017 – June 30, 2018)
(1-4 unit Single Family Homes (July 1, 2016 – June 30, 2017))
Frequently Asked Questions
City of Oakland Frequently Asked Questions for Residents
Program Guide
Oakland Residential Recycling Program Guide
- Spanish – Guía del Programa de Reciclaje Residencial
- Chinese – 住宅回收計劃指南
- Vietnamese – Hướng Dẫn Chương Tr.nh Tái Chế Cho Cư Dân
Free Holiday Tree Recycling Pickup
Convenient and free pickup of holiday trees takes place on your regularly scheduled Compost service day, from the first work day after December 25th through the end of the second work week in January. Cut taller trees to 4 feet – no flocking, ornaments or stands – and place curbside.
All residences in Oakland, including apartments and condos receive this service. Please note that a separate collection vehicle may pick up the trees.

Preparing Your Holiday Tree
Cut to 4 feet – no flocking, ornaments or stands. Place curbside between 12/26 and 1/14 on your service day.
Árbol de navidad: córtelo a una altura de 4 pies (1,22 m) y quite toda la nieve artificial, los adornos y los soportes. Colóquelo en el borde de la acera entre el 26/12 y el 14/01, en los días de servicio.
聖誕樹:裁切為 4 英尺長 – 不要有填充物、裝飾品或底座。請在指定期間 (12 月 26 日至 1 月 14 日) 的服務日,將樹木放在街道邊。
Cây mừng lễ: Cắt từng khúc 4 feet – không có bông tuyết, đồ trang trí hoặc chân đứng. Đặt bên lề đường trong khoảng thời gian từ ngày 26/12 đến 14/1 vào ngày có xe đổ rác làm việc.
CONTAMINATION
& OVERAGES
Recycle Right and Avoid Surcharges
Surcharges may apply when the wrong materials are found in compost or recycling containers. Residents will be notified after each incident.
Only place acceptable items in the recycling and composting containers as shown on the container labels. Anything else is considered a contaminant. Contaminants can ruin an entire load of materials meant for recycling or composting. The service provider may refuse to collect containers with the wrong material inside, and may apply contamination surcharges if the container is picked up. See below for when surcharges may apply.
INCIDENT | 1-2 | 3 Within 6 months of 1st incident |
4 Within 6 months of 3rd incident |
5+ Within 6 months of 4th incident |
---|---|---|---|---|
RESULT | $0 (Warning) | $25 | $50 | $50 |
Avoid Overage Charges
Materials must fit inside a container with the lid closed for regular service.
Eliminate excess materials by:
- Placing all recyclables into the recycling container.
- Placing all food scraps, food-soiled paper and other organics into the Compost container.
- Having enough bins or pickups to manage all the waste you generate.
- Making sure the containers work properly – call for repair if needed.
- Setting out bins just ahead of pickup when possible.
If you regularly have excess materials, we’re here to help you.
Call the Customer Service at (510) 613-8700 to help you right-size your service.
Trash Cart Overage Charge = $1.26 per gallon
SERVICE DETAILS
Minimum Trash Service: 20 gallons per unit.
Trash/Compost: Waste Management of Alameda County, Inc., 510-613-8710
Recycling: California Waste Solutions, 510-625-5263
PLEASE CALL OR COMPLETE FORM TO SIGN UP FOR SERVICE
Waste Management of Alameda County, Inc., 510-613-8710