Recycling

Organics

Yard Material Piles

Garbage

Quick Links:

• Waste Sorting Flier (PDF)
• Waste Sorting Flier - Spanish Translation (PDF)
• Waste Sorting Flier - Chinese Translation (PDF)
• Video: How Do I Sort My Waste in Davis? A Guide for Single-Family Residential Customers
• Video: How Do I Sort My Waste in Davis? A Guide for Single-Family Residential Customers - Spanish Translation
• Video: How Do I Sort My Waste in Davis? A Guide for Single-Family Residential Customers - Chinese Translation
• Single-Family Pickup Schedule
• Curbside Split-Recycling Cart
• Variable Cart Rate

The City of Davis contracts with Recology Davis to collect trash, organics, recyclables, yard materials and perform street sweeping within the city limits. Billing for these services is handled by the City's Finance Department.

Curbside residential garbage, organics and recycling collection is an automated cart system. Garbage and organics carts are available in 95, 65, and 35-gallon sizes. Curbside residential garbage rates are based on the size of your garbage cart and include recycling service (via 64-gallon split-recycling carts) and one organics cart (available in 32, 65 and 95-gallon sizes). Additional organics carts are available for a fee. Additional split-recycling carts are available upon request at no extra charge. Cardboard boxes larger than 2 cubic feet should be emptied of all packing material, flattened, and placed flat on the ground next to the recycling carts on collection day. If you have any materials in your carts, roll them out to the curb for pick-up every week, even if they are not full.

Single-Family Trash, Recycling and Organics Pick-Up Schedule:

Curbside trash, organic waste, and recycling is collected once a week. Collection begins at 6:00 a.m. Carts may be brought to the curb after 5:00 p.m. on the day before collection and should be removed by 7:00 a.m. on the day following collection. Recology Davis operates on all holidays except Christmas and New Year's Day. Call Recology Davis (530-756-4646) if you have any questions.

• Wheels against the curb
• Opening facing the street
• 3 feet apart and 3 feet from parked vehicles
• Do not block the bike lane or sidewalk
• Please keep all yard waste piles, vehicles and other objects away from the front of the containers so the trucks can reach them. Do not block the bike lane or sidewalk.

Each residential curbside recycling cart has two separate compartments. Cart lids may be blue or black, please see the image below. The label on the lid details what can be placed inside each of the cart's compartments. If the label has come off of your recycling cart lid, please contact Recology Davis at 530-756-4646 or RecologyDavis@Recology.com to request new labels. Paper and small cardboard pieces go on the left side of the cart and plastic, aluminum, glass bottles and cans go in the right side of the cart. Cardboard boxes larger than 2 cubic feet should be emptied of all packing material, flattened, and placed flat on the ground next to the recycling carts on collection day. Do not place trash inside the recycling cart. Some carts have More information on recycling in Davis.

The Recology Davis recycling truck that picks up the curbside split recycling carts has two separate storage areas inside—one for paper and one for containers. When the arm of the recycling truck lifts the recycling cart and turns it upside down over the truck, the lids on the cart flap open, directing the paper into one storage area and the containers into the other. The two recycling streams are kept completely separate. When the Recology Davis recycling truck empties the recyclables at the recycling center, it empties each side into different areas for sorting.

Single-family residential customers are charged a different monthly rate based on the size of their garbage cart.

• How can I tell what cart size I currently have?

  To confirm the size of your garbage cart, look at your garbage cart compared to your recycling cart. Your recycling cart is 65 gallons.  

  • If your garbage cart is taller than your recycling cart, you have a 95 gallon garbage cart.
  • If your garbage cart is about the same height and width as your recycling cart, you have a 65 gallon garbage cart.
  • If your garbage cart is shorter and narrower than your recycling cart, you have a 35 gallon garbage cart.

  You can also look at the white numbers that are hot stamped onto the back of your garbage cart. The first two numbers often refer to the size cart (35, 65, or 95-gallon).

• How can I tell what size cart I need?

  Start keeping track of how full your cart is every week to se if you can use a smaller cart or if you need a larger one. You can request a different size garbage cart at any time (no more than 1 cart size change per year--additional changes are subject to a $20 service charge).

• How often can I change the size of my garbage cart?

  Residents can change the size of their cart once per year (every 12 months) free of charge. If you change more than once every 12 months there will be a $20 service charge.

• How do I request a different cart size?

  To request a different sized garbage cart, contact the Finance Department at 530-757-5651. Please note that only the property owner can request a change. All requests for switching carts will be handled on a first come, first served basis.  Recology Davis will switch carts on your regular collection day. Please leave your garbage cart out at the curb until 4:00 p.m. on your collection day and Recology Davis will empty your old cart, then will remove it and replace it with a new one.

• Can I get more than one garbage or organics cart?

  Yes. Contact the Finance Department (530-757-5651) to request an additional garbage or organics carts. Your second garbage cart cannot be larger than your original one. You will be charged a fee per month for each additional garbage and organics cart that you request. You may contact Recology Davis (530-756-4646) to request an additional recycling cart free of charge.