Republic Services RecycleSmart Cities and Areas of Contra Costa County
Republic Services of Contra Costa County is dedicated to handling your recycling and waste needs in a way that is easy, effortless, and environmentally responsible. We work to ensure safe and dependable solutions, and we are a community and business partner you can rely on.
We are proud to provide service to the RecycleSmart cities & areas of Alamo, Blackhawk, Diablo, Danville, Lafayette, Moraga, Orinda & Walnut Creek.
RecycleSmart customer support
Phone number
925-685-4711
Monday – Friday, 7:00 am – 6:00 pm
Office hours (Pacheco)
Monday – Friday, 8:00 am – 5:00 pm
Office address
441 North Buchanan CirclePacheco, CA 94553
Holiday schedule
We observe the following holidays:
New Year's Day
Christmas Day
Christmas and New Year's Day fall on Wednesdays in 2024. Customers who are serviced on Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday will experience a service schedule and pickup day delay of one day.
The business office is closed on the following holidays: Memorial Day, Independence Day, Labor Day, Thanksgiving Day, Christmas Day, and New Year’s Day.
Reuse and clean up days
The Reuse & Cleanup Days Program occurs bi-annually in spring and fall. Residents will receive a brochure in the mail confirming their pre-scheduled dates at least two weeks prior.
You can use our
Spring:
- February - Danville, Alamo, Walnut Creek
(a portion of each city) - March - Danville, Alamo, Walnut Creek
(a portion of each city); some parts of Lafayette, Orinda, Moraga - April - Lafayette, Orinda, Moraga
Fall:
- August - Danville, Alamo, Walnut Creek (a portion of each city)
- September - Danville, Alamo, Walnut Creek (a portion of each city); some parts of Lafayette, Orinda, Moraga
- October - Lafayette, Orinda, Moraga
Do you have questions about the Reuse program?
*This is only a general schedule. Please confirm your dates by using our
Sustainable Contra Costa and Cleaner Contra Costa Challenge
Step up to the
Service guides
Materials Recovery Self-Reporting & SB 1383 Waiver Request Form
Recycling, organics, and landfill disposal guidance
These items are applicable to single-family homes, commercial businesses, and multi-family properties.
Additional resources
Scroll down to see our FAQs for guidance on hazardous waste, bulk items, medical waste disposal, and more.
Moving in? Quick tips
Moving out? Quick tips
Special Event Guide
New Enclosure Dimensions & Clearances Guide
Business/Restaurant food recycling
AB 1276: Single-Use Foodware
Multifamily Property Owners and Managers Tenant Information
Additional business/commercial resources - Chinese
Additional business/commercial resources - Russian
Rates
Your service fee is based on your landfill cart or bin. Recycling and Organics services are included at no additional cost.
Payment: You may pay by credit card by contacting Republic Services at (925) 685-4711.
Houses
(effective March 1, 2024)
Billed quarterly
Businesses
(effective March 1, 2024)
Billed monthly
Apartment/condo
(effective March 1, 2024)
Billed quarterly
Contra Costa Transfer Station Rates
Location and Hours
The Contra Costa Transfer and Recovery Station is located at 951 Waterbird Way, Martinez, CA 94553.
Hours are 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily
except for Easter, Thanksgiving Day, Christmas Day and New Year's Day.
FAQs
Collection Guidelines & Reporting an Issue
Residents
- Face carts toward the street with wheels against the curb or gutter the night before or by 6:00 am on your scheduled service day.
- Allow at least 2 feet between carts and 5 feet between carts and other objects
- Make sure lids are securely shut--materials should not extend beyond the container rim. If the cart is too full for the lid to close properly, or the waste is compacted, an extra fee may be charged.
- There are several ways to handle extra waste. You may schedule an On-Call Clean-up or Bulk Item Pick-Up, or if you regularly have extra waste, consider upsizing your landfill cart.
- If containers are not set out on collection day, customers have the option to wait until the next week for pickup or to request a return trip pick-up
- Return trip service is subject to an additional charge.
- Carts not placed out for collection are not eligible for credit.
- Do not place hot ashes, dirt, rock, concrete or hazardous items in your carts.
Apartments & Businesses
Containers must be easily accessible – if containers are blocked (ex. by parked cars), we will not be able to service the container and you may need to pay an additional charge if you request a return trip pick-up.Extra Waste
Containers filled above the rim, refilled or compacted containers, or additional waste beyond the service subscription level, are considered “extra” waste and are subject to an additional charge. Please call our customer service office at (925) 685-4711 in advance to make arrangements for extra waste collection service.Single-family residential accounts can receive the following free each year:
- 1 on-call landfill collection
- Up to 14, 32-gallon bags or the equivalent volume of items.
- No single item or bag can weigh over 50 lbs. each, or be longer than 4 feet.
- No hazardous materials, tires, large furniture or refrigerators will be taken.
- All items must be at the curb, and scheduled in advance
- 4 on-call collections total for yard trimmings (in paper or compostable bags) and/or extra recyclables.
- Up to two cubic yards (equivalent to fourteen 32-gallon bags)
- RECYCLING: Cardboard should be broken down and put in bundles tied or taped together, no larger than 18" x 18". Paper and other recyclables should be put into brown paper bags, boxes or bundles using rope or twine
- YARD TRIMMINGS: No black, burlap, or plastic bags. Branches should be no longer than 4 feet long and 6 inches in diameter and bundled no larger than 2 feet wide and 4 feet long. Loose yard clippings such as leaves and grass should be placed in paper bags or BPI-Certified Compostable bags (Ace, Home Depot & Lowe's carry both of these types of bags).
- No more than 32 gallons per bag. No more than 25 lbs per bag.
- No dirt, rocks, glass, metal or garbage.
Size and weight restrictions apply. There is a fee for large items and appliances.
To schedule an extra collection call Republic Services at 925-685-4711.
Commercial accounts and apartment/condo property managers can schedule extra pick-ups for a fee.
Recycling & Composting
All items must be
PAPER (clean and unsoiled)
• Paperback books
• Boxes, packages
• Carbonless paper
• Cardboard (must fit in cart)
• Catalogs
• Colored & construction paper
• Computer paper
• Copy paper
• Coupons
• Detergent boxes
• Egg cartons (paper only – no Styrofoam)
• Envelopes with metal clasps
• Envelopes (plastic windows ok)
• Gift Wrap (non-metallic)
• Junk mail
• Magazines
• Manila folders
• Newspapers and inserts
• Office paper
• Paper bags
• Paper packaging with remnant tape
• Paperboard boxes (cereal & shoe boxes)
• Paper towel and toilet paper tubes
• Pet food bags
• Post-its
• Shredded paper (placed in a paper bag)
• Telephone books
• Tissue paper (gift type)
METAL (empty, clean, and dry)
• Aluminum cans
• Aluminum foil (clean)
• Aluminum pie plates
• Cookie sheets
• CRV beverage cans
• Food cans (clean)
• Pet food cans
• Steel cans
• Scrap metal (pots & pans, cupcake pans, utensils / silverware, metal water bottles, and small (5 gal or smaller) metal buckets); most other larger metal items can be set out on your scheduled Reuse Day
GLASS (empty, clean, and dry)
• Rinsed; all colors; lids, caps
• Bottles
• CRV beverage containers
• Jars
PLASTIC (empty, clean, and dry)
• Containers only; empty; rinsed
• Plastics #1-7
• Rigid plastics
• Plastic bags
• Baby wipes containers
• Bleach bottles
• Buckets without handles
• CRV beverage containers (soda, water, juice)
• Detergent bottles
• Food containers (no Styrofoam)
• Household cleaning containers (empty)
• Lids and caps
• Milk jugs
• Prescription bottles (empty)
• Salad dressing bottles (rinsed)
• Shampoo and conditioning bottles
• Tub containers
• Water jugs is not recyclable?
*Household Hazardous Waste (HHW) should be taken to Central San’s Household Hazardous Waste Facility at:
4797 Imhoff Place
Martinez, CA 94553
Hours: Monday - Saturday — 9:00am to 4:00pm
(800) 646-1431
Non-recyclables contaminate recycling loads, and need to be removed during the sorting process. Some items may also contaminate clean recyclable items (ex. pasta sauce jar with sauce still in it, can soak into clean office paper which is then no longer recyclable either).
If our drivers notice a lot of contamination in your recycle cart or bin, we may not be able to service it as recycling and may tag it to have it serviced as trash (in which case you may be charged).
Yes, as long as they are empty, clean & dry - Please properly bag / bundle them up in a clear plastic bag and place into the blue recycling cart (a “bag of bags”).
Crinkly bags such as chip bags, cereal bags, etc. are NOT recyclable.
• Flower trimmings
• Tree trimmings (twigs/branches must be 4 ft or less in length, and less than 6 inches in diameter)
• Leaves, grass, brush, and weeds
• Untreated and unpainted wood
Food-Soiled Paper
• Napkins and paper towels
• Uncoated paper: plates, cups, bowls
• Pizza boxes
Food Scraps (raw or cooked):
• Fruits
• Vegetables
• Dairy Products
• Breads, grains, pastas
• Meat & Seafood (including bones)
• Prepared or processed foods (chips, sandwiches, etc – remove packaging)
Unacceptable Materials for Green Organics Cart:
• Dog poop or pet waste from any animal
• Diapers
• Glass, Metal, Plastic
• Hot ashes or briquettes
• Large amounts of soil or sod
• Plastic bags, or plastic of ANY kind
• Rocks, concrete, dirt, sand
• Wood that has been treated, coated or painted
• Particle board
The ONLY “compostable plastic” item we accept is BPI-Certified Compostable Bags.
- An even better alternative to line your food scrap pail would be to use a paper bag, newspaper, or paper towels.
- The compost facility is not able to accept other “compostable plastic” items (such as corn-based utensils, Green Strip cups, etc.) even if they are BPI-Certified, because these items do not break down fast enough or completely.
- Compostable plastics are also not recyclable. These items need to be thrown in the landfill.
Residents: Each calendar year, single-family home residents are entitled to 4 additional On-Call Curbside Recyclable/Organics Clean-Ups. To schedule an appointment, call Customer Service (925) 685-4711 at least 2 weeks in advance.
• Total amount of material accepted is 2 cubic yards (equivalent of fourteen 32-gallon bags)
• Recyclables must be Empty, Clean & Dry
• Cardboard should be broken down and put in bundles
• Paper and other recyclables should be put in brown paper bags, boxes or bundles
• Branches should be no larger than 2” in diameter and bundled no larger than 2 feet wide x 4 feet long
• Loose yard clippings such as leaves and grass should be placed in paper landscape bags, cardboard boxes (will not be returned to you), or BPI-Certified compostable bags. No more than 32 gallons per bag or box. No more than 25 lbs per bag/box. (No black or other regular plastic bags, including other bags labeled “biodegradable” but not “BPI-Certified Compostable”)
• No garbage, ashes, dirt, rocks, glass, metal, fruit or vegetables, nor fibrous plants such as palm leaves.
Residents: If you regularly have extra yard waste or recycling, you can upsize your green or blue cart to a 96-gallon size at no additional cost. If you need additional capacity, you can request additional carts for a fee. Call Customer Service (925-685-4711).
Apartments & Businesses: You can request more recycling and organics capacity at no additional cost (ex. larger recycle dumpster, or more pick-ups). Call Customer Service (925-685-4711) or speak to a Recycling Coordinator for more detailed technical assistance: RecycleCoordinators@RepublicServices.com
We have a team of Recycling Coordinators who can provide educational materials and training at no additional cost, including:
• Posters
• Stickers to label your indoor recycle and organics containers
• Staff training
• Visual waste audits
• Site visit and meetings to assess recycling opportunities, and assistance in implementing improved programs
Email the team at RecycleCoordinators@RepublicServices.com or call 925-671-5860.
By composting at home, you can reduce your garbage and create healthy soil for your plants.
Attend a workshop, or learn more at
Special & Hazardous Waste
Used motor oil is collected curbside at no extra cost to residential customers. It is illegal to dispose of motor oil in the trash. For more information, to request free Oil Recycling Kits, please call Customer Service at (925) 685-4711.
Many auto service stations, auto parts stores and oil changers also accept used motor oil and oil filters for recycling. Call Contra Costa County's recycling hotline at 1-800-750-4096 for your nearest location.
It is illegal to dispose of televisions, computer monitors and some other electronics in the garbage. Cathode Ray Tubes (CRTs) contain lead and could contaminate water supplies.
Drop off e-waste at a local e-waste recycler:
Single-Family Home Residents: RecycleSmart residents can dispose of unwanted electronics (including monitors and table top-size televisions) curbside at no additional cost on their twice-a-year scheduled “Reuse Day.” Residents will get a notice in the mail about 2 weeks before your scheduled date. Residents can also dispose of e-waste by calling Republic Services (925-685-4711) to schedule a pick-up.
Apartment/Condo Residents & Businesses: Property managers can collect e-waste and call Customer Service (925) 685-4711 to schedule an e-waste pick-up.
Non-Working Items that can go in the trash (per CalRecycle and EPA, these items do not container hazardous components – remove batteries and bulbs first!):
- Blenders and electric mixers
- Cassette tapes
- DVDs
- Fans
- Floppy disks
- Garbage disposals
- Hair dryers and hair curlers
- Lamps and light fixtures (remove bulbs!)
- Pumps
- Toasters and toaster ovens
- Vacuum cleaners
- VHS tapes
If you live in a single-family home: Place batteries in a clear zip lock bag and put them out curbside (on top of blue recycling cart) with the weekly garbage collection or on your Reuse Day. Or you can drop off batteries at one of our local partner retail locations below.
Apartments, Condos, and Businesses: Drop off at one of our local partner retail locations below:
• Alamo – CVS/Pharmacy, 3158 Danville Blvd.
• Blackhawk - CVS/Pharmacy, 3420 Camino Tassajara
• Danville - CVS/Pharmacy, 650 San Ramon Valley
• Danville - Danville Music, 115 Town and Country Dr.
• Danville - Walgreen's, 611 San Ramon Valley
• Lafayette - CVS/Pharmacy, 3625 Mt. Diablo Blvd.
• Lafayette - Ace Hardware, 3311 Mt. Diablo Blvd.
• Moraga - Ace Hardware, 1409 Moraga Rd.
• Moraga - CVS/Pharmacy, 1480 Moraga Rd. #D
• Moraga - CVS/Pharmacy, 580 Moraga Rd.
• Orinda - CVS/Pharmacy, 50 Moraga Way
• Orinda - Rite Aid, 27 Orinda Way
• Walnut Creek - CVS/Pharmacy, 1123 S. California Blvd.
• Walnut Creek - CVS/Pharmacy, 1914 Tice Valley Blvd.
• Walnut Creek - CVS/Pharmacy, 738 Bancroft Rd.
• Walnut Creek - Rite Aid, 1526 Palos Verde Mall
• Walnut Creek - Ace Hardware, 2044 Mt. Diablo Blvd.
Please tape the ends of lithium ion batteries, and bag them separately.
Only cans with trace amounts of dry, hardened paint can be disposed of in your trash cart. It is illegal to dispose of liquid paint in your trash.
Cans containing liquid paint should be taken to Central San’s Household Hazardous Waste Facility in Martinez, or look up a local paint take-back location at
Disposing of unwanted medications properly will help to protect your family, community and environment.
Dispose of medications in a pharmaceutical collection bin at one of these locations:
• City of Walnut Creek, City Hall Lobby, 1666 North Main Street, Walnut Creek
• Town of Moraga, Police Department, 329 Rheem Boulevard, Moraga
• City of Orinda, Police Department, 22 Orinda Way, Orinda
• Town of Danville, Police Department, 510 La Gonda Drive, Danville
• City of Lafayette, Police Department, 3675 Mt. Diablo Blvd., #130, Lafayette
• Alamo, Sheriff’s Substation,150 Alamo Plaza, Suite C, Alamo
Tips
• To ensure privacy, take medications out of original containers and put them in a sealable plastic bag.
• Remove your personal information from the bottle and recycle the plastic container(s) in your Blue Recycling cart.
• Please leave liquids in their original container, mark out personal information and place bottle into a sealable plastic bag
• Asthma inhalers are accepted.
• Pet medications are accepted.
Medical Sharps
Sharps collection programs are for individuals only. Use by residential care facilities, doctors’ offices, veterinarians, and other commercial generators is not permitted.
Improper management of discarded needles can pose a health risk to the public and waste workers. Dispose of used medical sharps in a red hard-plastic sharps container at one of these locations:
• Alamo Sheriff’s Substation – 150 Alamo Plaza, Suite C.
• Lafayette Fire Station – 3338 Mt. Diablo Blvd.
• Moraga Fire Station – 1280 Moraga Way
• Orinda Police Department – 22 Orinda Way
• Walnut Creek Fire Station – 1050 Walnut Avenue
• Walnut Creek City Hall – 1666 North Main Street
• Rossmoor Gateway Building – 1001 Golden Rain Road (For Rossmoor residents only)
• Danville Police Department – 510 La Gonda Way
The hosting organizations listed above are going out of their way to help their communities. Therefore, do not, under any circumstances, leave sharps, medications, or any other products on their property. Doing so could jeopardize the viability of these collection programs.
Republic Services does not collect or accept hazardous waste or medical waste.
Household hazardous waste (HHW) may be taken to the Central San Household Hazardous Waste Facility drive-through drop-off center at no charge to residents of our service area. Proof of residency is required. The HHW Reuse Area offers free materials such as fertilizers, paint and other useful items, as well as information on alternative products less toxic to our environment.
4797 Imhoff Place
Martinez, CA 94553
(800) 646-1431
Mon-Sat, 9 am – 4 pm
Proof of residency is required. The HHW Reuse Area offers free materials such as fertilizers, paint and other useful items, as well as information on alternative products less toxic to our environment.
The following household hazardous waste items should be taken to the HHW Facility:
• Paint, aerosol cans, adhesives, resins, and putties
• Liquid and solid poisons (pesticides, cleaners, fertilizers)
• Acids and oxidizers (pool chemicals, bleaches, detergents)
• Reactive waste (drain cleaners)
• Automotive products such as brake fluid, antifreeze, waxes and polishes, car batteries, degreasers
• Gas BBQ tanks less than five gallons
• Household batteries
• Fluorescent lamps/tubes/bulbs
• Personal Care Products (hair sprays, shampoos, perfumes/colognes)
• Household Cleaning Products (oven cleaners, furniture polish, tub & tile cleaners)
• Mercury-containing thermometers, thermostats, timers
For a full list of what items are acceptable:
How to dispose of light bulbs depends on which type of light bulb(s) you have. Some light bulbs contain hazardous substances such as mercury, lead and arsenic, which are harmful to human health and the environment, even in small quantities. Light bulbs containing these substances should never be placed in any carts, bins or dumpsters.
Compact Fluorescent Lights (CFLs)
Single-Family Home Residents: Place CFLs in a clear bag and put the bag on the ground next to your BLUE recycling cart each week for collection. The driver will pick them up separately.
Commercial and Multi-Family: Household Hazardous Waste (HHW) Facility in Martinez. For more information visit
Light Emitting Diode (LED) Bulb
Household Hazardous Waste (HHW) Facility in Martinez. For more information visit
Fluorescent Tubes, High Intensity Discharge Bulbs and Neon Signs
Household Hazardous Waste (HHW) Facility in Martinez. For more information visit
Incandescent and Halogen Bulbs
Landfill (trash) cart or bin.
Each calendar year, single-family home residents are entitled to 1 additional On-Call Curbside Clean-up. To schedule an appointment, call Customer Service (925) 685-4711 at least 2 weeks in advance. During special clean-ups:
• You can dispose of up to fourteen 32-gal bags or the equivalent in items.
• No single item can weigh over 50 lbs each, or be longer than 4 feet
• No hazardous materials, tires, large furniture or appliances (ex. refrigerators) will be taken.
Individual clean-ups must be canceled 24 hours in advance of scheduled day. All items must be at the curb or nearest main street, even if your weekly trash is collected “on property,” by 6 am of the scheduled day.
Clean-ups will be made on the customer’s regular weekly collection day, but may be picked up by a separate truck.
Anyone, including apartment complexes and businesses, can also schedule additional pick-ups for bulky items (such as mattresses, appliances, larger furniture) by calling Customer Service (925-685-4711) but fees will apply. You can also take extra or bulky items to the Transfer Station (925-313-8987) at 951 Waterbird Way, Martinez, but fees will apply.
