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Trash pickup schedules from official city sources

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Berkeley, CA trash pickup schedule

Berkeley trash and recycling: who collects, how often, how to find your pickup day, and what changes on holidays in 2026.

Population 121,911 (Census 2025 estimate)Last checked Not affiliated with any city, county or hauler.

Contents10 sections

Quick answer

Who collectsThe city and contracted haulers (by area or service): Ecology Center (recycling only) City of Berkeley Zero Waste Division collects trash and compost; the nonprofit Ecology Center collects curbside recycling under contract with the City. Service is subscribed by the property owner.2
How oftenTrash weekly, recycling weekly, yard waste weekly (green compost cart, 64 gallon)1
Set outat the curb (in the gutter, wheels against the curb) by 7 a.m. on collection day1
Your pickup dayNot published by the city (official page)1
Holidays The city publishes a rule, not a dated list: see the holiday rule.

Bulk items: Scheduled pickup: request it ahead (details). Drop-off sites: 2 listed (hours and fees).

Berkeley holiday trash schedule 2026

City’s ruleNo trash, compost or recycling collection on Thanksgiving Day, Christmas Day or New Year's Day; pickup is one day later for the rest of that week, including Saturday and Sunday. Other holidays do not affect collection.1
Official noticeberkeleyca.gov1
Rule altService guide (April 2024): no collection on Thanksgiving, Christmas or New Year's Day; when the holiday lands on a weekday, collection is one day later for the rest of the week.3

No dated list of holidays is published for Berkeley; the holiday delay checker shows the rule above for each upcoming holiday.

Check your own day for the next three holidays with the holiday delay checker, or download a pickup calendar.

Sources: Residential Waste Services, City of Berkeley Zero Waste Services Guide - Residents of … Last checked Report a change

Bulk trash pickup in Berkeley

How it worksScheduled pickup: request it ahead4
How to requestProperty owner (1-4 units) calls (510) 981-7270 to book an upcoming Wednesday (bulky pickups happen on Wednesdays); set out at the curb by 7 a.m.; cancel by 2 p.m. the business day before4
Limits1-4 unit buildings: one free pickup per calendar year, up to 3 cubic yards (about 20 large bags); items under 5 ft and 50 lb (sofas OK); small items bagged or boxed4
Feesfirst 3 cubic yards free once a year; $46.06 per additional cubic yard. Mattress pickups: two per year, up to two mattresses each (single-family)4
Not accepted
  • hazardous waste, mattresses (separate mattress pickup), large/refrigerated/programmable appliances, e-waste, universal waste, items over 5 ft or 50 lb, C&D debris, rocks/dirt/concrete, tires/auto parts, recyclables or organics4
MattressCurbside mattress pickup (1-9 unit residential): single-family two pickups/year, up to two mattresses each; multi-family two pickups/year, up to four each; book Mon-Wed by calling (510) 981-7270, pickup on Thursday. Or drop off up to two mattresses free at the Transfer Station (California residents).4

Sources: Pre-Paid Bags, Bulky Waste, and Mattress Recycling Last checked Report a change

Recycling in Berkeley

Pickupweekly1
Typedual-stream8
Glassaccepted in cart8
Plasticsclean rigid plastic containers (no bags, film, foam or small plastics)10

Accepted

  • Paper side: clean, dry paper; cardboard; molded fiber (egg cartons)8
  • Container side: glass bottles and jars, cans, foil, rigid plastic containers8
  • Extra cardboard flattened and tied in one 1 x 2 x 3 ft bundle next to the cart8

Not accepted

  • plastic bags, straws, Styrofoam, window glass, ceramics, Pyrex, crystal10
  • food-soiled paper, wax cartons, tissue/paper towels, soy milk or juice boxes, plastic- or foil-coated paper10
  • small plastics such as lids and utensils (landfill)8
  • bagged recyclables8

Programs

  • Ecology Center Recycling Hotline (510) 527-5555 for recycling service and questions1

Sources: Residential Waste Services, Waste Sorting Guide, Curbside Recycling - Ecology Center (city recycling contra… Last checked Report a change

Yard waste, food scraps and seasonal pickups

Yard waste pickupYes8
Seasonyear-round7
How oftenweekly (green compost cart, 64 gallon)1
RulesYard trimmings loose in the green cart with lid closed; branches no more than 2 ft long and 2 in. diameter; extra in City pre-paid plant debris paper bags ($3.00), max 10 per week. Fire Fuel Chipper program mid-March to early December by online reservation.8
Food scrapsaccepted in green compost cart (with food-soiled paper)8
Christmas trees2025-26 season (latest published): cut trees to fit the green compost cart with lid closed (whole trees not picked up), or drop off whole at the Transfer Station, free in January; flocked trees go in the gray cart9
Leaf collectionleaves go in the weekly green compost cart8
Cleanup events
  • Fire Fuel Chipper Program: curbside chipping by online reservation, mid-March to early December, by neighborhood zone event7
  • Vegetation Debris Bin for Berkeley Hills fire-surcharge areas, June 9 - September 117

Sources: Residential Waste Services, Fire Fuel Chipper and Vegetation Debris Bin, Waste Sorting Guide, For holiday waste, adapt to changed pickup schedule and pr… Last checked Report a change

Drop-off sites: landfill, recycling and hazardous waste

City of Berkeley Transfer Station

TypeTransfer station
Run byThe city
Address1201 Second Street, Berkeley CA 94710 · Map5
HoursMonday - Saturday, 8 am - 4:30 pm; closed Sundays, New Year's Day, Independence Day, Thanksgiving Day, Christmas Day (City notice: construction-related delays expected October 5 - December 31, 2026)5
FeesRefuse $38.50 per minimum load (330 lb or less) or $149/ton; organics $27.75 min load; C&D $33.50 min load; plus $3.50 Environmental Compliance Fee; two mattresses free for residents; no hazardous waste5

Alameda County HHW facility - Oakland (nearest of four county facilities)

TypeHousehold hazardous waste
Run byThe county
Address2100 East 7th Street, Oakland · Map11
HoursWed–Fri: 9 AM–2:30 PM; Sat: 9 AM–4 PM11
Feesfree (funded by annual household fee)11
Who can use itAlameda County residents; bring ID showing county address11

Item guides: Mattress · Couch and furniture · Appliances · Paint · Batteries · Electronics · Tires · Motor oil · Christmas tree.

Sources: Transfer Station, Household Hazardous Waste - StopWaste (Alameda County) Last checked Report a change

Missed pickup and contacts

Missed pickup formberkeleyca.qscend.com9
Phone(510) 981-72701
311311 from any phone inside city limits7
Official websiteberkeleyca.gov2

Sources: Residential Waste Services, Trash & Recycling, Fire Fuel Chipper and Vegetation Debris Bin, For holiday waste, adapt to changed pickup schedule and pr… Last checked Report a change

Nearby cities

All California cities: California trash pickup schedules.

Berkeley trash pickup FAQ

How do I get rid of bulky items in Berkeley?

Scheduled pickup: request it ahead. Property owner (1-4 units) calls (510) 981-7270 to book an upcoming Wednesday (bulky pickups happen on Wednesdays); set out at the curb by 7 a.m.; cancel by 2 p.m. the business day before Fees: first 3 cubic yards free once a year; $46.06 per additional cubic yard. Mattress pickups: two per year, up to two mattresses each (single-family).

Does Berkeley recycle glass?

Glass: accepted in cart.

How do I report a missed trash pickup in Berkeley?

Use the city’s online form (berkeleyca.qscend.com) or call (510) 981-7270.

Sources

  1. 1
    Residential Waste ServicesCity · berkeleyca.gov · checked October 30, 2026
  2. 2
    Trash & RecyclingCity · berkeleyca.gov · checked October 30, 2026
  3. 3
  4. 4
    Pre-Paid Bags, Bulky Waste, and Mattress RecyclingCity · berkeleyca.gov · checked October 30, 2026
  5. 5
    Transfer StationCity · berkeleyca.gov · checked October 30, 2026
  6. 6
    Household Hazardous WasteCity · berkeleyca.gov · checked October 30, 2026
  7. 7
    Fire Fuel Chipper and Vegetation Debris BinCity · berkeleyca.gov · checked October 30, 2026
  8. 8
    Waste Sorting GuideCity · berkeleyca.gov · checked October 30, 2026
  9. 9
  10. 10
    Curbside Recycling - Ecology Center (city recycling contractor)Contracted hauler · ecologycenter.org · checked October 30, 2026
  11. 11
    Household Hazardous Waste - StopWaste (Alameda County)County · stopwaste.org · checked October 30, 2026
  12. 12
    Current Service NoticesCity · berkeleyca.gov · checked October 30, 2026
  13. 13
    Berkeley 311 Request for Service (missed pickup form, linked from city news)City · berkeleyca.qscend.com · checked October 30, 2026

Something changed? Report a change

Second-pass verification against every source: November 1, 2026. Not affiliated with any city, county or hauler.