Modesto, CA trash pickup schedule

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

Population 219,652 (Census 2025 estimate)Last checked October 30, 2026Not affiliated with any city, county or hauler.

Contents10 sections

Quick answer

Who collects	A private hauler under city contract: Bertolotti Disposal Services or Gilton Solid Waste Management (each has an exclusive service area set by the City Council) City of Modesto Public Works Solid Waste Division manages the program; two contracted haulers collect garbage, recycling and organics. Your hauler depends on the street you live on (see the city's Collection Service Search Tool). Bertolotti Disposal, 231 Flamingo Road, 209-537-8000; Gilton Solid Waste Management, 800 South McClure Road, 209-527-3781. Since July 1, 2026 Gilton collects each can with a separate truck (collection day unchanged).⁷¹¹
How often	Trash weekly, recycling every other week on your regular collection day; odd-numbered addresses and even-numbered addresses alternate weeks (week of Oct. 26–30, 2026 was even addresses per the city calendar), yard waste green organics container weekly; large green waste piled at the curb picked up once a month by city crews (Mon–Fri; may take up to a week in your area)⁶⁷¹¹
Set out	all residents: containers out by 6:00 a.m. on collection day (collection runs 6 a.m.-6 p.m.); the three containers are serviced the same day but not necessarily at the same time; at least 3 ft from obstructions and 1 ft apart, on the street next to the curb (or in the alley for alley service), lids closed, max 100 lb⁷¹⁴
Your pickup day	Address lookup: modestogov.maps.arcgis.com⁵⁷ · Look up your day here
Holidays	The city publishes a rule, not a dated list: see the holiday rule.

Bulk items: By appointment (details). Drop-off sites: 3 listed (hours and fees).

Modesto holiday trash schedule 2026

City’s rule	Haulers observe only four holidays: New Year's Day, 4th of July, Thanksgiving Day and Christmas Day; these may delay service by one day during that week.⁵⁷
Official notice	modestogov.com⁷

No dated list of holidays is published for Modesto; 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: FAQs - Public Works Department - Solid Waste Information (…, Haulers & Pickup Schedules Last checked October 30, 2026 Report a change

Bulk trash pickup in Modesto

How it works	By appointment¹
How to request	Contact your hauler (Bertolotti or Gilton) for an appointment; place items in the street against the curb in front of your home no earlier than 6:00 p.m. the evening before; no alley pickup. Alternative: 'Haul it Yourself' voucher from your hauler for a load up to 4x4x8 ft at the hauler's transfer station (voucher valid 7 days). Appointment links on the city page: Gilton gilton.com ; Bertolotti bertolottidisposal.com . Multi-family (dumpster) residents: pilot program, request through the property manager.¹⁵
Limits	two curbside pickups per calendar year per residential customer; plus two self-haul vouchers per calendar year¹
Fees	free (two pickups per calendar year included for residential customers; no per-pickup fee published)¹⁸
Accepted	Air Conditioners¹ Doors, Ladders¹ Exercise Equipment, Bicycles¹ Plastic or Fake Christmas Trees¹ Large Appliances (all doors must be removed)¹ Mattresses, Couches, Chairs¹ Patio Furniture, Barbecues (Remove propane tank)¹ Tables, Desks¹ Toilets, Sinks, Tubs, Hot Tubs¹ Water Heaters, Water Softeners¹
Not accepted	No Concrete or Asphalt¹ No Construction or Demolition Debris, Wood, Yard Waste¹ No Dead Animals¹ No Hazardous Waste, Chemicals, Toxic Materials¹ No Household Garbage¹ No Items Associated With Businesses¹ No Liquids, Paints, Solvents¹ No Plate Glass, TV's, Computer Monitors¹ No Tires, Automobile Parts¹

Sources: Bulky Item Collection, FAQs - Public Works Department - Solid Waste Information (…, Keeping Modesto Clean Takes All of Us (City Manager's Blog… Last checked October 30, 2026 Report a change

Recycling in Modesto

Pickup	every other week on your regular collection day; odd-numbered addresses and even-numbered addresses alternate weeks (week of Oct. 26–30, 2026 was even addresses per the city calendar)⁷¹¹
Type	single-stream (blue container for plastics, glass, metals and clean flattened cardboard; paper and food-soiled paper go in the green organics container)³
Glass	accepted in cart³
Plastics	all plastics (CRV and non-CRV), clean and dry; no Styrofoam, no plastic bags³

Accepted

aluminum cans, clean aluminum foil and trays, caps and lids from bottles, jars and steel (tin) cans, empty spray cans, steel (tin) cans, scrap metal³
Plastic bottles, buckets, coffee cup lids, containers and clamshells, cups and plates (plastic only, no Styrofoam),³
Flowerpots and trays, laundry detergent bottles, molded plastic packaging, tubs and lids (i.e.,: yogurt containers and tupperware), all plastics³
Glass bottles and jars, clean cardboard (flattened)³

Not accepted

Plastic bags or plastic lined bags³
Garbage, animal waste,³
Organic waste, food waste, green waste³
Treated wood or lumber³
Household or bathroom trash, diapers³
Hazardous, toxic or e-waste (light bulbs, batteries, chemicals, paint, computers, monitors, etc)³

Programs

Free mattress drop-off (Bye Bye Mattress) at 610 South Conejo Avenue⁹

Sources: Containers, Haulers & Pickup Schedules, Mattress Recycling Site, Solid Waste Division Last checked October 30, 2026 Report a change

Yard waste, food scraps and seasonal pickups

Yard waste pickup	Yes³
Season	green container year-round; separate monthly street-pile pickup of large green waste January–November (leaves only in December)⁸
How often	green organics container weekly; large green waste piled at the curb picked up once a month by city crews (Mon–Fri; may take up to a week in your area)⁶⁷
Rules	Container: brush/limbs under 4 ft long and 6 in diameter, grass, leaves, trimmings; no plastic bags (compostable bags only with city approval). Street piles: limbs max 6 ft long / 6 in diameter / 50 lb per piece, pile no more than 3 ft into the street and 1 ft from the curb; no bags, boxes, dirt, sod, stumps. Alley-service homes put trimmings in the alley (max 3 ft into the alley, 1 ft from the fence).³⁶¹¹¹⁵
Food scraps	all food waste including meat, bones and dairy, plus food-soiled paper, in the green organics container³
Schedule	Large green-waste street piles are collected one week a month by area: Area A 1st full week, B 2nd, C 3rd, D 4th; put piles out between the Friday and Sunday before your week (find your area in the city lookup map, layer 'Green Waste Pickup')¹³
Christmas trees	Undated standing program: city crews collect real untreated trees starting in January with regular green waste collection (remove stands/tinsel, cut in half if over 6 ft), or cut to fit the organics container; flocked trees go in the black garbage container; artificial trees need a bulky-item appointment. 2026-27 dates not published.¹²
Leaf collection	December (may continue into January, weather permitting): crews collect only leaves from street piles, six days a week, no set schedule; pile leaves 18 inches from the curb, not in alleys⁸
Cleanup events	Free Tire Amnesty: Nov 1-30, 2026, Jan 1-30, 2027 and Mar 1-30, 2027; get a coupon at City Hall 4th floor (Public Works) or call 209-577-5494; up to 9 tires, rims OK, no tractor/commercial tires¹¹¹⁷ Mo'Beautiful Drive-Up Drop-Off events (free for Modesto residents, proof of address): bulky items (4/vehicle), mattresses, tires (9), bagged trash (10 bags), appliances (2), e-waste, HHW (max 125 lb / 15 gal). No dated event published as of 2026-10-30.¹⁹

Sources: Containers, Green Waste Collection, Haulers & Pickup Schedules, Leaf Collection, Solid Waste Division, Christmas Tree Collection, SolidWasteRoutes FeatureServer (City of Modesto GIS, ArcGI…, Alley Collection, Free Tire Amnesty (calendar event, Nov 1-30, 2026), Modesto Mo'Beautiful Drive-Up Drop-Off Event Last checked October 30, 2026 Report a change

Drop-off sites: landfill, recycling and hazardous waste

Mattress Recycling Site (Bye Bye Mattress)

Type	Recycling center
Run by	The city
Address	610 South Conejo Avenue, Modesto, CA 95354 · Map⁹
Hours	Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays (excluding holidays), 8:00 a.m.-12:00 p.m.; outside hours, mattresses may be left at the designated area in front of the gate⁹
Fees	free⁹

Hauler transfer stations (Haul it Yourself bulky voucher, load up to 4x4x8 ft)

Type	Transfer station
Run by	hauler (Bertolotti or Gilton)
Address	Bertolotti: 231 Flamingo Road, Modesto, CA 95358; Gilton Resource Recovery: 800 South McClure Road, Modesto, CA 95357 · Map¹
Hours	Bertolotti transfer station Mon-Sat 8:00 a.m.-4:00 p.m. (last car 3:45 p.m.); Gilton Resource Recovery Mon-Fri 7:30 a.m.-4:00 p.m., Sat-Sun 7:00 a.m.-4:30 p.m. (hauler pages)¹
Fees	voucher: two per calendar year, valid 7 days (no fee stated; the city lists its bulky options among free disposal resources)¹
Who can use it	Modesto residential customers¹

Stanislaus County Household Hazardous Waste Facility

Type	Household hazardous waste
Run by	The county
Address	1710 Morgan Rd., Modesto, CA 95358 · Map¹⁶
Hours	Fridays and Saturdays 8:00 a.m.-12:00 p.m. (except holidays)¹⁶
Fees	free for Stanislaus County residents¹⁶
Who can use it	Stanislaus County residents¹⁶
Accepts	paint, chemicals, e-waste (incl. TVs/monitors), batteries, hypodermic needles and other household hazardous waste¹⁶
Phone	209-525-6789
Notes	Facts are from two City of Modesto pages.

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

Sources: Bulky Item Collection, FAQs - Public Works Department - Solid Waste Information (…, Haulers & Pickup Schedules, Mattress Recycling Site, Household Hazardous Waste, Gilton Customer Service (Service & Holiday Schedule), Bertolotti Disposal Bulky Items (linked from the city's Bu…, Gilton Resource Recovery public disposal Last checked October 30, 2026 Report a change

Missed pickup and contacts

Missed pickup form	Not published by the city (official page)
Phone	City Solid Waste Division 209-577-5494; Green Waste Division 209-577-5463; Bertolotti 209-537-8000; Gilton 209-527-3781⁶⁷¹¹
311	Not published by the city (official page)
Official website	modestogov.com¹¹
Email	[email protected]¹¹
Missed pickup	Call your hauler: Bertolotti 209-537-8000, Gilton 209-527-3781 (no city form)⁵

Sources: FAQs - Public Works Department - Solid Waste Information (…, Green Waste Collection, Haulers & Pickup Schedules, Solid Waste Division Last checked October 30, 2026 Report a change

Nearby cities

All California cities: California trash pickup schedules.

Modesto trash pickup FAQ

What day is trash picked up in Modesto?

Trash is collected weekly. Modesto does not use one citywide day: your day depends on your address. Look it up with the city’s address lookup (modestogov.maps.arcgis.com).

How do I get rid of bulky items in Modesto?

By appointment. Contact your hauler (Bertolotti or Gilton) for an appointment; place items in the street against the curb in front of your home no earlier than 6:00 p.m. the evening before; no alley pickup. Alternative: 'Haul it Yourself' voucher from your hauler for a load up to 4x4x8 ft at the hauler's transfer station (voucher valid 7 days). Appointment links on the city page: Gilton https://www.gilton.com/collection/#bulky-item-pickup ; Bertolotti https://bertolottidisposal.com/bulky-items/ . Multi-family (dumpster) residents: pilot program, request through the property manager. Fees: free (two pickups per calendar year included for residential customers; no per-pickup fee published).

Does Modesto recycle glass?

Glass: accepted in cart.

How do I report a missed trash pickup in Modesto?

call City Solid Waste Division 209-577-5494; Green Waste Division 209-577-5463; Bertolotti 209-537-8000; Gilton 209-527-3781.

Sources

1
Bulky Item CollectionCity · modestogov.com · checked October 30, 2026
2
CompostCity · modestogov.com · checked October 30, 2026
3
ContainersCity · modestogov.com · checked October 30, 2026
4
Curbside Green Waste CollectionCity · modestogov.com · checked October 30, 2026
5
FAQs - Public Works Department - Solid Waste Information (excerpt)City · modestogov.com · checked October 30, 2026
6
Green Waste CollectionCity · modestogov.com · checked October 30, 2026
7
Haulers & Pickup SchedulesCity · modestogov.com · checked October 30, 2026
8
Leaf CollectionCity · modestogov.com · checked October 30, 2026
9
Mattress Recycling SiteCity · modestogov.com · checked October 30, 2026
10
Solid Waste RatesCity · modestogov.com · checked October 30, 2026
11
Solid Waste DivisionCity · modestogov.com · checked October 30, 2026
12
Christmas Tree CollectionCity · modestogov.com · checked October 30, 2026
13
SolidWasteRoutes FeatureServer (City of Modesto GIS, ArcGIS Online org modestogov)City · services1.arcgis.com · checked October 30, 2026
14
Container Collection PolicyCity · modestogov.com · checked October 30, 2026
15
Alley CollectionCity · modestogov.com · checked October 30, 2026
16
Household Hazardous WasteCity · modestogov.com · checked October 30, 2026
17
Free Tire Amnesty (calendar event, Nov 1-30, 2026)City · modestogov.com · checked October 30, 2026
18
Keeping Modesto Clean Takes All of Us (City Manager's Blog, Sept 23, 2026)City · modestogov.com · checked October 30, 2026
19
Modesto Mo'Beautiful Drive-Up Drop-Off EventCity · modestogov.com · checked October 30, 2026
20
Gilton Customer Service (Service & Holiday Schedule)Contracted hauler · gilton.com · checked October 30, 2026
21
Bertolotti Disposal Bulky Items (linked from the city's Bulky Item page)Contracted hauler · bertolottidisposal.com · checked October 30, 2026
22
Gilton Resource Recovery public disposalContracted hauler · gilton.com · checked October 30, 2026

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Second-pass verification against every source: October 30, 2026. Not affiliated with any city, county or hauler.