Garbage & Recycling

Blue Bag Program

Starting January 1, 2010, the City of Modesto will no longer use blue bags to collect recyclable materials.  Now that residents can put all food waste and paper products like junk mail, magazines, newspapers, phone books, paper bags, paper towels, paper napkins, cardboard and other compostable materials in the green can for composting, it is no longer practical to operate the blue bag program.  Most residents take California Redemption Value (CRV) glass bottles, platics and aluminum cans to buyback centers for cash.  When residents put paper products and food waste in the green can for composting and cash in CRV bottles, plastics and cans, the types of materials that are left cannot be cost-effectively recycled.

Yard waste, food waste and paper products make up over 66% of the wastes produced by residents.  By putting all yard waste, food waste and paper products in the green can, residents will divert more waste from disposal facilities.  The compost produced from these materials is "Certified Organic" and used as a soil amendment.  Please do not put plastic bags, garbage, or CRV recyclables in the green can. 

Help the Parks, Recreation and Neighborhoods Department

All CRV materials can be recycled to benefit the City of Modesto Parks, Recreation and Neighborhoods Department.  Boyett Petroleum will match all funds collected from recycling through their B Green program and donate them to the City of Modesto's "Adopt A Park" program.

Take CRV materials to Modesto Junk Co. (1403 9th Street) and mention "B Green."  Boyett Petroleum will match the funds collected from all "donated" CRV materials.    

Free Blue Bags are available at the following locations through November 30, 2009:

Large size blue bags are now available.

They have been donated from a local industry for REUSE. Pick them up at the following locations:

You can also have your groceries bagged in Blue Bags when you shop at the following stores. When asked "Paper or plastic?" Say "Blue bags, please!"

• O'Brien's Market
• Save Mart Supermarkets

Collection Day

Residents must place their garbage cans out by 6 a.m. on their collection day. Ensure that your cans are collected quickly by following these tips.

• Place cans on the asphalt portions of the street, next to the curb. Do not block the sidewalk. If you have alley pickup, put both cans in the alley.
• Cans must be placed at least three feet from any obstruction such as mailboxes, cars, poles, etc. Please leave at least one foot of space between the cans.
• Place cans with the handle toward your home.
• The lids must be closed. No excess garbage will be collected without prior arrangements with your service provider.
• Neither can may exceed 100 pounds.
• Cans will be serviced on the same day, but not necessarily at the same time.

Acceptable Placement	Unacceptable Placement

For more information on garbage or recycling programs, contact the Solid Waste Division at (209) 577-5494 or swm@modestogov.com.

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