Yard Trimmings Placement and Schedule
Frequently Asked Questions

You are encouraged to place your trimmings into your green yard waste recycling container and fill it before putting anything into the street or alley. This container is picked up weekly by your garbage company.

Yard Trimmings pick-up service is available to City of Modesto Residents only
 

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• When does the City sweep my street?

• When does the City collect my leaves?

Christmas Trees

For Further Information

• When does the City pickup and recycle my Christmas Tree?
   

When can my trimmings go out for collection?

 
For Street pickup: Friday, Saturday & Sunday before the First Monday of each month.

For Alley pickup: Friday, Saturday & Sunday before the Third Monday of each month.

Note: In December - Leaves only are picked up.

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What will get picked up?

Crews will NOT collect:
Grass clippings, weeds, tree stumps, household items, tires, plastic, bags, boxes, cardboard, trash, junk, dirt, rocks, concrete, sod, ground cover, building materials or scrap lumber.

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When does the City collect my yard trimmings?

Alleys: Pickup in alleys begins the 3rd Monday of each month. It takes 1 to 2 weeks to complete the alley collections.

Note: In December only leaves are picked up. All leaves are picked up from the streets. There is no alley pick up for leaves.

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Where should I place my yard trimmings for collection?

Street Pickup:
Where alleys do not exist, place your trimmings at the curb in front of your property only. Trimmings should not extend more than 3 feet into the street and must be at least 1 foot from the face of the curb, and not more than 4 feet high. If a  curb does not exist, trimmings should be 1 foot from the point of low drainage. Trimmings should be placed on the street in front of your property only, not at your neighbor's. All piles should be compact.

Please remember that yard trimmings should not be placed near: sewer clean-outs, manholes, fire hydrants, drains, or other utility fixtures.

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When does the City sweep my street?

 
Your streets are scheduled to be swept twice a month.  City crews sweep your street within 48 hours after picking up yard trimmings. Please do not sweep debris left behind into piles and leave them on the street. The sweeper will sweep any remaining loose debris, but cannot pick up piles of debris. Sweepers will go around piles that are placed out at the wrong time of the month. These piles make sweeping efforts less effective. Alleys are not swept.

Remember to place your garbage containers back on your property as soon as your garbage company empties them.

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When does the City collect my leaves?

 
During the month of December leaves only are picked up. No yard trimmings will be collected this month. It is important that no other yard trimmings are mixed in with the leaves as they are taken to a composting site.

City crews only collect leaves from the streets. Leaves will not be picked up in alleys. Leaves should not be placed in containers, such as bags, boxes, etc.

We encourage you to use your green yard waste container, which is picked up weekly by your garbage company.

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The City of Modesto Forestry crews will begin picking up Holiday trees starting in January with the normal green waste pick-up, or they may be cut up and placed in your green waste container to be picked up by your weekly garbage collection.  In areas where alleys do not exist, please place the tree at the curb in front of your house only.  The trees will be composted at the Jennings Road facility.  Please follow these simple steps to ensure your tree is picked up in a timely manner:

• Christmas trees may be cut up and placed in your green waste container, which is picked up weekly by your garbage company.
• In areas where alleys do not exist, place your tree at the curb in front of your property only. The trees will be composted at the Jennings Road facility.
• Please follow these simple steps to ensure your tree is picked up:

1. Small, natural, untreated trees can be put in your green yard waste container.
2. Remove all tree stands, lights, tinsel, rods and plastic bags from tree.
3. Trees over 6 feet tall must be cut in half.
4. Artificial trees or trees with flocking, paint or fireproofing cannot be recycled
5. Flocked, painted, fireproofed and artificial trees can be disposed of at:
   - Bertolotti Disposal (537-8000)
   - Gilton Solid Waste Management (527-3781)
   - Modesto Disposal Waste Management (538-2210)

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