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Garbage & Recycling
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Bulky Item Pick Up
Residential garbage service customers may have 2 bulky item pick-ups per calendar year. Residents must contact their garbage company to set up a collection appointment. Items should be placed out the evening before the scheduled collection day.
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Composting Information
The City of Modesto first implemented its integrated composting program in 1997. The program includes collecting and processing residential yard waste material from the green cans and pruned refuse from the street collection program.
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Garbage Containers
The City of Modesto uses a "Two Can" garbage program. The black can is for household garbage and non-organic materials such as plastic packaging, diapers, animal waste, etc. The green can is for organic materials including yard waste, food waste, paper and cardboard products.
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Garbage Pick Up Day
You must contact your garbage company to obtain the garbage schedule for your address. Visit our Garbage Companies web page for more information.
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Garbage Service Faqs
Requesting repairs to Black or Green cans, Report stolen Black or Green cans. Request Green or Black cans.
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Green Waste Collection
The City of Modesto offers residents 2 options for disposing of their green waste. The 1st option is for small items, such as grass clippings and weeds which can, and should, be placed in your green yard waste can. The 2nd option is for larger green waste such as tree trimmings.
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Illegal Dumping
Owners of property are responsible for their property half-way into the street and half-way into the alley. Illegal dumping in the public right-of-way at a location other than adjacent to your property can result in an automatic citation.
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Leaf Collection
Leaves are only picked-up the month of December. As such, no large yard trimmings are collected as part of the green waste program in December.
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Modesto Garbage Companies
The City of Modesto contracts with Gilton Solid Waste Management and Bertolotti Disposal Service for all garbage and recycling collection services. Each company has an exclusive service area as deemed by the Modesto City Council, thus your garbage company is determined by which street you live on. Find the garbage company holiday schedule.
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Recycling Information, Events & Programs
The City of Modesto has various recycling events and programs available to community members. View our recycling guide, recycle your phone book or participate in one of our recycling events.
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SB1383 (Short Lived Climate Pollution Reduction Act)
SB 1383 requires state-wide reduction in landfilling of organic waste, which leads to greenhouse gas emissions. The City of Modesto is working with the CalRecycle and reaching out to businesses to ensure that they have organic recycling and food recovery programs in place. The City will provide updates as more information becomes available.
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Street Sweeping
City of Modesto streets are swept once per month within 48 hours of the collection of your large yard trimmings.
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Trash Collection Policy & Tips
The City of Modesto uses a "Two Can" garbage program. The black can is for household garbage and non-organic materials such as plastic packaging, diapers, animal waste, etc. The material is sent to a Waste-to-Energy facility and is burned to make electricity.