Frequently Asked Questions

The City provides each home with one City container, which is easily rolled to curbside on collection day. It is the only type of container that the automated truck can service. The City assigns containers to the house. Do not take the container from the property when changing houses. Do not paint or deface the container; however, neatly stenciled house numbers are acceptable.

To ensure pickup, all containers must be at curbside by 6 am on scheduled collection days. Truck operators will not come back for refuse put out after the truck has passed your house.

The preferred container location for collection is on the street with wheels toward the curb. Be sure the container is at least 15 feet from parked vehicles and five feet from each other. Lids must be closed for dumping.

All common household trash and garbage are allowed in the container. Yard trimmings may be placed in the container. Cardboard boxes should be flattened to save space. In the interest of container cleanliness, we encourage you to use plastic bags for wet garbage and to hose out your container occasionally. Refuse must fall freely from the container when dumped.

We ask that you refrain from parking along streets on collection day where vehicles may block access to a container. Generally, a 5-foot clearance from isolated vehicles is adequate. Keep containers away from cars, boats, and trailers to avoid risk of damage.

Items that must not be placed in the containers include:

• Dirt or sod
• Rocks or concrete
• Toxic or flammable materials such as oil, gas, or paint
• Hot ashes
• Debris from construction, remodeling, or demolition

To arrange for a dead animal pick up, please contact Animal Control at 209-599-2102.

Subject to verification, the City will replace stolen containers, free of charge. We will replace all damaged containers or repair them unless the customer, by negligence or abuse, has caused the damage. Your assistance in caring for the container will reduce our costs of operation.

If a container is overfilled or not accessible, a tag will be left on the container explaining the reasons and proper procedures. If they miss your service with no notification on your container, non-service may be caused by a truck breakdown or truck operator errors, in which case, call 209-599-2151 by noon of the following day.

The City provides a voluntary yard waste program, supplying a "green" container for yard waste only. Yard waste includes all grass clippings, brush, and trimmings (not palm tree clippings). Do not put plastic bags or potting containers in green containers. These items contaminate the yard waste and can cause everything to be landfilled rather than composted. Green cans are only $3.30 per month.

If you are interested in participating in the yard waste program, please contact Public Works at 209-599-2151. By putting your yard waste in green cans or in the street during the annual free pick-up rather than in your black garbage can, you are helping to reduce the tons of material taken to the landfill each year.