Who Handles Your Waste?
Sacramento County has NO unified waste system. Where you live determines who collects your waste and what rules you follow.
City of Sacramento — Covers city limits. Hauler: Sacramento Recycling & Solid Waste. Service: 3 bins (trash, recycling, yard waste). Info: SacRecycle.org or (916) 808-5454.
Unincorporated County — Outside city limits. Hauler: County contracts (varies). Info: (916) 875-5555.
Other Cities — Elk Grove, Citrus Heights, Folsom, etc. Each has own hauler and rules. Check your city's website.
> How to tell: Look at your waste bill. It says who provides service. Or check your city/county on a map.
Map showing City of Sacramento boundaries vs. unincorporated county vs. other cities
Curbside Basics — City of Sacramento Rules
The 3-bin system (when it works):
Blue Bin — Recycling: Clean paper, cardboard (flattened), glass bottles and jars, metal cans (aluminum, steel), plastic bottles #1 and #2, rigid plastic containers #5. NO bags, styrofoam, tanglers.
Green Bin — Organics: Grass, leaves, branches (<4"), food scraps (meat & dairy OK), food-soiled paper. NO plastic bags, pet waste, or dirt/rocks.
Black Bin — Trash: Dirty/greasy items, styrofoam, plastic bags, #3-7 plastics, broken items, multi-material items.
> What the bins WON'T take: Hazardous waste, e-waste, bulky items, construction debris, tires, mattresses.
Three bins side by side: blue recycling, green organics, black trash
Beyond the Curb — When Bins Aren't Enough
Curbside collection is convenient but limited. Many items need specialized routing:
- Items that NEVER go in bins:
- Electronics (TVs, computers, phones) → E-waste recyclers
- Hazardous waste (paint, oil, pesticides, batteries) → HHW facilities
- Mattresses → Special recyclers or bulk pickup
- Working items (furniture, clothes, appliances) → Donation
- Construction debris → Transfer station or scrap yard
- Tires → Tire recyclers
- Large metal items → Scrap yards
- Propane tanks → Hazardous waste or exchange programs
> The routing question: Before you toss anything, ask: "Is there somewhere this can go that isn't the landfill?"
Grid of items with alternatives to curbside bins
Donation Partners — Give It a Second Life
Habitat for Humanity ReStore — Building materials, tools, furniture, appliances (working), cabinets, doors, windows. Supports affordable housing. Tax deduction. Free pickup for large items. (916) 440-1215.
Goodwill — Clothing, household goods, small furniture, books, electronics (some). 20+ locations. Supports job training.
SPCA Thrift Store — Clothing, furniture, household items, working appliances. Supports animal welfare. Free pickup available. (916) 383-7387.
Other Options: Sacramento Food Bank (non-perishable food), Salvation Army (furniture, clothing — free pickup), Arc Thrift Stores (supports people with disabilities), Buy Nothing groups (hyper-local, free exchange).
> Donation rules: Must be clean and working. Call ahead for large items. Get a receipt for tax deduction.
Donation partners with their specialties
Specialty Recyclers — E-Waste, Mattresses, Hazmat
E-Waste (Electronics): Best Buy (free drop-off), Staples, Sacramento Recycling Centers. TVs, computers, printers, monitors, phones, cables, batteries. Contains toxic materials — recoverable valuable metals. Most e-waste recycling is free.
Mattresses: Bye Bye Mattress (free), Sacramento transfer stations ($10-15 fee). Can be disassembled and recycled (metal springs, foam, fabric).
Household Hazardous Waste: Sacramento County HHW facilities (Rancho Cordova, North Sacramento). Paint, oil, pesticides, batteries, fluorescent bulbs, pool chemicals, antifreeze, sharps. Free for residents. Limited hours (typically Fridays and Saturdays).
Paint Recycling: PaintCare drop-off sites at many hardware stores. Latex and oil-based paint.
Sharps (Needles/Syringes): Pharmacies (Walgreens, CVS), Sacramento County facilities. Never loose in trash or recycling.
E-waste, mattress, and hazmat containers
Scrap & Salvage — Turn Junk Into Cash
Sacramento has multiple scrap yards that PAY for metal.
What they take: Ferrous metals (steel, iron — lower value), non-ferrous metals (aluminum, copper, brass, stainless — higher value), appliances, car batteries (highest value), wire, pipe, gutters, fencing.
Major Sacramento scrap yards: Commercial Metals Company (CMC) — Roseville. SA Recycling — West Sacramento. Pick-n-Pull — Auto parts recycling, self-service yards.
> What you'll get paid: Prices fluctuate daily. Copper pays best. Steel pays least. Expect $0.05-$3.00 per pound depending on material.
Tips: Separate metals by type (higher payout). Remove non-metal attachments. Bring ID (required by law). Call ahead for current prices.
Construction Debris: Sacramento Recycling & Transfer Station accepts construction debris, yard waste, clean dirt (fees apply). Cheaper than renting a dumpster for small loads.
Scrap metal pile at a scrap yard
Bulk Item Pickup — Let Them Come to You
City of Sacramento Bulk Pickup: City residents with city waste service. 2 free pickups per year. Call (916) 808-5454 or online at SacRecycle.org. Schedule 1-2 weeks in advance.
What they'll take: Furniture, appliances (refrigerators, washers, dryers, stoves), mattresses and box springs, exercise equipment, small amounts of scrap metal, e-waste (some restrictions).
What they WON'T take: Hazardous waste, construction debris, dirt/rocks/concrete, tires, propane tanks.
> Placement rules: Set items at curb by 6 AM on scheduled day. Not more than 24 hours before pickup. Keep clear of bins, vehicles, trees.
Private haulers (outside city limits): 1-800-GOT-JUNK (full-service, expensive), College Hunks Hauling Junk, Craigslist free section (post it, someone will take it).
Furniture neatly arranged at curb for bulk pickup
The Upcycle Difference — Smarter Routing
The problem with DIY routing: You don't know all the options. You waste time researching each item. Donation centers have restrictions. Specialty recyclers have limited hours. Hauling stuff yourself costs gas and time.
What Upcycle does differently:
1. We know the entire network — Every donation partner, recycler, scrap yard, and specialty facility. We route each item to its best destination.
2. We handle the logistics — One pickup. We sort and route. You don't drive to 5 different places.
3. We maximize diversion — Working items → Donation. Recyclables → Recycling. Scrap → Scrap yard. Only true trash goes to landfill.
4. We document everything — You get a routing report showing where each item went. Useful for tax deductions, rental move-outs, estate clean-outs.
5. We save you time — No researching. No hauling. No rejected loads because you brought the wrong thing.
> The result: 70-90% of your "junk" diverted from landfill. You do nothing but schedule the pickup.
Flow chart showing one pickup splitting to multiple destinations