Elk Grove Trash Schedule 2026: Pickup, Recycling & Bulk

Who Provides Trash Service in Elk Grove, California?

The City of Elk Grove contracts residential solid-waste hauling to Republic Services. Republic is the main resident contact for pickup days, Schedule A/B assignment, missed service, bulky pickup, cart issues, billing and starting/stopping service.

The City of Elk Grove Recycling & Waste Division manages the broader municipal program, Special Waste Collection Center, recycling education, local waste policy, Lifeline assistance and several resident programs.

Which Homes Use the Residential Program?

City guidance states that single-family homes and multiplex properties with four or fewer units receive the standard residential services described here.

How to Find Your Exact Elk Grove Trash Pickup Day

The strongest workflow is: complete address → regular weekday → Schedule A/B → official calendar color → holiday check.

1. Open the official Republic Services Elk Grove page. Use the municipal Elk Grove page rather than Republic’s general national landing page.
2. Choose “View Your Service Schedule” or “See My Service Schedule.” Republic also exposes online account tools for schedule and service alerts.
3. Enter the complete property address. Do not substitute ZIP code or a neighbor’s address.
4. Save the normal collection weekday. Garbage and organics normally occur weekly on the property’s assigned route.
5. Confirm whether recycling is Schedule A or Schedule B. If the screen does not clearly state it, call Republic at 916-635-2500.
6. Open the official 2026 calendar PDF. Match A/B with the gray/green color of the collection week.
7. Check for asterisk dates. The 2026 PDF uses an asterisk for no-service dates where later service in that week moves one day.
8. Set an evening-before reminder. Carts must be curbside no later than 6 AM.

Official Links — What to Do After You Open Them

These micro-guides are designed for the actual resident task. They explain not only where to click but what information to collect before leaving the official page.

Official Elk Grove 2026 Recycling & Waste Calendar

The official 2026 calendar is not merely a list of holidays. Its gray and green backgrounds determine whether the blue recycling cart joins garbage and organics that week.

Schedule A vs Schedule B — Which Cart Goes Out?

Elk Grove Trash Holiday Schedule 2026

Correct Elk Grove Cart Placement

• Have carts out no later than 6:00 AM.
• Place carts curbside, not on the sidewalk.
• Face the lid opening toward the street.
• Leave at least 3 feet between containers.
• Leave at least 6 feet from cars, boats and other stationary objects.
• Keep lids closed.
• Do not hide carts behind parked vehicles.
• Remove serviced carts within 24 hours.

Current Elk Grove Solid Waste Rates — FY 2026–27

The City Council adopted Resolution 2026-119 setting FY2026–27 residential solid-waste rates. These rates apply beginning July 1, 2026.

Basic Monthly Residential Rate — One Garbage Cart

Other FY2026–27 Residential Service Charges

20% Elk Grove Lifeline Garbage Rate Assistance

Elk Grove offers qualifying households a 20% discount on the garbage portion of the utility charge.

The current City eligibility page ties qualification to enrollment in SMUD’s Energy Assistance Program and requires current proof.

Application Checklist

1. Confirm the service address is currently receiving SMUD Energy Assistance Program benefits.
2. Obtain a current SMUD statement showing the qualifying address.
3. Obtain the current Republic Services statement for the same property.
4. Download and complete the City Utility Rate Assistance PDF.
5. Follow the current City submission instructions.
6. Keep copies because the City may request re-verification.

Weekly Elk Grove Garbage Collection

Garbage is collected every week on the address-specific Republic route. Garbage cart sizes are 32, 64 and 96 gallons.

Do Not Put These in Ordinary Garbage

• Batteries
• Electronic waste
• Household hazardous waste
• Hot ashes or coals
• Accepted food and yard organics
• Accepted recyclables
• Home-generated sharps
• Unapproved construction / special waste

Elk Grove Recycling Rules

Recycling is every other week. Place accepted material in the blue recycling cart during the correct A/B week.

Shredded Paper

City guidance specifically tells residents to put shredded paper in a paper bag and staple the bag closed rather than letting shredded paper blow loose.

Weekly Green Organics Collection

Elk Grove’s green organics cart is serviced every week and supports California’s SB 1383 organic-waste diversion requirements.

Branch Limit for Cart Use

Republic’s residential guidance describes tree trimmings cut to no more than about 6 inches in diameter and 3 feet in length, with the cart lid able to close.

Bags

Elk Grove’s local program allows BPI-certified compostable bags. Ordinary plastic bags do not belong in the organics cart.

Keep Out of Organics

• Ordinary plastic bags
• Pet waste and cat litter
• Treated / painted wood
• Furniture
• Hazardous materials
• Hot ashes or coals
• Garden hoses
• Plastic gardening pots
• Clothing
• Electronics

Batteries, Motor Oil, Sharps & E-Waste

Elk Grove Bulky Waste Pickup — Dial Before You Pile

Eligible residential customers receive three bulky-waste appointments per calendar year at no additional charge.

1. Call Republic Services at 916-635-2500 or use the Republic online account.
2. Ask how many included bulky appointments remain in the current calendar year.
3. Describe appliances, TVs, monitors, computers, tires, lumber, branches and any unusual item.
4. Confirm the pickup date before placing material outside.
5. Keep the load at or below the City’s stated 5-cubic-yard limit unless Republic makes separate arrangements.
6. Do not set the pile out more than 24 hours before the scheduled day.
7. Have all approved material ready by 6:00 AM.

Elk Grove Bulky Waste — Accepted and Unaccepted Items

Branches, Lumber and Plastic Pipe

The current Republic bulk PDF states: branches/lumber no larger than approximately 4 inches in diameter and 6 feet long, and plastic pipe up to 6 feet long.

Tree Stumps — Confirm Before Set-Out

Oversized Piles

If a resident puts out more than 5 cubic yards without prior arrangements, crews may collect only the first 5 cubic yards and leave a Non-Collection Notice, or collect extra material and apply the appropriate fee.

Remove anything left behind promptly rather than leaving the remainder at curbside.

Official Republic Elk Grove Bulk Pickup PDF

Elk Grove Waste Benefits Residents Often Miss

One Free Elk Grove Dump Load Each Calendar Year

Eligible residential households can self-haul one load up to 5 cubic yards per calendar year at no additional charge.

What to Do at the Facility

1. Call Republic before driving because official Elk Grove pages currently disagree about Elder Creek public hours.
2. Bring proof of Elk Grove residency.
3. Tell the scale-house attendant you are using the Elk Grove residential annual-dump benefit.
4. Keep the load at or below five cubic yards.
5. Do not bring household hazardous waste under the free-dump benefit.

Free Compost for Elk Grove Residents

Elk Grove residents have more than one compost opportunity.

1. Elder Creek Residential Compost Benefit

City residential-service information lists free compost from Elder Creek: up to five cubic yards per trip, twice per year.

2. Compost Corner — Elk Grove Regional Park

What to Bring

• Buckets, bags or bins
• Shovel or scoop
• Gloves
• A vehicle you can keep clean during transport

How the Local Compost Loop Works

1. Residents put food scraps, accepted food-soiled paper and yard waste in the green organics cart.
2. Republic transports organics to Elder Creek for consolidation.
3. The organic material is transported for processing into compost.
4. Finished compost is returned to the community through programs such as Compost Corner.

Elk Grove Special Waste Collection Center

Reuse Room — Free Paint, Cleaners & Home Products

Instead of buying a full container for a small home project, eligible Elk Grove residents can check the Reuse Room for usable products surrendered to the SWCC.

Products May Include

• Paint and wood stain
• Cleaners
• Solvents
• Grout and sealant
• Lawn and garden products
• Pool supplies
• Woodworking products

What Happens When You Visit

1. Browse currently available products.
2. Keep the household limit in mind.
3. Put selected products in your own box/bag/container if needed.
4. Complete the checkout form and electronic waiver.
5. Show Elk Grove residency if staff requests it.
6. Transport the products safely; items cannot be reserved or resold.

Monthly Large-Recyclables Drop-Off

Elk Grove residents can bring one qualifying pickup-truck-bed-size load per month to the SWCC recycling area.

Useful Accepted Examples

• Flattened qualifying cardboard
• Large scrap metal
• Prepared bicycle frames
• Drained lawn mowers with battery removed
• Small quantities of clean concrete without rebar
• Brick, rock, soil, gravel and dirt within program limits
• Non-Freon appliances
• Small qualifying green-waste loads
• Untreated bare wood

Not a Second Free Garbage Dump

Household Hazardous Waste — Exact Packing Rules

Hazardous waste should never be put in normal garbage or bulk piles.

Vehicle Preparation

1. Keep waste in sturdy non-leaking containers.
2. Keep individual containers at or below 5 gallons.
3. Leave labels on original containers when possible.
4. Never mix different chemicals.
5. Bag small leaking containers separately.
6. Brace containers upright in a box.
7. Transport material in a trunk or pickup bed, away from passengers.

Medication and Sharps Disposal in Elk Grove

Over-the-Counter Medication

The City’s current medication page says unused/expired OTC medication, supplements and vitamins can be taken to the SWCC.

Prescription Medication

The City lists approved prescription-drug take-back options, including the Elk Grove Police Department lobby medication bin at:

8400 Laguna Palms Way
Elk Grove, CA 95758

Do not put needles, auto-injectors or other sharps in a medication bin.

Sharps

• Republic curbside pickup by appointment.
• Mail-back sharps options.
• SWCC drop-off.
• Use an approved rigid, labeled and sealed sharps container.

Remaining 2026 Elk Grove Tire Recycling Events

Current Event Rules

• No disposal fee during the grant-funded event.
• Residents from Sacramento County can participate.
• Current normal event limit: up to 9 tires.
• Passenger, motorcycle, truck and bicycle tires are accepted.
• Large agricultural tractor tires are excluded.
• Tires with rims are accepted.
• No tire-business waste.
• No company / contractor vehicle loads.

Senior & Disability Cart Assistance

Qualifying residents can receive on-property cart service at no additional charge.

Who May Qualify?

• Resident age 75 or older with no one else in the home available to place carts curbside.
• Resident with a disability attested by a medical doctor, with no other household member able to move carts.

What the Crew Does

Republic retrieves the carts from the approved storage area, services them and returns them to the original location.

Door-to-Door HHW Assistance

Residents enrolled in the qualifying senior/disabled cart program can also become eligible for Elk Grove’s door-to-door hazardous-waste collection.

1. Enroll with Republic’s senior/disabled cart service first.
2. Then contact the City at 916-478-2228 for the HHW appointment.
3. Prepare only accepted HHW in safe containers.
4. Follow the City’s appointment instructions for placement near the home, not normal curbside cart placement.

Street Sweeping Is Separate From Trash Pickup

Elk Grove street sweeping is a City Operations & Maintenance service, not Republic trash collection.

Clean-Sweep Resident Checklist

• Move vehicles by 6:00 AM on sweep day.
• Do not rake leaves or yard waste into the street.
• Put yard material in the green organics cart.
• Move carts and basketball equipment out of the sweeper’s path.
• Maintain adequate clearance for overhanging vegetation where required.

Holiday Tree Recycling — Four Local Options

Elk Grove provides several free ways to recycle natural holiday trees.

Preparation

• Remove tree stand.
• Remove ornaments and lights.
• Remove nails, tinsel and metal supports.
• Cut trees taller than six feet into three-foot-or-shorter pieces.
• Artificial trees are not accepted as natural holiday trees.
• Flocked trees and rooted/live trees may have different disposal routes.

Missed Elk Grove Trash, Recycling or Organics Pickup

1. Confirm the normal weekday. Use Republic’s address-specific schedule.
2. If it is recycling, confirm A/B. Check that this was actually the correct recycling week.
3. Check holiday status. New Year’s Day and Christmas can move later service one day.
4. Confirm the cart was outside by 6 AM.
5. Check the three-foot / six-foot clearance.
6. Check the lid and material. Contamination or blocked service is different from a missed route.
7. Photograph the setup before moving the cart. This gives you a record of placement.
8. Contact Republic Services. Call 916-635-2500 or use the Republic account/service tools.

New Elk Grove Resident Checklist

1. Confirm Republic Services is active for the exact property.
2. Confirm the normal weekly collection weekday.
3. Confirm Schedule A or Schedule B.
4. Confirm the garbage-cart size on the account.
5. Count recycling and organics carts already at the property.
6. Record the cart serial / identification numbers.
7. Ask whether any of the three bulky appointments have already been used this calendar year.
8. Ask whether the annual free dump benefit has already been used.
9. Create Republic online account access.
10. Turn on schedule/service alerts where available.

Vacant Property or Temporary Service Interruption

City residential information says qualifying customers may temporarily halt service when a property will be vacant for 30 days or more.

The current FY2026–27 adopted additional-service table lists a $68.17 service interruption application fee.

Official-Source Conflicts You Should Know About

Instead of hiding disagreements between live official pages, this guide identifies them and gives the safer resident action.

Official PDFs Used to Strengthen This Guide

Elk Grove Waste Facilities — Google Maps & Addresses

Elk Grove “Where Does This Go?” Helper

Related Trash-Pickup.org Guides

Elk Grove Trash Pickup FAQs

Official Elk Grove Waste Resources