Zero Waste
Solid Waste and Recycling Services
Republic Services is the Franchised hauler for Richmond, CA.
Contact Republic Services with any questions at (510) 262-7100 or visit, https://www.republicservices.com/municipality/richmond-ca:
- starting service
- missed pick-ups or lost or damaged carts/bins
- request on-call curbside clean-ups
- commercial, residential, and debris box rates
- billing or account information: Pay Your Bill Online
Recycling Support
Contact a Republic Services Recycling Coordinator for no cost technical assistance and resources at (510) 262-7140 or by email at, RecyclingCoordinators@RepublicServices.com:
- waste assessments and program set-up
- trainings and presentations for staff and tenants
- educational materials and signage
- recommendations for service improvements
- answers to any waste or recycling related questions
RESIDENTIAL
MULTIFAMILY (5+UNITS)
COMMERCIAL
Waste and Recycling Rates and Contracts
To view the City of Richmond's solid waste rates, current agreements, and past agreements visit, https://www.ci.richmond.ca.us/2533/Waste-and-Recycling-Rates-and-Contracts
Contact
Samantha Carr
Environmental Manager
City of Richmond
samantha_carr@ci.richmond.ca.us
New Solid Waste Collection Agreement
On June 24, 2025, the Richmond City Council approved a new Collection Agreement with the solid waste hauler, Richmond Sanitary Services, dba Republic Services. Starting July 1, 2025 Richmond customers may access the new and expanded programs included in the new agreement and rates.
Key highlights of new and/or expanded services in the new Collection Agreement:
- Expanded! Monthly $5 discount for Seniors (62+) and customers enrolled in PG&E CARE
- New! Bulky Waste Collection Services for Multifamily Dwellings
- Expanded! Three Curbside Bulky and bagged item pick-up for Single Family Dwellings (single family, duplex, triplex, fourplexes)
- New! Every five years, customers may request a replacement of each of their carts for clean ones at no charge.
- New! After the July 1, 2025 adjustment, there will be no adjustments to the collection rates until January 1, 2027
- New! Electric side loader garbage trucks
For questions or to participate in the new programs contact Republic Services at, 510-262-7100
State Waste Laws
NEW California State Senate Bill 1383 (SB 1383)
- All businesses, residents, and multi-family properties, are required to separate organic materials (such as plant debris, food waste, food soiled papers, untreated wood waste) and recyclable materials from trash, and either subscribe to the required collection services or self-haul to an appropriate facility for diversion.
- Some businesses are required to, recover and donate 20% of edible food waste that would otherwise be sent to landfills. For a list of Food Recovery Organizations who are available to collect surplus edible food in West Contra Costa County click here .
California State Assembly Bill 341 (AB 341) requires recycling service for:
- Businesses that generate 4+ cubic yards of trash each week
- Multi-family properties with 5+ units
Recycling service is included at no additional charge for most business accounts.
California State Assembly Bill 1826 (AB 1826) requires organic waste collection for:
- Businesses that generate 4+ cubic yards of any type of waste each week
- Multi-family properties with 5+ units
Organics service is included at no additional charge for most business accounts.
California State Law AB 827:Passed in 2019, amends AB 341 and AB 1826.
Requires covered businesses to make recycling and organic recycling containers available to customers with clear labels to indicate what materials are appropriate for each bin.
Goal is to address the impacts of single-use packaging and plastic food service ware by shifting the plastic pollution burden from consumers to the plastics industry. It establishes a new extended producer responsibility (EPR) program to manage packaging and single-use plastic food ware products across every sector of the economy. Producers will ensure that the packaging and plastic food ware sold in California Is recyclable or compostable. EPR gives primary responsibility for managing products after their useful life to producers, who can design and market products to be more easily reused or recycled.
This includes a reporting requirement for cities.
General Information and Collection Guidelines
- Garbage Poster: West Contra Costa County Garbage/LandfillGuidelines
- Recycling Poster: West Contra Costa County Recycling Guidelines
- Organics Poster: West Contra Costa County Organics Guidelines
- Household Hazardous Waste Poster: West Contra Costa County Household Hazardous Waste Disposal
- Recycling Contamination Flyer: Recycling-Contamination.pdf
Holiday Schedules
If any of the following holidays falls on a weekday (Monday - Friday), service will be delayed by one day for the remainder of the week:
- Independence Day (July 4)
- Labor Day
- Thanksgiving Day
- Christmas Day
- New Year’s Day
Local Team
Republic Services has a local call center open from 8:00AM to 5:00PM, Monday through Friday, at 510-262-7100.
Republic Services' Sustainability Advisors are your go-to for recycling and organics questions, and tips on reducing waste. Reach out to them at RecyclingCoordinators@RepublicServices.com
Car Placement Guide
Carts must be placed with wheels against the curb or gutter the night before or no later than 6:00AM on your service day. Please ensure that carts are placed at least 5 feet from cars, mailboxes and other objects and 3 feet from other carts.
If your cart is not properly set out in time for service, customers have the option to wait until their next service day for pickup or to request a return trip for an additional charge.
Billing
Residential services are billed every 3 months, in advance of services rendered. Customers can pay their bill online, over the phone or through mailed check.
To access your bill online, visit Pay Your Bill Online.
For questions about your bill please call, 510-262-7100.
Contamination Monitoring
Contamination monitoring is required by Senate Bill 1383. A 2-month courtesy education period will be provided to all customers starting on July 1, 2025. New customers will also receive the same 2-month courtesy period upon beginning service.
Contamination occurs when non-acceptable items are placed in the wrong cart. Please refer to page 9 for proper sorting guidelines.
If contamination is found in any of your carts, a courtesy notice will be placed on the cart. After the courtesy period, repeated contamination may result in additional fees or non-collection of materials.
To reduce contamination, use these guidelines when sorting your recycling, organics and trash. The blue cart is for recycling, the green cart is for organics, and the black/brown cart is for trash.
Over-filled Carts
Carts filled above the rim, refilled carts or compacted carts beyond the service subscription level are subject to additional charges or non-collection. Please make sure lids are shut, and material does not extend beyond the cart rim.
Missed Collections
If your carts are not serviced on your service day, contact Republic Services at 510-262-7100. For carts set out on time on their day of service, collection will be completed by the next day.
Questions about what goes where? Residents of Contra Costa and Alameda Counties can search that item on RE:Source. This convenient online guide is provided by StopWaste. Visit, ReSource.StopWaste.org.
Additional Resources
- December 2024 Recycling Training Refresher
- Richmond's Food Ware Ordinance
- Solid Waste Contamination Audits
Richmond Recycling Training Refresher - "On the Road to Zero"
Join the City of Richmond, Republic Services, and Pogo Park to learn about recycling, state and local recycling laws, and free recycling resources. This informational recording is a great opportunity to enhance recycling and sustainability knowledge.
For more information, visit Republic Services' website, https://www.republicservices.com/municipality/richmond-ca or call 510-262-7100.
Richmond's Food Ware Ordinance
Learn more about Richmond's Food Ware Ordinance, https://www.ci.richmond.ca.us/1824/Food-Ware-Ordinance
Solid Waste Contamination Audits Returning starting Monday, July 17th, 2023
Republic Services will be resuming solid waste contamination audits on Monday, July 17th, 2023. The audits had been discontinued during the pandemic, however, due to the increased levels of contamination, the audits are returning to encourage proper material separation. Additionally, these audits support the City to comply with California Senate Bill 1383.
Customers in the area where the contamination audits will be conducted will be notified by Republic Services via an automated call blast. For any questions or additional information, please contact Republic Services at (510) 262-7100.