AIR QUALITY NOTE: THE RECYCLING CENTER IS SUBJECT TO TEMPORARY CLOSURe IF AND WHEN OUTDOOR AIR QUALITY REACHES UNHEALTHY LEVELS, that is, when the air quality index (aqi) is over 150.

Recycling Collection

The City of El Cerrito owns and operates the curbside collection of recyclables from all homes, businesses, and multi-family dwellings within the City.  

garbage and greenwaste Collection

East Bay Sanitary Company at (510) 237-4321 is the City's franchised hauler for garbage and green waste.  Please contact them directly when you have questions about garbage and green waste collection services. 

Questions?

- Recycling Information
- Garbage and Green waste Information
- Greener El Cerrito Newsletters
- Residential Brochure (English version) - all versions updated November 2019
     * Spanish version 
     * Mandarin version
- Commercial Brochure
 

Services

Among the solid waste collection services provided to El Cerrito Residents are:

• Weekly curbside collection services:
  • Weekly collection of recycling (grey container)
  • Weekly collection of green waste, including food scraps (green container)
  • Weekly collection of garbage (blue container)
  • FREE “backyard collection” services for residents with a medical issue.  Doctor's note required.
• Drop-off and other collection services:
  • Convenient and free drop-off recycling of a wide range of materials at the El Cerrito Recycling Center
  • FREE curbside, one time Annual Clean-up of extra materials:  recyclables, green waste, and garbage (Please call to make  advanced arrangements.) 
  • Free drop-off of Household Hazardous Waste at WCC HHW Facility in Richmond       
  • Free curbside collection of HHW for seniors and the disabled
• Special Recycling Events:   
  • Periodic electronics recycling collection events 
  • Biannual citywide garage sales

These services are provided for based on rates charged to all homes and businesses for the collection of solid waste. For details on the rates, visit our rates page.

Master Fee Schedule for Fiscal Year 2020-21
New fees for FY 2020-21 go into effect on July 1, 2020. Download the Master Fee Schedule for the Recycling + Environmental Resource Center. Please review item # 5 for a list of our division fees.
 
Please note: We are a one-stop recycling facility, however, not all items are included in the curbside program. For example, the following items must be recycled here at the Drop-off Center: batteries, CFL bulbs, electronics, large pieces of scrap metals, medicines/needles, and Styrofoam.  Drop-off Recycling Center information. 

Holiday Schedule:  If Christmas or New Year's day falls on a Friday, curbside collection of recycling, greenwaste and garbage will occur one day late, on a Saturday. Christmas Trees will be picked up free of charge on the regular greenwaste day during the first 2 weeks of January.  Questions? Contact East Bay Sanitary: (510) 237-4321.