Residential Services
The City of Fresno provides residents with three 96-gallon carts as a basic level of service. There is one cart for trash (gray), one for recyclables (blue), and one for green waste (green). All carts are emptied on the same day by automated collection trucks.
Collection Schedule
Your green, gray, and blue carts are all collected on the same day, 5:30 a.m. – 8:00 p.m.
The day of your collection is determined by your location:
Pickup Information
Carts can be placed out for collection any time after 6:00 p.m. the night before your scheduled pickup day, but they must be out before 5:30 a.m. on the day of collection.
When placing your carts out for pickup, make sure:
- Carts are placed 3–4 feet apart. Collection trucks cannot efficiently empty carts if they are too close together.
- Each cart’s handle is facing your house.
- Your carts are not overfilled and the lids are closed.
- Carts are clear of any obstructions (i.e., mailboxes, basketball hoops, vehicles).
- Avoid contamination by placing materials in the correct green, gray, and blue carts.
Emptied carts must be removed from the curb and placed out of view by 8:00 p.m. on your collection day.
Missed Service Pick-Up
Due to a staffing shortage, residential solid waste collection may occur later in the day than usual. To report a missed pickup on your service day, please wait until after 6:30 p.m. to allow for service to be completed in your area.
Report a missed pickup by calling 559-621-6888 after 6:30 p.m., and leave a message on our after-hours voicemail system. A service request will be generated and your location will be serviced within 2 business days. You can also submit a report through FresGO.
Skip Fee
If a customer is late in placing their cart(s) at the curb and reports a missed service, a Skip Fee may be assessed that will appear on the customer’s utility bill. For the first two incidents, there will be no charge to the customer. A $16.27 fee will be assessed on the third incident and each incident thereafter in a fiscal year (period running from July – June each year).
Holiday Schedules
The Residential Collection Schedule DOES NOT change for the following holidays:
- Martin Luther King Jr. Day
- President’s Day
- Memorial Day
- Independence Day
- Labor Day
- Veterans Day
The Residential Collection Schedule DOES change for the following holidays, as outlined below:
- Thanksgiving Day
- Day after Thanksgiving
- Christmas Day
- New Year’s Day
Pickup schedules for these holidays vary depending upon which day of the week the holiday falls. Printable versions of the Residential Collection Holiday Schedule can be found below.
Alley Locks
Residents or owners of a property adjacent to a gated alley can obtain a key or a lock from the Solid Waste Management Division.
To obtain a key or lock, customers must bring a copy of their City of Fresno utility bill to the Solid Waste Management Division located at 1325 El Dorado Street in the City of Fresno Municipal Service Center. Our office is located in Building “S” next to the guard shack and is open Monday through Friday from 8:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m., by appointment only.
If you have questions about the program, alley closure procedures, or want to report a damaged gate, or to schedule an appointment, please contact our offices at (559) 621-1811 for assistance.
Assistance for Customers with Disabilities or Medical Conditions
Our drivers will roll out carts and return them to their original location for residential customers with disabilities or medical conditions that prevent them from handling their carts.
Contact the Solid Waste Management Division office at (559) 621-1452 for eligibility requirements.
Containers in View
Keeping our neighborhoods clean and beautiful begins in our own front yards. The City of Fresno adopted a container in view regulation over 15 years ago to encourage proper storage of carts and to beautify our community (Fresno Municipal Code 6-205(10)). This ordinance calls for all trash and recycling carts to be put away and out of view from the street after they are serviced.
Carts can be placed out for collection after 6:00 p.m. the day before collection and must be out by no later than 5:30 a.m. on the day of collection. Carts must be placed out of view no later than 8:00 p.m. on the collection day.
Carts left out on non-service days not only create an unsightly appearance in our neighborhoods, but they can also be a safety hazard or can be stolen if left out. If you prefer to store containers in the front yard, a 4-foot high enclosure or shrubbery should meet the necessary screening requirements.
Examples of Acceptable and Unacceptable Storage of Carts
Customers who leave their carts out beyond the approved hours are subject to citations and fines, as outlined below:
| Instance | Fine |
|---|---|
| 1st | Notice of Violation |
| 2nd | Notice of Violation |
| 3rd | $50 |
| 4th | $100 |
| 5th | $200 |
| All violations thereafter | $200, up to $1,500 (per fiscal year) |
For questions or to discuss solutions, call the Solid Waste Management Division at (559) 621-1452.
Helpful Contact Numbers
Solid Waste Management Division Customer Service:
(Missed Service or Special Pickups)
(559) 621-1452
Assistance for Customers with Disabilities or Medical Conditions
(559) 621-1452
Start Service or Make a Change in Service
(Utilities Billing & Collection)
(559) 621-6888
Household Hazardous Waste
(559) 600-4259
Recycling Hotline
(559) 621-1111
Used Motor Oil and Filter Recycling
(559) 621-1111
Tire Disposal
(Code Enforcement)
(559) 621-8400
Beautify Fresno
(559) 621-8626
Operation Clean Up
(559) 621-1452