Public Works Solid Waste Division

Solid Waste Division
"Our goal is to provide quality and cost-effective solid waste and recycling services citywide, through a balanced combination of services by contract and municipal forces."

Solid Waste Services & General Information:

Automated Refuse & Recycling Containers
Bakersfield households are provided with two containers; one green waste cart and one tan cart. Your carts should be out by 6am on your assigned pick-up days. Make sure your cart is facing the street (or alley) and leave at least 4 feet of space around it. Your carts are labeled with your cart serial number. This is provided to help you and us identify lost, stolen, damaged, or misplaced carts. Missing containers at the same address will be billed for replacement to the property owner at the current replacement cost. The city or contractor will repair or replace all damaged containers at no charge, except those damaged due to negligence or abuse by the customer.

Bulky Items
If you need to have large items such as couches, refrigerators, tables, etc. removed, just call 326-3114 to have your bulky item collection scheduled. This is a FREE service to all city residents. Service is limited to 2 items per quarter. Apartments with more than four units are not included in this service. Residents are encouraged to contact charitable organizations for possible pickup and re-use of furniture, appliances, etc. before disposal. The City, County and local haulers will hold two bulky item drop-off days per year. Call (661) 326-3114 for more information on this service.

Curbside Recycling Collection - Bakersfield Recycles!
Did you know the average American discards 7-1/2 pounds of trash per day? Much of the material thrown away can be recycled such as newspaper, cardboard, junk mail and #1 and # 2 plastic bottles.

Curbside recycling collection is available to all residents of the City of Bakersfield. For just $4 per month/$48 a year you can have the convenience of curbside recycling while decreasing the amount of waste sent to local landfills.

Call the Solid Waste Division at 326-3114 to sign up or for more information. Recycling is picked up at your home every other week. Materials accepted in the recycling container, aside from those mentioned above, include: Office paper, magazines, aluminum cans, tin cans, clear glass, green glass, brown glass.

Here are a few important hints:
• Crush bulky plastic bottles
• Rinse out all food containers
• Keep all paper dry
• No paper milk cartons
• No plastic oil containers
• Break down all cardboard boxes
• Do not break glass
• Check # on all plastic containers (#1 and #2 bottles only)

Materials not accepted in recycling cart: Trash, green waste, hazardous waste (paint, oils, solvent, etc), computer components, etc.

Construction & Demolition
Construction and Demolition (C&D) material includes rock, brick, concrete, asphalt, dirt, ceramic tile, and other similar materials. Remember your lumber can be recycled at the Mount Vernon Recycling Center. You will pay landfill tipping fees for C&D material brought to the Landfill. You can save money by recycling your C&D. Residents can take these materials to several locations.

Drop Off Recycling Locations
There are several locations (download list) where residents can go to recycle newspaper, cardboard, junk mail, magazines, aluminum and tin cans, or glass and plastic bottles (#1 or #2 only). Please deposit the recyclables into the containers in the correct drop-off compartment. more>

Green waste Recycling
The City of Bakersfield's goal is to turn garbage into something useful, while preserving nearby landfill space for our future. The City of Bakersfield's Mt. Vernon Facility, co-sponsored by Kern County, is helping divert green waste from the landfill and recycling it into compost and mulch. Benefits: Compost loosens the top soil when mixed in and helps plants spread their root base. The looser soil also allows water to soak in and be retained for much longer periods of time. You use less water and your plants grow faster and healthier. The composting process helps destroy plant diseases and weed seeds, reducing the need for pesticides or herbicides. Yard and wood material must be separated from any waste, litter, or animal excrement. more>

Hazardous Waste Disposal
Household hazardous wastes are usually any item that has one or more of these key words on the label: DANGER, WARNING, CORROSIVE, POISON, FLAMMABLE, EXPLOSIVE, OXIDIZER, IRRITANT, HARMFUL or FATAL.

Household hazardous waste is any material discarded from homes which may threaten human health or the environment when disposed of improperly. These products can include; household cleaners, deodorizers, personal hygiene products, pesticides, herbicides, insecticides, pet care products, paint products, photographic chemicals, swimming pool chemicals, and automotive products and fluids.

Hazardous Waste Disposal Location
Kern County operates a household hazardous waste collection and reuse facility. Drop-off is FREE to all County and City residents. Disposal Location: Kern County Special Waste Facility, 4951 Standard Street, Bakersfield, Ca 93308 (661) 862-8922. See Map to Kern County Facility

Transportation and Disposal Rules at the Kern County facility are as follows:

Does Your Business Have Hazardous Waste?
The Conditionally Exempt Small Quantity Generator (CESQG) program provides a cost effective method for eligible businesses to dispose of their hazardous waste at the Kern County’s Special Waste Facility. If your business generates less than 220 lbs. of hazardous waste per month, call (661) 862-8922 for an appointment.

Illegal Dumping
Illegal dumping is a crime and a serious problem. It can pose a threat to the health and safety of the public and the environment. If you see someone dumping illegally please write down as much of the following information as possible.

Report illegal dumping to any of the following: Code Enforcement complaint Line at (661) 326-3712 Solid Waste Division at (661) 326-3114 (661) 86-CLEAN

Oil & Oil Filter Recycling
The City will collect your oil, and place a reusable oil container on the curb for future use. The first time you place used oil out for pick-up, use a washed-out plastic milk jug or similar container. City-provided containers should be placed on the curb (alley service will not be provided) in front of your house the night before a scheduled pick-up. Containers are emptied and placed back on the curb for reuse. Place used oil filters in a sealed, leak-proof bag or in the City provided container for collection. DO NOT MIX any other substance with used oil. Mixing substances is dangerous and makes recycling impossible.Call the City between 8:00 AM and 5:00 PM at (661) 326-3114 to find out your regular collection day. After establishing your first pick-up, simply call the City - day or night - and leave a message that you need a pick-up on your scheduled day!

Your Collection Service & Holiday Schedules
If your trash service falls on or after a holiday, service will be delayed one day that week. For example: If the holiday falls on a Tuesday, service will be on Wednesday. Wednesday's service will be delayed to Thursday and so on. Holidays are: January 1st, July 4th, Thanksgiving Day and December 25th. Trash service will run on normal schedule on all other holidays. See the current Holiday schedule.