Unincorporated Sonoma County uses franchised solid-waste collection, primarily by Recology Sonoma Marin. Garbage, recycling, and compost carts are collected weekly. Carts should be at the curb the night before, since collection begins early in the morning.
Solid waste collection in unincorporated Sonoma County is provided by franchised haulers rather than open competition. Recology Sonoma Marin serves the bulk of the unincorporated county, covering communities from Annapolis and Bodega Bay to Glen Ellen, Guerneville, Geyserville, Penngrove, and rural Petaluma and Sebastopol. Each household receives weekly collection of three carts: gray garbage, blue recycling, and green compost (yard waste and food scraps). Recology advises that because 'garbage collection begins early in the morning,' carts should be at the curb 'the night before to assure your collection is not missed.' Carts must not be over-stuffed or compacted, or material may not release into the truck. Loose material set out beside the cart is not collected; for overflow, customers must call at least one day before their regular collection day to arrange extra service, after which excess may be bagged in 32-gallon plastic bags. Collection days vary by area within the unincorporated county, and Recology provides an interactive map and calendar to look up each address's schedule. Franchised collection routes all waste to County-designated transfer and disposal facilities (such as the Central Landfill and area transfer stations) under the County's flow-control arrangements. Residents in remote areas now also receive organics service at no additional cost following an expansion by Recology.
Loose or overstuffed carts are not collected. Extra service must be arranged at least one day ahead with Recology at (800) 243-0291; overflow must be in 32-gallon bags. Improperly stored or accumulated waste outside carts can be cited by Permit Sonoma Code Enforcement as a nuisance.
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