Caldwell, ID Trash & Recycling: Recycling Requirements (2026)

Recycling in Caldwell is a voluntary, opt-in program: "recycling is optional in Caldwell for a small monthly fee added to your Caldwell City utility bill." Participating customers receive a 95-gallon no-sort (all-in-one) recycling cart, collected on the regular trash day but only every other week; the cart should be placed curbside by 7 a.m. Accepted materials include paper and cardboard (cardboard boxes broken down to fit, frozen-food and cereal boxes without liners, office paper of any color, magazines, newspapers, phone books, paper bags, junk mail, envelopes), plastic bottles and jugs marked with the #1 or #2 recycling symbol, and aluminum, steel, tin, and aerosol cans that are empty (labels are okay). Items must be empty, clean, and dry. The guide is explicit about what is NOT accepted: "no glass, Styrofoam, or yard waste in recycling cart," no plastic bags or other soft plastics, no lightweight water bottles or clamshell containers, and no food-contaminated paper (pizza boxes, plates, coffee cups), wax-coated cardboard, milk/juice cartons, tissues, napkins, or paper towels. Recyclables should be left loose in the cart or contained in paper bags - never plastic bags - and boxes flattened so the lid can close. As a community benefit, $1 from every recycling participant's payment goes to the Caldwell and Vallivue School Districts. To start service, call the City of Caldwell at (208) 455-3000 ext. 1 or Republic Services at (208) 345-1265.