Solid Waste Division

The blue can is for more than just CRV material. We encourage residents to continue to take their CRV material to a facility if they want and it is cost effective for them to do so. 

Items such as soup and vegetable cans, clean aluminum foil, metal pie tins, cooking oil bottles, detergent containers, bleach containers, shampoo bottles, dishwashing liquid bottles, milk jugs, food packaging, rigid clamshells are not redeemable at recycling centers but can still be placed in your home recycling container and taken to a center for processing. 

Note: All containers must be rinsed of residue or wiped out.

Black Container

Waste in the black can is collected by the waste hauler, then sorted to remove residual organic or recyclable material. Haulers then transport this waste to Covanta’s waste-to-energy facility, located near Fink Road Landfill outside of Patterson. This facility incinerates waste to produce energy which powers many households. In some cases, waste is also sent to area landfills.

Green Container

Waste in the green can is collected by the waste hauler, then sorted to remove non-organic material; contamination must be below 1% for the waste to be processed. Clean organic waste is then transported to the City of Modesto Compost Facility, located at 7001 Jennings Road. Organic material is ground and spread into composting windrows, where a five-month process of watering, turning, and decomposition produces a nutrient-rich compost. For more information on the composting process or to purchase clean organic compost, please visit the City’s Compost web page.

Blue Container

Recycling from the blue can is collected by the waste hauler, then sorted to remove non-recyclable material. Contamination is a serious and cumbersome issue in recycling and can cause loads to be rejected and sent to incineration or landfill. Separated recycling will be transported by the City’s haulers to the appropriate recycling or reuse center.

The City offers self-haul options on a limited basis. This requires a deposit with the City, and monitoring of dump receipts, and can be revoked at any time. If you’d like to see if you qualify or want more information, please contact Solid Waste Management.

Yes, in some cases solid waste service can be shared with an adjacent (next-door) neighbor. If you’d like to see if you qualify or want more information, please contact Solid Waste Management. If approved, both addresses must share all three containers.

There are several ways to store your food waste until your pick-up day.  Explore some of those options below:

Use a kitchen compost bucket

A small air-tight bin can store food scraps in your kitchen between trips to the large green bin. Line the bin with newspaper that can also go in the can, or with plastic, then place that plastic liner in your black can. The City has free kitchen buckets for residential customers; contact 209-577-5494 to request one.

Freeze your food scraps

You can store food scraps in your freezer, then add them to your green can on the day of or the day before your waste service.

Store in paper

Paper products are compostable and can absorb liquids and smells from organic material. You can put food waste into a paper bag or cardboard box to minimize odor and insects.

Keep green cans in the shade

Limit direct sun exposure as heat can increase odors.

Keep green cans in good shape

Keeping the lid of your organic container closed can prevent odor and insects. Contact your solid waste hauling company to request the repair or replacement of damaged cans.

Add other materials

Did you know that other organic materials can absorb liquids and limit smells? 

Examples of materials that can be layered with food waste in your green can: 

• Shredded paper
• Grass clippings
• Cardboard
• Branches and leaves

Organic material, including food waste, paper waste, cardboard, and yard waste, that is placed in your green organics container is taken to the City’s Compost Facility and converted to rich, organic compost. You can place this material directly into the container, or in paper bags, cardboard boxes

Compostable bags require approval by the City for use.  If you choose to use compostable bags for our organics waste, please follow the below process:

Compostable Bag Process

1. Find the right bag. Look for compostable bags that can be used in a municipal or commercial composting operation.

Terms to Look For:

• Compostable (100%, certified)
• Compostable in commercial or home compost facilities
• Look for certification under ASTM International Standards D6400

Terms to Avoid:

• Biodegradable
• Recyclable
• Made of Recycled Material, Recovered Plastic
• Made of plants

   2. Email the Solid Waste Division pictures of front and back of the package or a link to the internet page for the ones you wish to purchase and your address. If there is a certification organization, please include that in the picture. The Solid Waste Division needs to ensure that the bag will break down in our composting process.

   3. Once you have received the approval, the City will email your solid waste hauler that you are approved to use compostable bags. Without this approval, the hauler may see bags in your green organics container, think that they are regular plastic, and tag the container for contamination. You cannot use compostable bags in the green organics container without emailing the City and receiving approval.

No, only stores, restaurants, event centers, schools, hospitals, and other food producers need to donate their excess food. If you would like to donate optionally, you’re welcome to contact local donation centers.

Visit CalRecycle’s website for more information on SB 1383.

You can contact the City through one of these methods and we will assist you:

1. Contact Solid Waste Management
2. Call 209-577-5494

For information about items that can be placed in which container, visit the Solid Waste containers web page.