New to Danville or San Ramon? How Trash, Recycling, and Organics Work Here
Danville and San Ramon sit side by side but use different trash companies, different cart colors, and different phone numbers. Here’s what new residents need to know.
Key takeaways
- Danville, Alamo, Blackhawk, and Diablo are served by RecycleSmart, with Republic Services collecting. Call 925-685-4711.
- San Ramon contracts with ACI of San Ramon. Call 925-380-9480 or visit SanRamonRecycles.com.
- Both use three carts. The landfill cart is black in the RecycleSmart area and gray in San Ramon.
- In both, food scraps go in the green organics cart, as required by California’s SB 1383.
- RecycleSmart households get twice-yearly Reuse and Cleanup Days for items too big for the carts.
If you just moved to Danville or San Ramon, the first thing to know is that the two towns use different trash companies, even though they share a border. Danville is part of RecycleSmart, served by Republic Services. San Ramon contracts with ACI of San Ramon. Cart colors, phone numbers, and some programs differ.
This piece is a quick-start guide for new residents of either town, plus Alamo, Blackhawk, and Diablo.
Danville, Alamo, Blackhawk, and Diablo: RecycleSmart
RecycleSmart is a joint powers authority that manages waste service for Danville, Lafayette, Moraga, Orinda, Walnut Creek, and the unincorporated communities of Alamo, Blackhawk, and Diablo. Republic Services collects all three carts.
- Black cart: landfill
- Blue cart: recycling, empty, clean, dry, and loose
- Green cart: yard trimmings, food scraps, and uncoated food-soiled paper
Customer service: Republic Services, 925-685-4711. That’s also the number to request a free 3-gallon kitchen food scrap pail, available once every two years.
Big items: RecycleSmart single-family households get Reuse and Cleanup Days twice a year, on scheduled dates. Check recyclesmart.org/cleanup for yours.
San Ramon: ACI of San Ramon
San Ramon has an exclusive contract with ACI of San Ramon for garbage, recycling, and organics.
- Gray cart: landfill
- Blue cart: recycling
- Green cart: organics, including food scraps, food-soiled paper, and plant trimmings
Customer service: ACI of San Ramon, 925-380-9480, or SanRamonRecycles.com, for starting service, missed pickups, cart repairs, and cart size changes.
What’s the same in both towns
California’s SB 1383, in effect since January 1, 2022, requires residents to keep food scraps and other organics out of the landfill cart. So in both towns, food goes in the green cart. Plastic bags don’t belong in the green cart in the RecycleSmart area; use paper or BPI-certified compostable bags instead, and check your hauler’s current guidance.
That also means your green cart will likely be your smelliest one, especially in summer. See why your green cart smells for how to manage it.
A few tips for your first summer
- Learn your pickup day, and plan to check your bins the morning after. Here’s a ten-minute checklist.
- Keep wash water out of the street. In Contra Costa County, only rain is allowed down the storm drain.
- Clean the green cart more often from late spring through early fall.
If you’d rather skip that last one, Bin Bliss cleans carts at the curb the day after pickup in Danville, San Ramon, Alamo, and Blackhawk. Text CLEAN to (888) 888-8888 to book.
Welcome to the valley. Save both phone numbers. You’ll need the one for your side of the border.
Sources
Frequently asked questions
Who collects trash in Danville?
Republic Services, under RecycleSmart. Customer service is 925-685-4711.
Who collects trash in San Ramon?
ACI of San Ramon. Customer service is 925-380-9480, and more information is at SanRamonRecycles.com.
What color is the garbage cart in San Ramon?
Gray. In Danville and the rest of the RecycleSmart area, the landfill cart is black.
Does food go in the green cart in both towns?
Yes. California’s SB 1383 requires food scraps to be kept out of the landfill cart, and both towns collect them in the green organics cart.
Keep reading
Trash Bin Cleaning in Danville, CA: A Local Guide to Your Black, Blue, and Green Carts
In Danville, food scraps go in the green cart, which makes it the smelliest bin at most homes. Here’s how Danville’s three carts work, which ones need cleaning most, and how often.
Can You Wash Your Trash Bin in the Driveway? Storm Drain Rules in Contra Costa County
In Contra Costa County, only rain is allowed down the storm drain. Dirty wash water from a trash bin running down your driveway into the gutter breaks that rule. Here’s how to clean a bin without it.
Trash Bin Cleaning for HOAs: A Guide for Blackhawk, Diablo, Alamo, and Danville Communities
Dirty carts become an HOA problem when odor, flies, and complaints reach shared spaces. Here’s how community-wide bin cleaning works, what boards usually weigh, and how to set it up in the San Ramon Valley.
Disclaimer: This article is for general informational purposes and reflects the information available to us when it was written. It isn’t medical, health, or professional cleaning advice. Always follow the directions on any cleaning or disinfecting product’s label, never mix cleaning chemicals, and check your city’s rules before letting wash water run into a street or storm drain. We make no warranty as to accuracy or completeness and provide this content “as is.” Product names and trademarks are the property of their respective owners.