Frequently Asked Questions

Waste Management of Alameda County, Inc. (WMAC) is the exclusive provider of residential trash, recycling and compost collection as well as the trash collector for commercial properties in the City of San Ramon.

For questions about your service, you may contact WMAC Customer Service, call (925) 837-3356.

What are the hours of collection?
My garbage/recycling/compost service was missed. Who do I call?
My cart/bin is damaged/missing. Whom do I call?
What if I have a physical difficulty taking my carts out to the curb?
What can I recycle?
How do I manage cardboard that doesn’t fit in my recycle cart?
What can I compost?
What can I do with smaller bulky items that are not appliances? (Single-family residents only)
How do I recycle used motor oil? Filters?
Who should I call about the disposal of household hazardous waste?
I'm interested in home composting. Where can I get more information?

Q. What are the hours of collection for residential and commercial customers?
A. Single family and multi-family collection services shall be provided, commencing no earlier than 5:30 a.m. and terminating no later than 7:00 p.m., in accordance with the Municipal Code, Monday through Friday with no service on Saturday (except for holiday service in which case normal Collection hours may be utilized) or Sunday.
Commercial and City Collection Service shall be provided, commencing no earlier than 4:30 a.m., and terminating no later than 9:00 p.m., Monday through Saturday.

Q. My garbage/recycling/compost service was missed. Who do I call?
A. Call Waste Management at (925) 837-3356.

Q. My cart/bin is damaged/missing. Who do I call?
A. Call Waste Management at (925) 837-3356.

Q. What if I have a physical difficulty taking my carts out to the curb?
A. Residential carts can be collected from backyards for an additional fee, or no fee for qualifying disabled individuals. Call Waste Management at (952) 837-3356 for details.

Q. What can I recycle?
A. View of list of materials here.

Q. How do I manage cardboard that doesn’t fit in my recycle cart?
A. Extra cardboard can be set out by your recycle cart. The cardboard must be flattened and no more than 2ft x 3ft..

Q. What can I compost?
A. If you are a residential customer, click here for a list of materials.

Q. What can I do with smaller bulky items that are not appliances (Single-family residents only)?
A. Special Clean-Up Days are scheduled three times a year in winter, summer and fall. Each resident will receive a postcard with dates and instructions for special clean-up week. Click here to view schedule by street address and set out guidelines. The items collected are sorted at a recovery facility for material that can be composted, recycled or reused.

YES

No item exceeding 60 lbs
No large furniture /appliances
No household hazardous waste
No concrete or dirt
No glass doors, window panes, or large mirrors
Everything should be bagged, boxed, or tied in bundles
Please don't block access to pickup with autos

Electronics accepted: cell phones, computers, monitors, TVs, stereos, VCR's, PDA's, microwaves.
Auto tires accepted: no more than 4 auto tires per household
Household throwaways (bagged/boxed)
Broken glass (boxed and labeled "Caution: broken glass")
Yard waste (bundled and tied - max length 5 ft)
Lumber, plywood, pallets, fence and deck wood (bundled and tied - max length 5 ft)
Cardboard (flattened and bundled)
Scrap metal (not to exceed 60 lbs per item)

Q. How do I recycle used motor oil? Filters?
A. Free curbside collection of used motor oil and oil filters is available to single-family residents. Call (925) 837-3356 to request Waste Management oil jugs & oil filter bags. Only Waste Management oil jugs and filter bags will be collected. Place oil jugs and oil filter bags on street against the curb, three feet from cart on collection day. Your full oil jugs will be replaced with two empty new ones.

Q. Who should I call about the disposal of household hazardous waste and electronics?
A. Call “At Your Door” special collection at (800) 449-7587, email to [email protected], or visit www.curbsideinc.com for program details. On-call collection of chemicals, paint, fluorescent lights, batteries, and sharps/needles from your doorstep is provided at no additional charge.

Q. I'm interested in home composting. Where can I get more information?
A. Call the Home Composting Hotline at (925) 906-1801 to learn about Free composting workshops and reduced price backyard composting bins.