Trash pickup in Bakersfield, CA

Who collects trash in Bakersfield, how trash day works, and which holidays move pickup. Checked against official city and hauler pages on Oct 15, 2026.

Next holiday change: Thanksgiving Day, Thu, Nov 26, 2026Slides a daySee every holiday

At a glance

Who collects
City crews and contractors
Haulers
2: City of Bakersfield Public Works - Solid Waste Division, City-contracted hauler
Recycling
Every other week
Holiday schedule
2026 posted, 2027 posted
Last checked
Oct 15, 2026

The City of Bakersfield Public Works Solid Waste Division runs residential garbage (tan, gray or black cart), blue recycling and green organics service. City crews run some routes and a city contractor runs others, mixed across the whole city. Either way, residents deal with the city (661-326-3114) and use one city address lookup. Garbage and green carts go weekly and blue recycling every other week, Monday to Friday, with carts out by 6 a.m. Only four holidays matter: New Year's Day, July 4, Thanksgiving and Christmas. When one falls on your pickup day or earlier in the week, pickup slides one day for the rest of that week, and Friday routes move to Saturday.

Who picks up trash in Bakersfield

City crews and contractors.

City of Bakersfield Public Works - Solid Waste Division (city crews)

City serviceTrashRecyclingOrganicsYard wasteBulk
Area
City-crew routes: 84 garbage (tan cart) routes on the city's solid waste route map, spread across the city and mixed in with contractor routes. The city publishes no neighborhood or ZIP split, so use the address lookup.
Phone
661-326-3114

Office: 4101 Truxtun Ave, Building A, Monday to Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.; email PW_San@bakersfieldcity.us. The city provides a 96-gallon garbage cart, a 96-gallon blue recycling cart and a 64-gallon green organics cart. Curbside bulky pickup is by appointment, 2 items every 3 months: call 661-326-3114. Organics Recycling and Composting Facility, 2601 S. Mount Vernon Ave: 661-835-8873.

City-contracted hauler

Private haulerTrashRecyclingOrganicsBulk
Area
Contractor routes: 91 garbage (tan cart) routes on the city's solid waste route map, mixed in with city-crew routes across the city. A 2021 news report said the contract covers about 49% of the city's waste hauling. The city publishes no neighborhood or ZIP list, so use the address lookup.
Phone
661-326-3114

The city site doesn't name the contractor. Historically it was Kern Refuse Disposal Inc., whose sale to Burrtec Waste Industries was announced in Oct 2021. Residents on contractor routes still use the city's lookup and phone number, and city pages say "The City or collection service contractor will repair or replace" carts. The same holiday rules apply; the city's calendars cover all routes.

Not covered

Areas outside city limits (unincorporated Kern County uses county franchise haulers). Businesses are served by the city's separate Business Services. The city doesn't say how multifamily or HOA properties are handled; bulky pickup covers single-family homes up to four-plexes.

How trash day works in Bakersfield

By route. Enter your address in the city's Solid Waste Collection Services Lookup to see your tan, green and blue cart days. Blue cart routes link to a printable every-other-week calendar (PDF).

Find a trash day on cob.maps.arcgis.com

Recycling: every other week. Blue recycling is every other week on your service day. The city's July 2026 to June 2027 Curbside Recycling Calendars, one PDF per weekday and week (such as "WEDNESDAY (Every Other Week)"), show the exact dates. Tan garbage and green organics carts are weekly.

Carts out: Carts at the curb by 6 a.m. on collection day, lid closed, handle away from the street, with 4 ft of clearance. Collection runs Monday to Friday from as early as 6 a.m. The city gives no time for bringing carts back in. Source

The city's older cart schedule app (gis.bakersfieldcity.us/CartSchedule and maps2.bakersfieldgis.us/CartSchedule) has been replaced; use the address lookup instead.

Bakersfield trash pickup holiday schedule

Upcoming holidays in Bakersfield and what each does to pickup. The 2026 holiday schedule is posted, and so is 2027’s.

The city's holiday rule (the same every year, on its Home Services page, updated Dec 2025): only New Year's Day, Independence Day, Thanksgiving and Christmas can affect service. If your service day falls on the holiday or later that week, it's delayed one day. On Thanksgiving there's no Thursday service, so Thursday moves to Friday and Friday to Saturday; Monday to Wednesday are unaffected. The city's FAQ says a holiday on a Sunday, or after your service day, doesn't affect service. The July 2026 to June 2027 blue-cart calendars (posted July 1, 2026) confirm Thanksgiving 2026, Christmas 2026 and New Year's Day 2027. No calendar after June 2027 is out yet, so the July to December 2027 holidays below follow the rule.

2026

  1. Thanksgiving Day, Thu, Nov 26, 2026

    Slides a day

    All residential routes, city crews and contractor

    No service on Thanksgiving Day. Thursday service moves to Friday and Friday service to Saturday; Monday to Wednesday are unaffected. The city's Thursday calendar says "Thanksgiving will delay service by one day. Service resumes Friday, Nov. 27th," and the Friday calendar says Saturday, Nov. 28th.

    Source: bakersfieldcity.us

  2. Christmas Day, Fri, Dec 25, 2026

    Slides a day

    All residential routes

    Christmas falls on a Friday, so Friday service moves to Saturday, Dec 26; Monday to Thursday are unaffected. The city's Friday calendar says "Christmas Day will delay service by one day. Service resumes Saturday, Dec. 26th."

    Source: content.civicplus.com

2027

  1. New Year's Day, Fri, Jan 1, 2027

    Slides a day

    All residential routes

    New Year's Day falls on a Friday, so Friday service moves to Saturday, Jan 2; the city's Friday every-other-week calendar shows the pickup on Saturday, Jan 2, 2027. Under the city's holiday rule, Monday to Thursday are unaffected.

    Source: content.civicplus.com

  2. Independence Day, Sun, Jul 4, 2027

    Normal pickup

    All residential routes

    July 4, 2027 is a Sunday. The city's FAQ rule (the same every year) says a Sunday holiday doesn't affect the service schedule; in 2022-23, Sunday holidays brought normal service and only the office closed Monday. The 2027-28 calendars aren't out yet.

    Source: bakersfieldcity.us

  3. Thanksgiving Day, Thu, Nov 25, 2027

    Slides a day

    All residential routes

    The city's holiday rule (the same every year): no service on Thanksgiving Day, so Thursday moves to Friday and Friday to Saturday; Monday to Wednesday are unaffected. The 2027-28 calendars aren't out yet.

    Source: bakersfieldcity.us

  4. Christmas Day, Sat, Dec 25, 2027

    Normal pickup

    All residential routes

    Dec 25, 2027 is a Saturday, after every Monday to Friday service day, and the city's FAQ says a holiday after your regular service day doesn't affect service. The city hasn't said whether an observed holiday on Friday, Dec 24 affects service; check the 2027-28 calendars when they come out.

    Source: bakersfieldcity.us
Slides a day
That day’s pickups and the rest of the week move one day later (Friday’s move to Saturday).
Normal pickup
Pickup runs as usual.
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Questions about trash pickup in Bakersfield

Who picks up trash in Bakersfield?

The City of Bakersfield Public Works Solid Waste Division runs residential garbage (tan, gray or black cart), blue recycling and green organics service. City crews run some routes and a city contractor runs others, mixed across the whole city. Either way, residents deal with the city (661-326-3114) and use one city address lookup. Garbage and green carts go weekly and blue recycling every other week, Monday to Friday, with carts out by 6 a.m. Only four holidays matter: New Year's Day, July 4, Thanksgiving and Christmas. When one falls on your pickup day or earlier in the week, pickup slides one day for the rest of that week, and Friday routes move to Saturday.

How do I find my trash day in Bakersfield?

By route. Enter your address in the city's Solid Waste Collection Services Lookup to see your tan, green and blue cart days. Blue cart routes link to a printable every-other-week calendar (PDF).

Is recycling picked up every week in Bakersfield?

No, every other week. Blue recycling is every other week on your service day. The city's July 2026 to June 2027 Curbside Recycling Calendars, one PDF per weekday and week (such as "WEDNESDAY (Every Other Week)"), show the exact dates. Tan garbage and green organics carts are weekly.

When do trash carts go out in Bakersfield?

Carts at the curb by 6 a.m. on collection day, lid closed, handle away from the street, with 4 ft of clearance. Collection runs Monday to Friday from as early as 6 a.m. The city gives no time for bringing carts back in.

Is trash picked up on Thanksgiving in Bakersfield?

Thanksgiving is Thu, Nov 26, 2026. All residential routes, city crews and contractor: pickup slides a day, so that day’s routes and the rest of the week move one day later. No service on Thanksgiving Day. Thursday service moves to Friday and Friday service to Saturday; Monday to Wednesday are unaffected. The city's Thursday calendar says "Thanksgiving will delay service by one day. Service resumes Friday, Nov. 27th," and the Friday calendar says Saturday, Nov. 28th.

Is trash picked up on Christmas in Bakersfield?

Christmas is Fri, Dec 25, 2026. All residential routes: pickup slides a day, so that day’s routes and the rest of the week move one day later. Christmas falls on a Friday, so Friday service moves to Saturday, Dec 26; Monday to Thursday are unaffected. The city's Friday calendar says "Christmas Day will delay service by one day. Service resumes Saturday, Dec. 26th."

Is trash picked up on New Year’s Day in Bakersfield?

New Year’s Day is Fri, Jan 1, 2027. All residential routes: pickup slides a day, so that day’s routes and the rest of the week move one day later. New Year's Day falls on a Friday, so Friday service moves to Saturday, Jan 2; the city's Friday every-other-week calendar shows the pickup on Saturday, Jan 2, 2027. Under the city's holiday rule, Monday to Thursday are unaffected.

Sources

Official city and hauler pages, checked Oct 15, 2026. News and other sites used for details the official pages don’t give are listed separately. Schedules change, especially around holidays: check the city’s page before you plan routes. Something out of date? Email taylor@bincleanmarketing.com.

Other sources (2)
  • aol.com: Bakersfield Californian, Oct 2021: Kern Refuse's city contract since 1967, about 49% of city waste hauling, and its pending sale to Burrtec
  • wasteadvantagemag.com: Kern-area haulers sold to Burrtec (Kern Refuse, Varner Bros. and others)

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