Sonoma County Department of Health Services Environmental Health Division
Interesting Fact
West Nile infection is an especially serious threat to horses. Without vaccination, approximately 40% of horses who contract the West Nile virus will die.
For more information visit the California Department of Food and Agriculture (CDFA) website.
Legal Disposal Options
- Charitable Donations
- Convenient Drop-Off Locations at County Refuse Disposal Sites
- Bulky Item Service
- Community Cleanup Events
- Debris Boxes and Roll-Off Containers
- Recycling and Disposal Options
- Tires
Sonoma County offers numerous legal disposal and recycling options for unwanted items. In fact, about 70% of household garbage is recyclable. Recycling your items is also much less expensive than disposal.
Charitable Donations
Saleable items in good working condition should be donated to a local charity. In addition, most thrift stores accept working/non-working electronics. Charities use these donations to support worthwhile programs in your community. See “Thrift Stores” in your local telephone book.
Sonoma County Refuse
Legal Disposal Sites:
Annapolis Transfer Station
33549 Annapolis Rd.
Disposal: Wed-Sat 8-4
(707) 886-5204
Recycling: Wed-Sat 8-4
(707) 886-5204
Central Disposal Site
500 Mecham Rd., Petaluma
Disposal: Mon-Sat 7-3
(707) 565-7940
Recycling & reuse: Mon-Sat 7-2:30 (707) 795-3660
Household Toxics
Facility: Thurs-Sa
7:30-2:30 (707) 795-2025
Compost: Drop-off Mon-Sat 7-3
Compost Retail sales: Mon-Sat 7-3
(707) 578-5459
Guerneville Transfer Station
13450 Pocket Rd./Hwy. 116
Disposal: Mon-Tues & Thurs-Sat 8-4
(707) 869-3878
Recycling: Mon-Tues & Thurs-Sat 8-4
(707) 869-3878
Healdsburg Transfer Station
166 Alexander Valley Rd., Healdsburg
Disposal: Mon-Sat 8-4
(707) 433-5631
Recycling & reuse: Mon-Sat 8-4
(707) 433-0321
Sonoma Transfer Station
4376 Stage Gulch Rd., Sonoma
Disposal: Mon-Sat 7-3
(707) 996-6597
Recycling & reuse: Mon-Sat 7-2:30
(707) 996-5423
Convenient Drop-Off Locations at Sonoma County Refuse Disposal Sites
Five refuse legal disposal sites are conveniently located in unincorporated areas throughout Sonoma County: Annapolis, Healdsburg, Guerneville, Sonoma and the Central Disposal Site on Mecham Rd. near Cotati and Petaluma.
Please keep in mind that certain materials are banned from disposal at these refuse legal disposal sites. For your convenience, the following items that are banned from disposal can be recycled at the refuse disposal sites.
- Appliances
- Cardboard
- Tires
- Wood, including treated wood
- Hazardous waste, including sharps and mercury-containing products such as fluorescent light bulbs, thermostats. Hazardous waste is accepted only at the Household Toxics Facility at the Central Disposal Site.
- Scrap metal
- Electronic devices
- Yard debris
Fees apply for some of these items. View a complete chart of materials accepted.
Bulky Item Service
Garbage company customers in certain areas are provided with free bulky item collection. Bulky item pickup applies to certain items – such as mattresses, appliances, furniture or electonics – that cannot fit in your garbage can or that require special handling. These items may be picked up by your garbage company by appointment for no extra charge. Garbage company customers in Cloverdale, Healdsburg, Petaluma, Santa Rosa, Windsor and the unincorporated area receive bulky item collection as part of their regular garbage service. See the table below for details.
Community Cleanup Events
Some communities or organizations sponsor community cleanup events where residents from a specified area can drop off items at designated locations and times. Events are usually held annually. For dates, call your city manager’s office, your garbage company, or the Eco-Desk at (707) 565-DESK (3375).
Below is a summary of bulky items pickup information and Community Cleanup events offered.
Cloverdale |
Bulky Item Pickup – Available to residential garbage customers in Cloverdale for a fee. |
Cotati |
Community Cleanup events, twice a year |
Healdsburg |
Bulky Item Pickup – Available to residential garbage customers in Healdsburg for a fee. |
Petaluma |
Bulky Item Pickup – Available to residential garbage customers in Petaluma for a fee. |
Rohnert Park |
Curbside Collection, twice a year |
Santa Rosa |
Bulky Item Pickup – Available up to four times a year to residential garbage customers in Santa Rosa at no cost. |
Sebastopol |
Bulky Item Pickup – Available to residential garbage customers in Sebastopol for a fee. |
Sonoma |
Curbside Collection, once a year |
Windsor |
Bulky Item Pickup – Available to residential garbage customers in Windsor for a fee. Community Cleanup, once a year |
Unincorporated Sonoma County |
Bulky Item Pickup – Available up to four times a year to residential garbage customers in the unincorporated area at no cost. Community Cleanups may be offered. Call for information. Redwood Empire Disposal |
Debris Boxes and Roll-Off Containers
Another option for proper disposal of large quantities of materials is a debris box or roll-off container. Some areas require that you use the franchise collector and others allow multiple companies to provide debris box service for construction and demolition debris. Construction and demolition debris means used or discarded materials resulting from construction, remodeling, repair or demolition.
For collection of garbage and for permanent debris boxes other than for construction and demolition debris, you are required to use the franchised garbage company (link to http://www.recyclenow.org/disposal/garbage.asp) for your area. Check with the jurisdiction where the debris box/roll-off container is needed to make sure that the company is allowed to provide service.
Remember that when you order a debris box, you are charged for two items: 1) transporting the debris box to your site and 2) disposal fees. If you fill your debris box with recyclables – such as yard debris or recyclable wood waste – the disposal fee will be significantly reduced, since recycling is much less expensive than garbage disposal. For example, based on July 2011 fees at the Central Disposal Site, a ton of garbage costs $101/ton; a ton of recyclable wood costs $27.60/ton.
In addition to city franchise agreements, operators of vehicles hauling debris boxes that contain garbage must have a current permit with the Sonoma County Department of Health Services Environmental Health Division.
Note that many of the debris box companies listed in this section sort construction and demolition materials for recycling.
Temporary debris boxes and roll-off containers |
Terms of agreement |
Cloverdale |
|
Redwood Empire Disposal |
Exclusive franchise agreement with garbage company to provide temporary debris box service. |
Cotati |
|
Redwood Empire Disposal |
Exclusive franchise agreement with garbage company to provide temporary debris box service. |
Healdsburg |
|
Redwood Empire Disposal |
Exclusive franchise agreement with garbage company to provide temporary debris box service. |
Petaluma |
|
Home Site Services Industrial Carting (Global Materials Recovery Services C&D Recycling Facility Nunes Hauling & Debris Box Service Pacific Sanitation www.pacificsanitation.com (707) 766-6026 |
Section 8.16.115 of Chapter 8.16 of the City of Petaluma Municipal Code allows debris box hauling by specific companies that hold non-exclusive franchise agreement issued by the city. The terms of agreements vary. Call the City of Petaluma at (707) 778-4474 for updated information.
|
Rohnert Park |
|
Industrial Waste and Debris Box Rental, Inc. Rohnert Park Disposal |
Resolution No. 2001-234 selected certain companies to provide temporary debris box services in the City of Rohnert Park.
|
Santa Rosa |
|
Garbage and recycling: Santa Rosa Recycling and Collection Construction and demolition debris only: Construction and Demolition Debris Daniel O. Davis Gardener Trucking Industrial Carting (Global Materials Recovery Services C&D Recycling Facility) Junk in the Box www.junkinthebox.biz Nunes Hauling & Debris Box Service Pacific Sanitation www.pacificsanitation.com Santa Rosa Recycling & Collection www.unicycler.com (707) 823-3149 |
Ordinance 3586 For garbage and recycling, there is an exclusive franchise agreement with the garbage company to provide temporary debris box service. For non-exclusive franchise agreements for C&D debris boxes, agreement terms are annual and automatically review. Call the City of Santa Rosa at (707) 543-3011 for information.
|
Sebastopol |
|
Redwood Empire Disposal |
Exclusive franchise agreement with garbage company to provide temporary debris box service. Requires encroachment permits for placement on public property. Contact Redwood Empire Disposal at (800) 243-0291 for permits and additional information. |
Sonoma |
|
Sonoma Garbage Collector |
Exclusive franchise agreement with garbage company to provide temporary debris box service. Requires encroachment permits for placement on public property. |
Windsor |
|
Industrial Carting (Global Materials Recovery Pacific Sanitation www.pacificsanitation.com (707) 586-5545 |
Ordinance No. 2007-225 amended the Town of Windsor Municipal Code to state that debris box collection must be performed by licensed companies. Agreements expire December 31, 2012. Call the Town of Windsor at (707) 838-5311 for updated information.
|
Unincorporated area |
|
Redwood Empire Disposal www.unicycler.com Sonoma Garbage Collectors |
Section 22-9 of Chapter 22 County Code requires a license from the Sonoma County Department of Transportation and Public Works. Licenses issued are territory specific. In addition, a permit is required from the Sonoma County Environmental Health. Department of Public Works: |
Recycling and Disposal Options
The Sonoma County Recycling Guide is a comprehensive resource that provides details about how to recycle or discard unwanted items including household appliances to hazardous waste. Visit the Sonoma County Waste Management Agency’s web site at www.recyclenow.org.
The following table summarizes legal disposal options for some items that are common at illegal dumping sites. For more information, call the organizations or businesses listed below, or click on the item to view a full listing from the Sonoma County Recycling Guide.
Recyclable Material |
Recycling Options |
Appliances Examples include:
|
Appliances are banned from landfill disposal. Recycling is provided at all Refuse Disposal Sites. All Refuse Disposal Sites accept appliances for a fee. Global Materials PG&E Refrigerator & ReStore Habitat For Humanity West Coast Metals, Inc. Windsor Materials Recovery Facility For a complete list of drop-off and pick up options view the Recycling Guide online at www.recyclenow.org |
Building Materials or Construction and Demolition Materials
|
Construction and demolition material – including cardboard, recyclable wood, scrap metal and yard debris – are banned from landfill disposal. Recycling for these items is provided at all Refuse Disposal Sites. Mixed construction and demolition material drop-off options: Some companies accept mixed loads of construction and demolition debris including asphalt, cardboard, carpet padding, ceramic toilets, concrete, lumber end-cuts, scrap metal, sheetrock and yard debris. Materials are sorted and recycled for you. Global Materials Recovery Services Windsor Materials Recovery Facility Other drop-off options for building materials separated by type include: Healdsburg Transfer Station (Recycling & reuse) Heritage Salvage Petaluma ReStore Habitat For Humanity Sonoma Compost Company Sonoma Transfer Station West Coast Metals, Inc. Windsor Materials Recovery Facility For a complete list of drop-off and pick up options, view the Recycling Guide online at www.recyclenow.org |
Cars and Other Vehicles |
Many charities accept vehicles in working order as charitable donations. Following is a sampling of nonprofits. Please contact the organization for more details. Court-Appointed Special Advocates for Children Inoperative vehicles should be dropped off or picked up by one of the handful of scrap metal or salvage services in Sonoma County. Abandoned vehicles can be reported to: City of Santa Rosa – Abandoned Vehicles Program: |
Electronics Examples include: TVs Office equipment Kitchen appliances Household & bath appliances Computer equipment Consumer electronics |
Electronic devices are banned from landfill disposal. Recycling is provided at all Refuse Disposal Sites. Curbside recycling for small household electronic devices: Drop-off options: ANNAPOLIS CLOVERDALE GUERNEVILLE HEALDSBURG Healdsburg Redwood Moving & Storage Salvation Army PETALUMA Goodwill Industries Staples-Petaluma ROHNERT PARK My Storage Space/GREENspot DROPoff, Inc. Office Depot St. Vincent de Paul Santa Rosa Moving & Storage Company St. Vincent de Paul Society SANTA ROSA Computer Recycling Global Materials Goodwill Industries of the Lock It Up Self Storage/GREENspot DROPoff, Inc. 3161 Coffey Lane (707) 542-0446 M-Sa 11-6. Drop-off: working/non-working electronics, all kinds. Donated computer systems may be refurbished for reuse Office Depot Redwood Empire Recycling Redwood Gospel Mission Salvation Army Sebastopol SONOMA WINDSOR West Coast Metals, Inc. For a complete list of drop-off and pick up options, view the Recycling Guide online at www.recyclenow.org |
Scrap Metal |
Scrap metal is banned from landfill disposal. Recycling is provided at all County Refuse Disposal Sites. Bataeff Salvage Company Cream's Dismantling Global Materials Petaluma Junk Company Redwood Empire Recycling West Coast Metals, Inc. Windsor Materials Recovery Facility For a complete list of drop-off and pick up options, view the Recycling Guide online at www.recyclenow.org |
Wood and pallets Wood ACCEPTED for recycling includes:
Wood NOT ACCEPTED for recycling includes:
|
Recyclable dimensional lumber and other wood products cannot be put in your curbside yard debris cart. Recyclable wood is banned from landfill disposal. Recycling is provided at all refuse disposal sites. The following drop-off options also are available for wood or pallets: Daniel O. Davis, Inc. Global Materials Recovery ReStore Habitat For Humanity Sonoma Pacific Company Windsor Materials Recovery Facility For a complete list of drop-off and pick up options, view the Recycling Guide online at www.recyclenow.org |
Yard debris Yard debris, fruit & veggies ACCEPTED for recycling include:
NOT ACCEPTED:
|
Yard debris is banned from landfill disposal. Recycling is provided at all refuse disposal sites. Global Materials Recovery Grab n' Grow Sonoma Compost Company Windsor Materials
Recovery Facility For a complete list of drop-off and pick up options, view the Recycling Guide online at www.recyclenow.org |
Tires
Tires are banned from landfill disposal and cannot be discarded in curbside garbage collection. All Refuse Disposal Sites accept tires for a fee. Transport up to nine used or waste tires at one time. Transporting more than nine tires requires a special registration permit, which can be requested by calling Sonoma County Environmental Health at (707) 565-6565.
Waste tire haulers servicing the County of Sonoma include:
- Best Quality Tires: (707) 578-0828
- Big Sky: (800) 479-7993
- Carlton: (707) 263-6770
- Desser (aviation tires): (800) 247-8473
- DeWitt’s: (707) 996-2015
- East Bay Tire: (707) 747-5613
- FS Tire: (510) 236-7493
- Golden Byproducts: (209) 668-4855
- Greg’s Tires: (707) 829-8408
- King’s Tires: (707) 544-7666
- Lakin Tires West: (800) 488-2752
- Lester Tire Recycling: (916) 838-8473 or (916) 687-7370
- MLTR aka BATR: (510) 562-4300
- Pacific Tire: (707) 545-6268
- Tire Recovery Company: (209) 982-9408
- Tri C Recycling: (916) 388-2096
- US Tire: (510) 887-1282
- West Coast Recycling: (831) 634-2800
- WRW: (925) 447-0972
For more information, see the Recycling Guide in the Sonoma County AT&T Yellow Pages® or visit www.recyclenow.org or call the Eco-Desk (707) 565-DESK(3375).
