Frequently Asked Questions

What if I have extras that will not fit in the cart?

To ensure effective waste management, we kindly request all residents to follow the established guidelines. When it comes to disposing of garbage extras, please double-bag them or place them in a contractor trash bag and position them beside your regular cart. It is crucial to note that any extra refuse may be subject to additional charges, so extra care should be taken to adhere to these guidelines. Similarly, for extra recycling, you can place it in a box or a paper bag beside your cart. To facilitate smooth pick-up, we kindly ask residents to call our administrative offices in advance and inform our staff about the presence of extras. Your cooperation in this matter is greatly appreciated, as it enables us to efficiently manage waste and maintain a clean and sustainable environment.

What if my carts are missed on collection day?

To ensure timely garbage pickup, kindly place your carts outside the night before. If you encounter any issues, please contact our customer service team at 1 (800) MY-GARBAGE or click on the provided link to inform us. Thank you.

What if I need a different size or an additional cart?

To submit your request, kindly contact our customer service at 1 (800) MY-GARBAGE 1 (800) 694-2722. They will be happy to assist you.

Do I set my cart out when it's not full?

To ensure proper waste collection, kindly set out your refuse cart every collection day, regardless of its level of fullness. However, it is advisable to wait until your recycling and mixed organic carts are at least half full before placing them out on their designated collection day.

What if I go on vacation?

To pause your service for a minimum of 4 weeks, you can either contact customer service at 1 (800) MY-GARBAGE or 1 (800) 694-2722, or simply click on the provided link.

What do I do if I move?

For any changes or cancellations to your service address, please contact customer service at 1 (800) MY-GARBAGE or 1 (800) 694-2722. You can also click on the link provided. Kindly note that your carts will be collected on the last day of your service.

What is our Holiday schedule and how will it AFFECT service?

There will not be any pickup on Christmas or New Year’s Day. Pickup will be on the following day. We will pick up on all other holidays. Please note that our transfer stations and recycling centers are closed on all major holidays.

What happens if my garbage is not picked up due to extreme weather conditions?

For our safety and yours, our trucks do not run in extreme weather such as heavy snow or flooding. Please leave your carts out and they will be picked up the following day or when conditions allow. Please check our Facebook page for up-to-date information following any missed pick-up days.

How do I clean my cart?

Simply rinse with mild soap and water and allow the cart to dry. Carts should be cleaned seasonally or as often as possible. Cleaning maintenance of your carts is your responsibility after they are delivered.

Solid Wastes of Willits provides a variety of services in waste management and recycling. Who do I contact for specific information about one of your services?

SWOW’s Administration Office can answer a variety of general information questions. Our friendly office staff is available Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., and can be reached at
1 (800) MY-GARBAGE or 1 (800) 694-2722 or by visiting us at 350 Franklin Ave. in Willits, CA.

Where is SWOW’s Solid Waste Transfer Station and Recycling Center? What are its days and hours of operation?

We operate nine Transfer Stations and two Recycling Centers. Please visit our locations page for more information about our transfer stations and items accepted at each site.

What forms of payment do you accept?

All of our transfer stations accept checks, cash, Visa, and MasterCard. We also accept e-check payments through our online bill-pay interface. Please view our Payment Page for more information.

What types of waste constitute MIXED ORGANIC WASTE (green waste)? What can I put in my green bin?

We accept Mixed Organic Waste, which includes yard waste or green waste such as food waste, brush, and grass from any plant. You can now dispose of food waste in your Mixed Organic Waste cart. At our transfer station sites, we also accept pallets, untreated wood, and construction wood. However, please note that Solid Waste such as dirt, painted and treated wood, sod, particle board, and plywood should be disposed of at the transfer station as garbage.

If you're bringing Mixed Organic Waste to the Transfer Station in plastic bags, please make sure to empty the bags and dispose of them as trash before properly disposing of the organic waste. Also, if there's any trash or dirt mixed in with the organic waste, it needs to be disposed of as trash too. We want to make sure we're disposing of everything properly and efficiently, so please keep in mind that disposing of these items in the Mixed Organic pile can increase the cost of proper disposal. This could lead to an increase in the cost to ratepayers for the disposal of Mixed Organic waste in the future. We appreciate your help and cooperation!

So please, make sure to dispose of only food waste, grass, brush, and tree limbs, twigs in the Mixed Organic waste or the green curbside cart. No lumber is accepted in the carts.

How do I apply for a job with Solid Wastes of Willits, Inc.?

SWOW warmly welcomes and encourages all qualified individuals to apply for a job during our open application period. You can fill out an application for employment using our process on Indeed. Additionally, applications for general employment and driver positions are available on our website.

What do I do with Medical Sharps (Syringes)?

To safely dispose of sharps, place them in an empty plastic detergent or bleach bottle. Seal the lid, cover it with tape, and label it as "SHARPS". Alternatively, you can opt for special red plastic sharps disposal containers that can be purchased at a pharmacy. This ensures proper disposal and minimizes any potential harm.

Unacceptable containers: coffee cans, plastic milk jugs, plastic bags, and soda bottles.

Dear commercial businesses and medical offices, please be aware that this program is not designed for your use. We kindly suggest that you contact a medical waste disposal service that can cater to your specific requirements.

Drop-off locations for Medical Sharps:

Willits Transfer Station: 350 Franklin St., Willits-- Open Tuesday –Saturday 9 am - 4 pm

Covelo Transfer Station: 90500 Refuse Rd—Open Wednesday to Saturday 9 am - 3 pm

what do i do with electronics?

Did you know that it's illegal to dispose of electronics with your regular trash in California? But don't worry, we've got you covered! You can bring your unwanted electronics, or e-waste, to any of our transfer stations for free. This includes items such as televisions, printers, computers, phones, and more. For a complete list, check out our website's "Recycle Packet" tab on the front page.

What do I do with Asbestos?

Due to stricter laws, disposing of items containing asbestos has become more difficult. Before arriving at our transfer station, it is necessary to call the site manager at (707) 459-4778 and arrange a drop-off time. The disposal fee is equivalent to the refuse fee.

How does the curbside recycling program work?

To ensure proper curbside recycling, kindly place your cart outside the night before pick up. For additional information, you can access a comprehensive packet on the website's homepage under "Recycle Packet". If you have any further inquiries, please feel free to contact the administrative offices.

Solid Waste of Willits offers three residential curbside-collection services: garbage, recycling, and mixed organic waste in select areas. Monthly service charges depend on the selected garbage cart size. Recycling and mixed organic waste service comes with garbage service at no additional cost. Please note that mixed organic waste service that includes food waste is only available to customers within the city limits of Willits and 4 miles surrounding the City of Willits. To start service, please call our office at 1 (800) 694-2722 or send a request with our online Service Request form.

Each cart is for a specific type of waste:

The GREY cart is for non-hazardous, non-recyclable material.

The BLUE cart is for clean, recyclable materials.

The GREEN cart is for biodegradable/compostable organic material.

Please review our What Goes Where? What Else to Know? guide sheet to learn what can go in each cart, as well as important additional information.

Do I need to rinse out recyclables prior to placement in the recycling cart?

It is best that the recyclables be free of any food waste before they are placed into the recycling stream. This keeps contamination down and allows a higher percentage of the materials to be recycled. If any cardboard or paper product is saturated with food, grease, or cooking oil please dispose of it in the grey Garbage container or the Green Waste cart

How can i put shredded paper in the recycling bin without making a mess

The best ways to recycle shredded paper are by securely tying it in a CLEAR plastic bag or by putting it in a paper bag with the top stapled shut.

What should I do with plastics that do not have a #1-7 symbol?

Only plastics with the symbols #1-7 should be placed in the recycling cart. Unmarked plastics are not recyclable and should be placed in the trash cart. Alternative disposal options could be available on Earth911.com.

Can I use a plastic bag for my green cart?

No, plastic bags or any other materials that are not biodegradable damage an entire green waste load; forcing the content to go to the landfill.

Why are we supposed to mix all of our recyclables together?

SWOW has made a significant investment in building a state-of-the-art Material Recovery Facility (MRF) to sort the recyclables, using the MRF SWOW is able to sort the largest amount of recyclable material and make it available for recyclers thus diverting it from the landfill. Residents are also encouraged to use SWOW’s certified CRV buy-back centers as well as other recycling resources and programs throughout the community. Studies show that allowing the convenience of mixing materials together is the key to getting more people to choose the recycling bin over the trash can and increasing the number of recyclables collected. To see a video on how our MRF works Click Here.

If a product has the three arrows symbol on it, doesn't that mean it's recyclable?

It's important to note that the three arrows symbol commonly associated with recycling does not necessarily mean that an item is recyclable. This symbol is not regulated, so it can be placed on products regardless of their recyclability. In fact, the plastics industry often uses this symbol as a way to identify resin types internally, rather than as an indicator of whether the product can be recycled.

In theory, nearly all items produced could be recycled if there was a dependable purchaser for the materials. The presence of a recycling market usually relies on a manufacturer acquiring the item for reprocessing. If an industry distributes a product and then utilizes fresh materials to create new ones, it generates material that lacks a recycling market. The market demand for a material determines whether it is recyclable or not, and it determines what can be accepted.

Where do corks go?

Please note that while natural corks cannot be recycled, they are biodegradable and can be disposed of in either the mixed organic waste bin or the garbage bin. However, it is important to keep in mind that there are also plastic corks that should be placed in the garbage cart instead.

What is the acceptable size/diameter of wood that can be placed in the green cart?

Please ensure that any wood or branches you place in the mixed organic cart are no more than three (3) inches in diameter and allow the lid to close fully. Thank you.

I have a trash compactor, can I compact my recyclables?

No, it is important to avoid compacting materials that can be recycled.

Can I recycle empty paint cans or other containers that had toxic chemical such as cleaning agents?

Paint cans should be free of paint or completely dried. Other containers used for cleaning should only be narrow neck plastic bottles. Latex paint is accepted at our Willits Transfer Station only and has limitations. Please call the administrative offices to get details.

What day of the week is the recycling or garbage picked up?

To access the schedule for recycling and mixed organic waste collection in your area, visit our Calendar page. For information on a specific day for garbage/recyclables collection, please call our office at 1 (800) MY-GARBAGE or 1 (800) 694-2722.

How should the carts be arranged for pick up day?

When placing carts for garbage collection, it is important to ensure that there is a three-foot clearance between the cart and any obstruction such as trees, motor vehicles, and basketball hoops, as well as between other carts. Additionally, it is best to position the cart in front of your curb with the lid facing the street for easy collection.

What is the schedule of the Hazardous Material Pickup (HazMobile)?

The HazMobile is operated by MendoRecycle and the schedule can be found on their Website.

How do I dispose of unused or expired medication?

Some of these medications can cause environmental damage when they enter the sewer system and can enter the water supply. Disposing of medications down the sink or toilet is no longer allowed.

You can help reduce this problem by bringing your medications to a safe medicine disposal drop-off location. For more information on safe medicine disposal, visit the Russian River Water Association's Website.

The Mendocino County Sheriff has also started a program that allows community members a safe location to dispose of all unwanted and outdated prescription medications: Operation Medicine CabinetAll unused or expired medications should be safely disposed of when no longer needed. Never take any medication prescribed for someone else. Medications should be stored out of reach of children.

How should I dispose of my residential refrigerator, freezer, water cooler, room air conditioner, or dehumidifier?

At our South Coast, Casper, and Willits transfer stations, we welcome appliance disposal with or without freon. To inquire about the rates for each station, please contact our administrative offices.

Why can't pizza boxes be recycled?

Unfortunately, once the pizza has been placed in the box, it can become soiled with grease, cheese, and other foods. This makes the cardboard unsuitable for recycling, as the paper fibers cannot be separated from the oils during the pulping process. Food is a common source of contamination in paper waste, so it's important to dispose of soiled pizza boxes as garbage. However, if you live in Willits and have a green waste cart, you can compost your pizza box by placing it in your cart.

How can i learn to do backyard composting?

If you're interested in composting at home, https://www.ecocycle.org/backyard-composting offers helpful resources to guide you through the process. Composting not only reduces the amount of green waste taken to transfer stations but also nourishes your garden for healthier growth.

Where do I recycle my christmas tree?

We allow Christmas trees to be brought into the Willits, Casper, and South Coast Transfer Stations from Christmas to January 15 for free. Your tree must be free of flocking, ornaments, and tinsel.