We encourage you to recycle as much of your waste as possible. But you’ll need to read the labels or containers to be certain your products come in recyclable packaging. If it is recyclable, always make sure your item is empty and dry before placing it in your blue cart or blue bag. Recycling carts are available to all Truckee neighborhoods.
Here’s what CAN be recycled:
Plastics #1 & 2
Paper
Glass
Aluminum
Cardboard
Clean and empty materials only. That means no liquid or food residue in your containers. Place materials directly into your cart – no plastic bags in your cart!
You can order a recycling cart by calling TTSD at (530) 583-7800. There are two options to receive your cart: delivery (fees apply), or make a reservation for one of the FREE pickup days in spring and summer.
Place recyclable items directly into the cart – don’t bag your recyclables if you’re using a cart! Scrape out food and pour out liquids from all recyclable containers first. Make sure that the lid can fully close; larger items like cardboard may need to be cut into smaller pieces to fit.
How do I set out my cart for collection?
Carts should be wheeled to the street, 3 feet apart from other objects, with handles facing away from the street center. Place your cart curbside by 6:00 a.m. on your service day, every other week. Remember to keep your cart behind the snow pole line in winter to avoid interfering with snow removal operations.
After service, remove the cart from the street. Carts cannot be left in the town’s right-of-way.
Are you unable to roll back your cart after each service?
TTSD will roll your cart in and out on your service day with a paid subscription. Contact TTSD directly to set up by calling 530-583-7800.
Can I still use blue bags?
YES! Blue bags are still accepted. Note however that blue bags are not accepted inside your cart. Please place blue bags next to your trash can and recycling cart.
Blue Bags
While we encourage residents to use recycling carts to reduce waste from single-use blue bags, we recognize they don’t work for every household. That’s why we still accept blue bags for free as an alternative to recycling carts, or as an additional option for when you might have more recycling than will fit in your recycling cart.
When are blue bags serviced?
Blue bags are collected weekly with your trash service. They are collected in the same vehicle as household trash, not with the blue recycle carts, so be sure your bags are securely tied to keep your recyclables separate from trash. Untied blue bags may be considered extra trash and result in an overage charge.
What can I put in a blue bag?
Any item that is recyclable in Truckee’s curbside collection program can be put in a blue bag. Make sure that you know what is recyclable in Truckee (click on the “What is Recyclable?” tab above to learn more!) and avoid putting non-recyclable items in your blue bag. Blue bags that area heavily contaminated with non-recyclable items such as paper cups, film plastic, napkins and paper towels, polystyrene foam, or snack bags and food wrappers may be charged as extra trash.
Where do I put my blue bags?
Whether you place your trash in a bear shed or curbside, blue bags should always be placed next to your trash can. Blue bags do not belong inside recycling carts or trash cans. Please do not use a separate trash can for your blue bags. Any items in a trash can will be charged as trash, not recycling, and you may receive a trash overage charge.
All recyclables, including cardboard, must fit inside your blue bag to be collected for free. Make sure the bag is securely tied shut to avoid a trash overage charge for untied blue bags.
Where do I get blue bags?
You can use any type of blue bag for your recyclables, as long as it can be securely tied shut and is blue in color. Blue bags can be purchased at: Tahoe Supply Company, Mountain Hardware, Tahoe Donner HOA Member Services, The Office Boss (Safeway and Airport Locations), New Moon Natural Foods, or online at many retailers!
Cardboard
Truckee offers three convenient options for residents to recycle cardboard:
Place inside a blue cart
Place inside a securely tied blue bag
Drop off at a community recycling site
All California residents are required to keep cardboard and other organic materials out of the trash to reduce methane emissions from landfills. Read more about what these new requirements mean for Truckee. Make sure to follow the directions below to ensure your cardboard is recycled and avoid overage fees.
Cardboard in Blue Carts
Cardboard can be placed loose inside your recycling cart and set out on your normal recycling collection day. Make sure to cut larger pieces of cardboard down so they fit inside the cart with the lid fully closed. Remember, recyclables inside recycling carts should never be bagged!
Cardboard in Blue Bags
Cardboard can also be placed alongside other recyclables inside securely tied blue bags. This keeps the cardboard clean and dry so it can be recycled when blue bags are separated from trash at the processing facility. Untied blue bags or loose cardboard will be collected as trash and may result in an overage charge.
Community Drop-Off Locations
Truckee offers FREE drop-off bins for cardboard at two locations in town:
Truckee Town Hall, 10183 Truckee Airport Road
Nevada County Sheriff’s station, 10879 Donner Pass Rd
Please break down your boxes before placing them in the bin! Boxes that are not folded flat make the bins fill up quickly, causing overflow and litter. If the bins are full, please try another location or come back another day, and do not leave cardboard on the ground. Leaving cardboard or other materials on the ground next to the community drop-off bins is illegal dumping and subject to citation.
Loose Cardboard and Overage Charges
Loose cardboard placed next to your trash can, inside a trash can, or inside your bear shed will be collected as trash and may be subject to an overage charge. This is because blue bags and any loose materials placed next to your trash can are collected by the trash truck rather than the recycling truck, which can only service carts. Recyclables that are inside securely tied blue bags can be sorted out of the trash at the processing facility. If cardboard is placed loose next to your trash can or inside an untied blue bag, it will end up mixed in with the other trash and be too contaminated to recycle. Help us keep this material out of the landfill and avoid overage charges by ensuring your cardboard is recycled right!
Email signup
If you would like to stay up-to-date on Truckee's sustainability efforts or sign up for trash and recycling pick up day reminders, submit your info here!
