MULTIFAMILY SERVICE GUIDELINES
Multifamily service (2 or more units) is provided in partnership with the City of El Cerrito.
- The City of El Cerrito provides the collection and processing of recycling.
- East Bay Sanitary Company provides the garbage/landfill and green waste/food scraps collection services.
Please note that although service may be ordered and paid for by a household tenant, it is the owner of the property that is ultimately liable for the cost of service if the tenant, lessee, or occupant does not pay or is unable to pay the bill in a timely manner.
In 2016, California Senate Bill (SB) 1383 was signed into law by Governor Brown and establishes state-wide targets to reduce the disposal of organic waste and edible food. The regulations become effective on January 1, 2022, and applies to all persons or entities that generate organic waste. As a part of this new law:
- All businesses and residents must be enrolled in organic waste or “green waste” collection services
- All businesses and residents will be required to properly sort materials for disposal
- Organics in the green waste container,
- Recyclables in the recycling container, and
- Only garbage in the container intended for the landfill.
Collection Services
- EBS provides multifamily garbage collection up to 6 days a week. Container sizes include 20, 35 and 64-gallon carts as well as 1 and 2 cubic yard bins for rear load collection. Service can be tailored to our multifamily customer’s specific needs with any number and combination of container sizes as well as collection from 1 to 6 times per week (excluding Sundays).
- Multifamily customers receive one (1) 64 gallon organics (green waste/food scraps) cart collected weekly included in the monthly bill for garbage collection. Additional organics carts are available for an additional monthly rate.
- The City of El Cerrito provides recycling services to multi-unit housing accounts up to three (3) times per week on specific collection days. To find out the collection day for your apartment complex, or to set up recycling services, please contact them at 510.215.4350.
Multifamily Rates 2023
The following monthly rates for multifamily service reflect one (1) pickup per week.
| Commercial Garbage Bins | Collection | Post-Collection | IWM Fee | Total Monthly Rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 Cubic Yard (loose) | $223.34 | $55.34 | $153.44 | $432.12 |
| 1 Cubic Yard (compacted) | $382.37 | $110.67 | $153.44 | $646.48 |
| 2 Cubic Yards (loose) | $430.37 | $110.67 | $306.89 | $847.93 |
| 2 Cubic Yards (compacted) | $764.75 | $221.35 | $306.89 | $1292.99 |
| Commercial Carts | ||||
| 20 gallon | $23.94 | $5.46 | $19.86 | $49.26 |
| 35 gallon | $33.59 | $9.57 | $21.72 | $64.88 |
| 64 gallon | $67.18 | $19.13 | $42.57 | $128.88 |
| Additional Green Waste/Food Scrap Carts | ||||
| 35 gallon | $15.44 | $4.78 | $10.86 | $31.08 |
| 64 gallon | $30.87 | $9.57 | $21.29 | $61.73 |
| 1 Cubic Yard (loose) | $215.19 | $55.34 | 35.40 | $305.93 |
For rates on multiple pick-ups per week for garbage and organics, download the 2025 Rate Sheet.
Free Recycling Consultation
The City of El Cerrito offers free consultations to help multifamily dwellings and commercial businesses recycle right.
Contact the City directly by phone 510.215.4350 or email to set up and optimize your service.
| Garbage/Landfill Cart Options | Recycling Cart Included | Green Waste/Food Scrap Cart Included |
|---|---|---|
20, 32, or 64 gallon cart
| One (1) 64 gallon recycling cart
| One (1) 64 gallon green waste/food scrap cart
|
1 or 2 cubic yard bin
| One (1) 64 gallon recycling cart  | One (1) 64 gallon green waste/food scrap cart |
Cart Set-out Rules
East Bay Sanitary uses fully automated trucks to help improve collection efficiency and reduce costs. These trucks have a mechanical arm that reaches out and wraps around the carts and empties the contents into the top of the truck. Because of this, it is essential they are placed out for collection correctly.
- Please place all carts on the street with the wheels against the curb the night before or by 6 a.m. on your collection day. Carts should not be angled.
- Leave 2 feet between carts and place them 4 feet from cars, power poles, mail boxes, trees or other objects.
- Bungee cords must be removed by 6am on collection day.
- The area should be free of overhead branches and /or power lines.
- Materials placed outside of the carts will not be picked up.
- Do not overfill carts.
- Lids must close completely to minimize spillage during the emptying process. Please remember that any materials extending beyond the rim of any cart will be subject to an extra charge or your cart not being picked up.
- Do not compact any waste into carts. Contents must be able to fall freely from cart when it is turned upside down.
- Bag all cold ashes (no hot ashes please!), kitty litter, sawdust, and Styrofoam before placing in the garbage cart.
- Carts that are not set out on time or customers that want to skip their collection are not eligible for credit.
- Remove your carts from the street by 7:00 p.m. on your collection day to keep your neighbors happy and your community attractive.
Because collection is provided by two entities, all services may not be collected on the same day each week. Your collection days will be reviewed with you by a customer service representative when you set up services.
Garbage & Green Waste/Food Scraps Missed Collection
Did we miss collecting your organics and or garbage cart(s) or did you forget to set them out?
- If our driver misses emptying your cart(s), please call our office. If you discover your cart was not emptied after office hours, please leave a message on our 24-hour voice mail system at 510.237.4321 so we can send the driver back the following morning.
- If you accidentally forgot to set-out your cart(s), please call our office hours and ask for the driver to take an extra bag the next pick-up day equal to your missed collection without charge.
- If you cannot wait until the next week to set-out extra garbage and/or green waste, we can go back and empty the cart(s) for an additional $25 per cart.
Recycling Missed Collection
The City of El Cerrito provides your recycling collection and processing.
Please refer any questions about recycling collection to the City of El Cerrito Recycling Services at 510.215.4350.
Extra Recycling
Save up your extra recyclables and utilize the free, once-a-year curbside clean-up for households and businesses within El Cerrito. Learn more about this program offered by the City of El Cerrito. Need to get rid of recyclable sooner? Drop them off at the Drop-Off Recycling Center.
Extra Garbage
If you have extra garbage that does not fit inside your cart, you must call East Bay Sanitary office at least one (1) business day before your collection day and before 2:00 p. m.
- There is a charge for extra garbage.
- Extra garbage should be bagged tightly and or placed a reusable container that can be safely dumped and placed back at the curb.
- Please keep extra bags and reusable containers to a 30lb weight limit.
On occasion, our driver might tag your cart when a can is overloaded and you will be charged for the extra garbage even though an order was not called in.
Free Pick Ups
All customers of East Bay Sanitary are entitled to a certain amount of free pick ups of trash and large items (such as furniture or appliances) per calendar year at no additional cost and expense. Learn more about your Free Pick Up options here.
Extra Green Waste/Food Scraps
If you have extra green waste that does not fit inside your cart, you must call East Bay Sanitary office at least one (1) business day before your collection day and before 2:00 p. m.
- There is a charge for extra green waste
- Extra green waste must be placed in special 30 gallon recyclable green waste paper bags that can be purchased at your local hardware store. You may also use a reusable container that can be safely dumped and placed back at the curb.
- GREEN WASTE WILL NOT BE TAKEN IN PLASTIC BAGS!
- Please keep green waste bags and reusable containers to a 30 pound weight limit.
On occasion, our driver might tag your cart when a cart is overloaded and you will be charged for the extra green waste even though an order was not called in.
Christmas / New Year’s Holiday Schedule:
The only holidays resulting in collection interruption are Christmas Day and New Year’s Day for both East Sanitary and the City of El Cerrito Recycling. During those weeks, if your collection day falls on or after the holiday, you will be picked up one day late.
Christmas Tree Policy:
Unflocked, clean, natural Christmas trees free of tinsel, ornaments, stands, etc. will be collected on your first two collection days in January. Place your tree next to your green waste cart or cut up and place in your green waste cart for collection.
After this period, you can contact our office to arrange for tree removal for a charge. If possible, we request that trees be cut down and placed in your green waste cart with lids closing properly. If this is not possible, place your tree next to your green waste cart and it will be taken.
Recycling Laws
All residents and businesses must separate recycling and organic waste from garbage by law.
Materials Guide
Check out the Materials Guide for information about recycling and garbage services in El Cerrito. Available in English, Spanish, and Chinese.
Household Hazardous Waste
HHW cannot go in the garbage.
Tuesdays only HHW may be dropped off at the El Cerrito Recycling + Environmental Resource Center.
Wednesday – Saturday only HHW may be dropped off at the West Contra Costa County Household Hazardous Waste Facility.
ABOUT EAST BAY SANITARY
We have been serving the El Cerrito Community for 80 years. The residents of El Cerrito can take pride in the fact that they are participating in a premier and cutting-edge waste management system and that East Bay Sanitary is working very hard to manage our resources and preserve our environment in the best ways possible.- East Bay Sanitary Company, Inc.
- Phone Hours: 7:30 am - 3:30 pm
- 510.237.4321
- 510.237.1340
- Walk-in Hours: 8:00 am - 3:30 pm
- 1432 Kearney Street, El Cerrito CA 94530
- Mailing Address: PO Box 1316, El Cerrito, CA 94530
© 2024 East Bay Sanitary Company, Inc.