Recycling Household Waste

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The city of Patterson hosts two mobile events during the year.  2021's events will be held March 6th 2021 and August 28th 2021. The  Stanislaus County facility for Household Hazardous Waste is open year round.  Information can be found below.

The following information is helpful when minimizing the amount of household wastes from going directly to the landfill.

Glass

  • Empty and lightly rinse all containers
  • In the Blue Recycling Toter, only place brown, clear, and green glass bottles and jars (e.g., soda, wine, mayonnaise)
  • In the Black Garbage Toter, only place ceramics, cookware, drinking glasses, incandescent bulbs, mirrors, windows, and blue glass

Green Waste

  • All lawn clippings, trimmed tree branches, leaves, weeds, etc., must go in the Green Waste Toter. Keep in mind that green waste can and should be recycled too, via composting and using the compost to help other plants, trees, flower gardens, etc. grow.

Paper & Cardboard

  • Flatten cartons and boxes
  • Secure loose material (e.g., shredded paper) in plastic grocery bags
  • Cut large boxes small enough to fit inside the container

Blue Recycling Toter

In the Blue Recycling Toter, place the following:

  • Cardboard
  • Catalogs
  • Cereal and cracker boxes (remove liners)
  • Egg cartons
  • Envelopes
  • Gift wrap (no metallic / foil)
  • Magazines
  • Mail, newspaper, newspaper inserts, and advertisements (glossy is okay)
  • Office paper (e.g., construction paper, printer paper)
  • Paper bags
  • Shoe boxes
  • Shopping bags (remove handles)
  • Telephone books

Black Garbage Container

In the Black Garbage Container, place the following:

  • Carbon paper
  • Padded or Tyvek® envelopes
  • Paper soiled with anything such as motor oil, paint, or food / grease
  • Paper take-out containers
  • Photographs and photo paper
  • Pizza boxes
  • Thermal fax paper

Plastics & Plastic Bags

Empty and lightly rinse all containers. Secure loose plastic bags in a plastic grocery bag.

Blue Recycling Toter

Only plastic items labeled with the numbers 1 through 7 inside the chasing arrows symbol or triangle, such as:

  • Detergent bottles
  • Dry cleaning and bread bags
  • Egg cartons
  • Flower pots
  • Fresh produce
  • Grocery and newspaper bags
  • Large reusable water bottles and juice jugs
  • Medicine bottles
  • Milk jugs
  • PVC pipes
  • Plastic bags
  • Shampoo bottles
  • Soda, water, mouthwash, and mustard containers
  • Squeezable bottles (e.g., honey)
  • Spray bottles
  • Yogurt and margarine tubs

Black Garbage Toter

In the Black Garbage Toter, you can place:

  • Bubble wrap
  • Compact discs
  • Credit cards
  • Disposable diapers
  • Hangers
  • Hoses
  • Styrofoam



  • Pools
  • Shoes
  • Tarps
  • Toys
  • Utensils

Polystyrene (Styrofoam®)

  • In the Black Garbage Toter, place the following:
    • Cups
    • Egg cartons
    • Foam packing
    • Meat and fruit trays
    • Packing "peanuts"
    • Plates
    • Take-out containers
  • In the Black Garbage Toter, place all containers soaked with food or grease

Scrap Metals

  • Clean and dry household metal items
  • In the Blue Recycling Toter, place the following items:
    • Aerosol cans (empty)
    • Aluminum foil (clean)
    • Small metal appliances (e.g., toaster, waffle iron, blender)
    • Keys
    • Metal
    • Metal lids and caps from glass bottles
    • Paint cans (remove excess paint, let residue dry)
    • Pots and pans
  • In the Black Garbage Toter, place all hangers (wood, metal, plastic), and hardware (nails, screws, nuts, bolts)

Used Motor Oil & Filters

Used motor oil and oil filters cannot be placed on the curbside for recycle. You must dispose of used oil and oil filters at a Certified Used Oil Collection Center. Oil must be in a container with a screw top lid. Oil filters must be in a Ziploc bag.

Contaminated Oil, Used oil, & Batteries

Contaminated oil, used oil, batteries may also be disposed of at the Modesto Collection Facility, open every Friday and Saturday, from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m., except holidays.