Green organics carts are collected each week on the same day as the blue recycle carts. They are available in 64-gallon and 96-gallon sizes. To request a different size or report a lost or damaged cart, call 3-1-1 or 210-207-6000. Please follow the curbside collection guidelines when setting out your cart.
How to Use the Green Organics Cart
- Do not overfill or overstuff the green cart. For example, grass clippings are surprisingly heavy.
- Cut branches and small limbs into 3-feet sections.
- Materials should be either loose or placed in paper bags.
- Make sure the lid can close completely.
Green organics carts are available in 64-gallon and 96-gallon sizes. To request a different size or report a lost or damaged cart, call 3-1-1 or 210-207-6000.
Accepted Materials
- Food Soiled Paper - Paper cups and plates, paper takeout boxes, cups (no plastic lids) and wrappers, pizza boxes, napkins, paper towels, coffee filters and tea bags.
- Food Waste - Peels and cores, rinds, husks, table scraps, nuts and grains, bread, cereal and pasta, eggshells, coffee grounds and tea bags.
- Yard Trimmings - Small branches (smaller than 3 feet), plants and leaves, yard clippings and grass.
- Other Materials - Shredded paper, Popsicle® sticks, wooden chop sticks, toothpicks and coffee filters.
Loose Materials
Put all these materials in the green cart loose or in these types of approved bags:
- Kraft bags
- Leaf Bags
- Plain brown paper bags (but never plastic bags!)
Unaccepted Materials
Our organics program does not accept material placed in bags marketed as ‘compostable’ or ‘biodegradable’, as some do not break down. Other non-accepted material includes:
- Bottle caps (metal or plastic)
- Cloth and Textiles
- Condiment packets
- Construction or demolition materials
- Diapers
- Metal and glass
- Pet food bags
- Plastics of any kind (including plastic bags and plastic utensils)
- Rocks and Soil
- Styrofoam®
- Treated Wood and Lumber
Avoid a Violation Fee
Unaccepted items in a cart is called contamination. Customers will incur a fee when their cart is contaminated. Visit our Contamination page to see why it is a big problem.
Tips for Disposing Food
If you are concerned about keeping your cart clean from food scraps, try these simple tips:
- Place some shredded paper in a plain brown paper bag.
- Get the food item as dry as possible – squeeze out juice, drain boiled foods, pat dry table scraps, etc.
- Put food scraps on top of the shredded paper.
- Cover with a little more shredded paper.
- Roll the bag closed and drop in the green cart.
- You can also wrap food waste in newspaper.
- Use a kitchen bin (available free, while supplies last) or small container lined with paper.
- Keep the kitchen bin in the freezer until your collection day.
- Some food waste just does not work, such as:
- Liquids, sauce, soup, or gravy
- Bones
- Ice cream, Popsicles®, or yogurt
- Condiments