Modesto residents have been told to expect possible changes in the timing of their garbage, recycling and organic waste pickups after one hauler began collecting materials with separate trucks this summer. The Modesto City website and a recent city social media post say collection days themselves will not change, but the order and time of collection may vary for some neighborhoods.
Who collects Modesto's trash
The city’s Solid Waste Division lists two franchised companies that provide residential and commercial collection in Modesto: Bertolotti Disposal Service and Gilton Solid Waste Management. Each hauler serves a specific, exclusive area of the city as set by the Modesto City Council, the city said.
On July 1, Gilton started collecting recycling and organic-material containers on separate trucks rather than on a single vehicle, a change the city highlighted in an Instagram post on Aug. 13. As a result, the time each container is collected could shift even when the scheduled collection day remains the same.
What will change — and what won’t
- Collection day stays the same: The city emphasized that residents’ regular collection day will not change.
- Timing may vary: Separate trucks for recycling and organics can mean containers are emptied at different times on the same day.
- Weekly and alternating schedules: Garbage and organic materials are collected weekly; recycling is collected on alternating weeks depending on whether a street address ends in an odd or even number.
“Your collection day is not changing.”
The quote above reflects the city’s message reassuring residents that the weekly schedule they rely on remains in place even as collection logistics shift.
How residents can confirm their schedule
Modesto residents have several options to check or receive their collection calendar:
- Enter an address in the city’s online collection service search tool to view the pickup schedule for that location.
- Call the Modesto Solid Waste Division at 209-577-5494 to request a printed calendar by mail.
The city also notes that regular residential pickup occurs Monday through Friday, and that Saturday collections may be used during weeks containing a holiday if a collection day is delayed.
Where questions and confusion may arise
Residents served by Gilton Solid Waste Management are the ones directly affected by the operational change to separate trucks. The shift could lead to situations where one container is emptied early in the morning while another is picked up later in the day, which may prompt calls about missed or late service even when crews complete all stops on the assigned day.
The city’s communications aim to preempt those concerns by pointing to the unchanged collection day and providing tools for residents to confirm schedules. Modesto’s Solid Waste Division functions as the point of contact for service questions and calendar requests.
| Item | Details |
|---|---|
| Franchised haulers listed by city | Bertolotti Disposal Service; Gilton Solid Waste Management |
| Garbage & organics frequency | Weekly |
| Recycling frequency | Alternating weeks (odd/even address) |
| City Solid Waste phone | 209-577-5494 |
For many Modesto households, the change will be a minor scheduling shift. Still, separated collection vehicles can affect when neighbors see their blue, green or black containers emptied on pickup day. Residents uncertain about their hauler or collection pattern should use the online lookup tool or contact the Solid Waste Division to avoid missed pickups or improper placement of containers.
The city’s announcement is the latest example of local utilities adjusting operations to improve routing or comply with service contracts. Officials advise Patience and checking posted or mailed schedules to adapt to the timing differences introduced by the separate-truck collections.
