Sacramento, California – Sacramento residents have a lot to say about their trash and recycling services. In fact, those services generated more requests to the city’s 311 system than any other service category during the 2025-26 fiscal year.
And with leaf collection season beginning November 2, city officials are reminding residents that knowing when and how to prepare their yard waste can make a difference in getting it collected.
The City of Sacramento Public Works Department recently highlighted the importance of its Recycling & Solid Waste services, sharing figures that show how frequently residents turn to the city for help with household waste, damaged bins and other collection needs.
According to the department, Recycling & Solid Waste ranked first among all Sacramento 311 service request categories during fiscal year 2025-26.
Approximately 39% of those requests involved the city’s free household junk, appliance and electronic waste pickup services. Another 15% concerned garbage or recycling bins that needed repairs or replacements.
Together, these two categories accounted for roughly 54% of requests related to Recycling & Solid Waste, showing that much of the demand involves services beyond regular trash collection.
The announcement comes as Sacramento officially launches its 2026 leaf collection season on November 2.
During this seasonal program, the city’s specialized collection equipment, commonly known as the “Claw,” will make collections throughout the leaf season.
Residents are encouraged to prepare by reviewing the city’s Recycling & Solid Waste Collection Services webpage, which explains how to properly arrange yard waste and prepare piles for pickup.
The website also provides information about neighborhoods eligible for seasonal leaf collection, collection procedures and other available services.
Collection schedules and updates can be accessed through the SacRecycle Collection Calendar, the SacRecycle mobile app and the city’s official website. These resources can help residents determine when collections are scheduled in their neighborhoods and review applicable preparation instructions.
The city has also made an instructional video available for residents who want additional information about leaf season procedures. The video can be viewed on YouTube.
Beyond seasonal yard waste collection, Sacramento officials are reminding residents that the city’s 311 system remains the main point of contact for nonemergency municipal services.
The service allows residents to report problems, submit new requests, follow the progress of existing cases and obtain information about city programs.
Residents who need assistance with recycling, solid waste collection or other municipal services can visit the Sacramento 311 Customer Service portal.
With leaf season now underway, the city’s message is straightforward: residents should check their collection schedules, follow the preparation guidelines and use the available online services whenever assistance is needed.