The new 3-cart program begins in 2024

Carts will be delivered to in summer 2024, exact dates for each neighborhood will be announced as the date approaches.

California’s SB 1383 requires that customers separate their organic material from their trash and recycling and that color-coded containers are provided for each material. In addition, making the switch to a semi-automated collection system will result in a safer working environment for South Tahoe Refuse employees which is why we are making the adjustment throughout our service area. There will be reduced exposure to injury from lifting, as well as reduced exposure to sharp, harmful, and even hazardous material.

With the implementation of SB 1383, South Tahoe Refuse is required to deliver containers and provide service for all three material streams (trash, recycling, and yard waste) for our California customers.

The City of South Lake Tahoe and our service area in El Dorado County received “high elevation” waivers from CalRecycle for the requirement to collect food waste at curbside. We’re subject to the additional SB 1383 requirements.

Yes, we will distribute “Take Me” stickers with the new carts. Customers will be instructed to place these stickers on cans you would like removed and place them at curbside at a designated time following cart delivery. We will not remove any cans without the “Take Me” sticker.

Yes, STR will continue to service bear boxes for trash only. All customers will receive a cart for yard waste and a cart for recycling. If you would like to choose a bear-resistant trash cart instead of using the bear box, you can indicate that on your survey form here.

None of the carts will fit inside a bear box. STR will continue servicing homeowner-provided cans inside bear boxes for trash only, in which case the homeowner would not receive a garbage cart.

The trash carts are considered “Animal resistant” and have proven effective at keeping bears out in other mountain communities where they are currently being used. They are certified black bear resistant by the Wildlife Management Institute.  Although they are bear-resistant, STR will continue to recommend that trash not be placed out until the morning of your collection day. Check out this video from the cart manufacturer, Rehrig Pacific Company, showing bears in Montana attempting to get into their cart. 

It is cost prohibitive to provide an animal-resistant recycling cart to each customer, and would have increased customer rates dramatically.  Therefore, the only animal-resistant carts are the ones where food scraps are allowed (the garbage cart). We have tips for reducing animal access to trash and recycling at: https://southtahoerefuse.com/resources/bear-info/

Trash:  With the separation of recycling and yard waste, we anticipate the garbage cart will be large enough in most cases.  However, if you find that the 95-gallon trash cart is not adequate for your trash needs, please contact our office at 530-541-5105 to discuss options.

Yard Waste:  If you didn’t already order a 2nd yard waste cart, you can add one. Please call customer service to request an additional cart. Note that all requested carts must be kept for at least one year. You can also bring clean yard waste to STR’s Resource Recovery Facility at 2121 Eloise Ave. Details can be found here.  You may also place extra yard waste in compostable paper bags or contained within 32-gallon round Rubbermaid cans beside your yard waste cart (note: plastic bags are prohibited).

Recycling: You can place extra recycling in a 32-gallon round Rubbermaid can beside your Recycling cart. You may also bring recycling to our Transfer Station at no-cost.  2140 Ruth Ave., Monday-Saturday, 8am-5pm

SB 1383 requires that the local jurisdiction/hauler provide containers for each material stream. STR will deliver the carts to each customer initially, but there may be an option to share the Recycling and/or Yard waste cart with your neighbor if certain conditions apply and once the situation is evaluated by compliance staff. Please contact our office if you think you are interested in this option and we will take your information for follow-up after the cart delivery: 530-541-5105.

The process is “semi-automated,” meaning each collection truck will have an STR employee that positions the carts to be tipped into the truck, so we will continue to maneuver around snow berms similar to the way we currently do in the winter. Customers will be asked to place their carts at the edge of the property line so that they are not in the path of the snowplow and STR employees will return them back to the customer’s property after emptying.

Each customer will receive a packet of information along with the carts that shows which items should go in which cart. You can also search for specific items using our Waste Wizard either on our website or through our mobile app. You can also check out the guide below:

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South Tahoe Refuse is required to check the carts to be sure customers follow the separation requirements. You will be notified if you are not placing items in the appropriate cart.

SB 1383 does require collection of food scraps in many locations, but the jurisdictions in South Tahoe received a high-elevation waiver from the State of California for curbside food waste collection due to challenges with bear access.

Residents can also bring food scraps in to STR Tuesday through Saturday 9am-4pm to be recycled at the Recycle Buy-Back Center located at 2192 Ruth Ave. You can also place food scraps in your black garbage cart.  Do not put food scraps in the green-lid yard waste cart.

Yes, the carts will stay at each property/service address year-round. If possible, please store them indoors or in a covered area, or if outdoors be sure they are turned upside down to reduce the chances of snow/ice crushing the lids.

 The cost of the carts will be included in your regular bill.  For California customers, there is no difference in the cost depending on which cart selections you make. While STR has taken a number of steps to keep rate increases as reasonable as possible, there will be increases to cover the cost of the program beginning in 2025. Exact rate increases are currently being reviewed by a third-party rate review firm.  Costs of the program include the carts, new collection trucks and equipment, and additional staffing. All South Tahoe Refuse rates are evaluated by a third-party firm, then are reviewed by the South Tahoe Solid Waste Management JPA before being presented to each jurisdiction for their consideration.​

The basic upkeep of the carts is the responsibility of the customer, but STR will offer steam-cleaning or a cart exchange at the customer’s request, up to two times per year.  A fee will be charged for such cleaning (or container exchange) at the jurisdiction-approved rate for such service. While basic upkeep of the carts is the responsibility of the customer, STR will service or replace carts that malfunction. Please contact our Customer Service Specialist at 530-541-5105 for all cart-related requests or issues.

No. STR will label all carts in correspondence to the law.

A semi-automated 3-cart system has a number of advantages.  Primarily, it is safer for garbage collection workers. Moving to a semi-automated cart system is proven to drastically decrease injuries which will help reduce workers compensation rates and lower future billing increases. In addition, a 3-cart system:

• Is easier for residents to use
• Reduces unnecessary plastic bag waste
• Increases recycling and composting
• Is cleaner for our neighborhoods

All customers must take the bear-resistant cart for trash (except those with a bear box – see below). Nevada customers are not required to take the recycling and yard waste carts, but please be aware that once the cart program begins, we will no longer have the Blue Bag Recycling program and STR will no longer be sorting through the garbage to collect recyclables. We also will no longer collect yard waste/pine needles in plastic bags.

Customers with bear boxes may continue to use their own cans for garbage inside the bear box. If your property is not a vacation rental and you would like to switch to a bear resistant trash cart, please indicate that on the survey form before April 29^th or contact our office at 530-541-5105. Those using bear boxes would receive recycling and yard waste carts for those services unless you opt out.

The trash carts are considered “Animal resistant” and have proven effective at keeping bears out in other mountain communities where they are currently being used. They are certified black bear resistant by the Wildlife Management Institute. Check out this video from the cart manufacturer, Rehrig Pacific Company, showing bears in Montana attempting to get into their cart. Although they are bear-resistant, STR will continue to recommend that trash not be placed out until the morning of your collection day. 

None of the carts will fit inside a bear box. STR will continue servicing homeowner-provided cans inside bear boxes for trash only, in which case the homeowner would not receive a garbage cart. Recycling and yard waste carts will be placed outside the bear box.

It is cost prohibitive to provide an animal-resistant recycling cart to each customer, and would have increased customer rates dramatically.  Therefore, the only animal-resistant carts are the ones where food scraps are allowed (the garbage cart). We have tips for reducing animal access to trash and recycling at: https://southtahoerefuse.com/resources/bear-info/

Yard waste will be collected in the carts every other week, but we do offer other yard waste recycling options. STR will continue to provide Spring and Fall “cleanup days” where customers can put out an additional six bags of yard waste on their regularly scheduled pickup day. There will continue to be the option for residential customers to bring unlimited amounts of yard waste to our Resource Recovery Facility at 2121 Eloise Ave. at no cost. This free drop-of program includes pine needles, leaves, branches, pinecones, grass clippings, etc., but may not contain any inorganic materials such as pet waste, dirt, rocks, plastic bags, or any other trash – vegetation only. STR is also committed to continuing to partner with Tahoe Douglas Fire Protection District and Heavenly Resort to offer the free drop-off of yard waste through the “Compost Your Combustibles” program every summer.

All customers will be getting extra disposal space and new recycling and yard waste carts for the current price they are paying. Please note that we will not take “extra” material or bags placed outside the carts, so select the service option that best suits your needs on the survey form. Once the program gets started, if you find that the cart size is not adequate for your needs, please contact our office at 530-541-5105 to discuss options. As a reminder, customers have the option to bring recycling and clean yard waste to our facility at no charge. Recycling can be brought to 2140 Ruth Ave. and yard waste to 2121 Eloise Ave. Our facilities are open Monday-Saturday, 8:00am-5:00pm.

Download the South Tahoe Refuse app from the App Store or Google Play. Once you enter your address, the app will have a calendar of your collection days. You can also set reminders, get service alerts, and access the “Waste Wizard” where you can search for materials to learn where and how to properly dispose of them. When the carts are delivered each customer will also receive a packet of information including a calendar of collection days.

South Tahoe Refuse has proposed to defer to future rate years the impact of the incremental costs associated with the 3-cart system. As a result, the company currently projects a minimal impact to future rates.

Nevada residents do not have to take all 3 carts; you can choose to just receive the garbage cart. Please be aware, however, that opting out of the recycling and yard waste services does not affect your rate. The rate is calculated based on the garbage cart.

The process is “semi-automated,” meaning each collection truck will have an STR employee that positions the carts to be tipped into the truck, so we will continue to maneuver around snow berms similar to the way we currently do in the winter. Customers will be asked to place their carts at the edge of the property line so that they are not in the path of the snowplow and STR employees will return them back to the customer’s property after emptying.

Yes, the carts will stay at each property/service address year-round. If possible, please store them indoors or in a covered area, or if outdoors be sure they are turned upside down to reduce the chances of snow/ice crushing the lids.

Yes, we will distribute “Take Me” stickers with the new carts. Customers will be instructed to place these stickers on cans you would like removed and place them at curbside at a designated time following cart delivery. We will not remove any cans without the “Take Me” sticker.

The basic upkeep of the carts is the responsibility of the customer, but STR will offer steam-cleaning or a cart exchange at the customer’s request, up to two times per year.  A fee will be charged for such cleaning (or container exchange) at the jurisdiction-approved rate for such service. While basic upkeep of the carts is the responsibility of the customer, STR will service or replace carts that malfunction. Please contact our Customer Service Specialist at 530-541-5105 for all cart-related requests or issues.