Concord
As your Trusted + Proven + Essential environmental partner Mt. Diablo Resource Recovery is one of the few remaining family-owned recycling and resource recovery companies in Northern California. We have proudly served Concord residents and businesses locally since the 1930s. Our goal is to provide our customers with the best individual service possible. We are here to serve you!
Upcoming Events
Embrace the Joy of Reuse: Join Us for our Holiday Décor Giveaway
Holiday Schedule
Collection occurs on holidays except Christmas and New Year’s Day. If your scheduled service day falls on or after one of these holidays, your collection is delayed by one day. If the holidays fall on the weekend, there will be no change in the collection schedule.
Starting September 4th, 2023, single-family residents in Concord receive weekly collection services for organics, recyclables, and garbage. Carts need to be curbside by 5 am on your scheduled service day. Contents should be below the rim of the cart with the lid closed properly.
Mt. Diablo Resource Recovery is proud to provide comprehensive residential collection service bundles for one monthly price!
Recyclables: Residents are provided a blue 64-gallon cart for recyclables at no additional charge.
Organics: Residents are provided a 96-gallon cart for organics (landscape + food waste) at no additional charge.
Service Day Lookup
Extra Curbside Services
On-Call Pickups: Residents may request up to three (3) per calendar year at no additional cost. We will collect up to twelve (12) 32-gallon bags of household garbage or yard waste weighing no more than 50 pounds apiece. If you have branches, they must be tied in a bundle and cannot be larger than 18 inches by 3 feet. We will NOT pick up building or construction materials, furniture, lumber, logs, carpets, appliances, or e-waste. Each pickup must be one week apart and on your regular collection day.
Household Battery Recycling: Scheduled in advance and placed in a clear plastic bag and to the side of their garbage cart, residents may place out household batteries for pickup.
CFLs Recycling: Scheduled in advance and placed in a clear plastic bag and to the side of your garbage cart, residents may place compact fluorescent lightbulbs for pickup.
Used Motor Oil Recycling Kits: Residents can request Used Motor Oil Recycling Kits, which include a free 6-quart oil container and motor oil filter sleeve. Once the kit is full, contact Customer Service to schedule pickup.
Holiday Tree Recycling: Scheduled in advance, holiday trees will be collected curbside on your regularly scheduled organics collection day. Trees must be undecorated, unflocked, and cut into (3) three-foot sections with the stand removed and placed next to your organics cart.
Take bare, uncut Christmas trees to our Processing Facility & Transfer Station during regular business hours. One tree per vehicle is accepted at no charge.
Billing & Rates
Low-Income, Senior Service
We offer a 32-Gallon Garbage Cart for $37.01 per month. The rate includes weekly garbage, recycling, and organics service.
To qualify, you must be:
- 65 years of age or older
- Have an income that meets HUD (Housing and Urban Development) guidelines for “Very Low-income” for Contra Costa County.
For additional information and application, please click here.
Sharps & Pharmaceuticals
Sharps: Concord residents can drop off sharps, free of charge, at our Concord office at 4080 Mallard Drive. Drop-off is available Monday through Friday from 8 am to noon and 1 pm to 5 pm. Concord residency verification and FDA-cleared sharps disposal containers are required.
Pharmaceuticals: Free of charge, unwanted, out-of-date, unused medications can be dropped off and safely disposed of at one of these convenient locations.
Electronic Waste
Electronic Waste (e-waste) such as TVs, computers, tablets, and cell phones cannot be placed in your containers. Depending on the item, retailers such as Best Buy, Apple, and Staples have tech-back programs to accept e-waste items for FREE or a small fee.
Due to special handling requirements, we can also pick up electronics with a separate truck for a fee.
Household Hazardous Waste
Safely dispose of hazardous products to keep your home and community safe. Household Hazardous Waste (HHW) CAN NOT go into your collection carts. When HHW ends up in the wrong place, it can cause truck or facility fires and severe threats to humans, wildlife, and the environment.
Although Mt. Diablo Resource Recovery does not handle hazardous waste, you can learn more about safe disposal with Central San HHW. For a list of acceptable items from the County program, click here.
What Goes Where
Search for everyday items like plastic bottles, cereal boxes, or coffee pods. Learn more.
Mt. Diablo Resource Recovery offers a variety of service levels to fit your apartment complex’s needs. Choose between carts per unit with once-a-week pickup or shared containers with tailored service frequency to keep your property safe and clean.
Our services include single-stream recycling, organics, and garbage collection. We offer outreach and educational material to assist your community with proper sorting to reduce contamination and increase diversion.
Carts Per Unit
For smaller properties that prefer an individual cart per unit, we have the following service bundles available.
Eligibility: All services are on one statement to the owner, property management company, or HOA. All garbage carts must be the same size, and each unit, occupied or not, must have a garbage and recycling cart. MDRR may use county records for verification. Carts must be accessible by tenants, and the site must have ample space for cart storage.
Garbage: Owners may choose 32, 64, or 96-gallon carts for weekly collection. Each unit, occupied or not, must have the same size container. Garbage carts will be provided in either brown or black.
Recyclables: Each unit is provided a blue 64-gallon cart for recyclables at no additional charge.
Organics: The property is provided a green 96-gallon cart for organics (landscape + food waste) at no additional charge. Owners may opt out of collection if they have their organics backhauled. Documentation is required.
Share Containers
For properties with space restraints or larger complexes requiring a higher frequency of service, we offer shared container service, easily customizable to meet your property’s needs.
Garbage: Multifamily properties may choose 96-gallon, 2, 3, or 6yd bins.
Recycling: Multifamily properties may choose 96-gallon, 2, 3, or 6yd bins.
Organics: Multifamily properties may choose 96-gallon, 1, 2, or 3yd bins.
*Container availability based on bin inventory
Extra Services
Compactors: Collection services for stationary compactors differ from general rates. While Mt. Diablo Resource Recovery does not rent or sell stationary compactors, we will provide the specifications to ensure compatibility with our collection vehicles.
Special Pickups: Bulk items such as furniture, appliances, and large items cannot go in your collection containers. The owner or manager must call our office to arrange a special pickup for a fee.
Off-Day Pickups: Collection is available on days other than your regularly scheduled collection for an additional fee. Only authorized personnel can schedule an off-day request.
Billing & Rates
Mt. Diablo Resource Recovery bills the account holder on a monthly billing cycle for past services, with payment due upon receipt. Properties without payment within 45 days of the statement date will be suspended. For more information regarding billing, visit our FAQs.
For rates, please contact our Customer Service Team, who will assist with tailoring your service to meet your property’s needs.
Sharps & Pharmaceuticals
Sharps: Multifamily residents can drop off sharps, free of charge, at our Concord office at 4080 Mallard Drive. Drop-off is available Monday through Friday from 8 am to noon and 1 pm to 5 pm. Concord residency verification and FDA-cleared sharps disposal containers are required.
Pharmaceuticals: Free of charge, unwanted, out-of-date, unused medications can be dropped off and safely disposed of at one of these convenient locations.
Household Hazardous Waste
Household Hazardous Waste (HHW) CAN NOT go into your collection carts. When HHW ends up in the wrong place, it can cause truck or facility fires and severe threats to humans, wildlife, and the environment.
Although Mt. Diablo Resource Recovery does not handle hazardous waste, Concord multifamily residents can drop off free at Central San HHW. For a list of acceptable items from the County program, click here.
Electronic Waste
Electronic Waste (e-waste) such as TVs, computers, tablets, and cell phones cannot go into your collection containers. Depending on the item, retailers such as Best Buy, Apple, and Staples have tech-back programs to accept e-waste items for FREE or a small fee.
Due to special handling requirements, we can also pick up electronics with a separate truck for a fee. The owner or manager must call our office to arrange an e-waste pickup.
What Goes Where
Unacceptable Materials For All Collection Containers::
- Tires, automotive parts, and fluids
- Batteries of any type
- Bricks, stones, gravel, concrete, and all other building materials
- Electronics and small appliances
- Bulk Items or furniture
- Fluorescent bulbs or tubes
- Gas, aerosol, propane tanks or cans
- Hazardous materials such as paints, pesticides, driveway sealant, treated wood waste, contaminated soils, or solids
- Other medical or special wastes
Recycling Mandates
COMPLIANCE IS EASY & WE ARE HERE TO HELP! Contact our Outreach Team for a consultation.
SB 1383 SHORT-LIVED CLIMATE POLLUTANT REDUCTION STRATEGY: The State has committed to reducing greenhouse gas emissions, improving human health, and creating clean jobs that support resilient local economies. Implementing the statewide plan under SB 1383 will reduce short-lived, harmful superpollutants with significant warming impacts and is essential to achieving California’s climate goals. Click here to view our webpage dedicated to the legislation.
AB 341 MANDATORY MULTIFAMILY RECYCLING: As of July 1, 2012, California requires all businesses that generate 4 or more cubic yards of garbage a week and 5 units or more multifamily dwellings to recycle.
AB 1826 MULTIFAMILY ORGANICS: Starting January 1, 2020, all generators of 2 cubic yards or more of garbage, recycling, and compost combined per week are required to recycle organic waste. Multifamily dwellings, 5 units or more, do not need food-waste recycling on-site but must recycle their landscape waste.
Mt. Diablo Resource Recovery offers a variety of service levels to fit your business needs. Choose between carts or various metal bin sizes with tailored service frequency to keep your business running smoothly. All material must fit entirely inside the container with the lid closed. Containers must be ready for pickup no later than 4 am on your scheduled collection day.
Recyclables: Businesses may choose 96-gallon, 2, 3, or 6-yard bins or 20-yard debris boxes.
*Container availability based on bin inventory
Extra Services
Compactors: Collection service for stationary compactors rates differ from general rates. While Mt. Diablo Resource Recovery does not rent or sell stationary compactors, we will provide the specifications to ensure compatibility with our collection vehicles.
Special Pickups: Bulk items such as office furniture, shelving, and display fixtures cannot go in your collection containers. Contact our office to arrange a special pickup.
Off-Day Pickups: Collection is available on days other than regularly scheduled collection for an additional fee. Please contact our office to place an off-day request.
Billing & Rates
Mt. Diablo Resource Recovery customers are on a monthly billing cycle with payment due upon receipt. Accounts without payment within 45 days of the statement date will be suspended. For more information regarding billing, visit our FAQs.
What Goes Where
Unacceptable Materials For All Collection Containers:
- Tires, automotive parts, and fluids
- Batteries
- Bricks, stones, gravel, concrete, and other building materials
- Electronics and small appliances
- Bulk Items or furniture
- Fluorescent bulbs or tubes
- Gas, aerosol, propane tanks or cans
- Hazardous materials such as paints, pesticides, driveway sealant, treated wood waste, contaminated soils, or solids
- Other medical or special wastes
Recycling Mandates
COMPLIANCE IS EASY & WE ARE HERE TO HELP! Contact our Outreach Team for a consultation.
SB 1383 SHORT-LIVED CLIMATE POLLUTANT REDUCTION STRATEGY: The State has committed to reducing greenhouse gas emissions, improving human health, and creating clean jobs that support resilient local economies. Implementing the statewide plan under SB 1383 will reduce short-lived, harmful super pollutants with significant warming impacts and is essential to achieving California’s climate goals. Click here to view our webpage dedicated to the legislation.
AB 341 MANDATORY COMMERCIAL RECYCLING: As of July 1, 2012, California requires all businesses that generate 4 or more cubic yards of garbage a week and 5 units or more multifamily dwellings to recycle.
AB 827 COMMERCIAL ORGANICS & RECYCLING BINS: As of July 1, 2022, businesses subject to AB 1826 and AB 341 must provide customers with easily accessible recycling and organics collection containers for materials that are generated on the premise.
AB 1826 COMMERCIAL ORGANICS: Starting January 1, 2020, all generators of 2 cubic yards or more of garbage, recycling, and compost combined per week are required to recycle organic waste. Organic waste includes food scraps, soiled paper products, yard trimmings, and landscape materials. Multifamily dwellings, 5 units or more, do not need food-waste recycling on-site but must recycle their landscape waste.
Answers About 2024 Rate Increase
Why did MDRR raises rates?
This is due to inflation, fuel prices, and the cost of living, but mainly the unfunded state mandate of SB 1383.
Was it increased last year?
Yes. Our rates adjust every year. In addition to our annual cost-of-living increase, starting two years ago, the unfunded state mandate of SB 1383 obligation has been passed down from the state level to jurisdictions. The City of Concord decided to spread out the cost over five years to alleviate the ratepayers rather than do one massive increase. We are currently in year three (2024) of that five-year plan.
Note: MDRR’s most significant cost drivers: 1. Fuel 2. Labor 3. Disposal. 4. Vehicle maintenance. 5. Vehicle replacement
When was this done?
At the Concord City Council Meeting on May 16, 2023.
Does MDRR have to ask for permission to raise rates?
Yes, all rates are approved by The City of Concord. MDRR is rate-regulated like any other utility company. We also are capped on each rate increase.
Why did MDRR only give 30 days’ notice for the increase?
Per the contract, MDRR is required to give a 30-day notice. However, rates in Concord are publicly discussed. For example, it was discussed 4 times at Public Hearings in 2022 alone.
Does the City of Concord approve the rates?
Yes.
What is MDRR's plan for food waste?
For single-family homes, food scraps and food-soiled paper are allowed in the green waste container as of September 4, 2023. MDRR collects the source-separated material and hauls it to our Pittsburg facility for preprocessing, and then the material is turned into compost.
Why does MDRR dump both garbage and recycling into the same truck?
MDRR uses split-body trucks in Concord and Pittsburg.
Contaminated & Overloaded Container Policy
To help offset additional processing and disposal costs, it is Mt. Diablo Resource Recovery’s policy to charge for containers when they are continuously contaminated or overloaded.
For residential customers, there is a surcharge of $50 per contaminated or overloaded cart. For multifamily and commercial customers, there is a surcharge of $75 per cart and $150 per bin. The fee will automatically apply to the account after the 2nd notice and each subsequent infringement.
Multifamily and Businesses, MDRR will provide copies of each notice issued to the customer for Prohibited Container Contaminates/Overloaded, as well as the date of issue, the customer’s name and service address, a photo of the contamination and reason(s) for the issuance.
Municipal Codes
Mandatory Service Requirement: All occupied premises within the City shall have service, including garbage, recyclables, and organics collection service. (CMC § 8.20.100)
Trash Accumulation: Unlawful for the owner or occupant to allow the accumulation of any refuse in, on, or under any premises at any time, which may become a menace to health and sanitation or a fire hazard. (CMC § 8.20.030)
Sorting Requirement: All service recipients shall be automatically enrolled in the garbage, recycling, and organic service and shall sort recycling and organics and place them in the appropriate container. (CMC § 8.20.030)
Interference with the collection: It shall be unlawful for any person, firm, or corporation in any manner to interfere with the collection or removal of garbage, recycling, or organics by the authorized franchised hauler. (CMC § 8.20.140)
These are some of the most frequently asked questions about your city’s waste and recycling policies. For more information, click here.
Mt. Diablo Resource Recovery Local Office
Concord
4080 Mallard Dr, Concord, CA 94520
Phone: (925) 682-9113
Office business hours are Monday through Friday from 8 AM to 5 PM.
Please note our offices are closed from 12-1 for lunch.