Is there trash pickup on Christmas? New Year’s? What to know in Merced County
As the holidays approach in Merced County, many businesses and services will have limited hours or close on select dates.
What does that mean for local garbage collection? Will trash pickup be delayed on Christmas or New Year’s Day?
Before you roll your bins to the curb, here’s what Merced County residents need to know this holiday season:
Who handles garbage pickup in Merced County?
According to the Merced County website, five garbage collection companies serve the area.
The city of Merced, Winton Disposal/Waste Management, Gilton Solid Waste Management, Allied Waste and Mid Valley Disposal provide both residential and commercial trash services across the county.
Each company is assigned a designated “franchise area,” which means it has “been granted the exclusive right” to handle curbside residential pickup and commercial roll-off bin service in certain parts of Merced County.
These designated areas determine where each hauler is allowed to operate, according to the county website.
When is my scheduled waste collection day in Merced County?
Trash pickup schedules in Merced County vary depending on where you live and which company serves your area.
According to the Merced County website, the city of Merced provides trash collection within city limits.
Gilton Solid Waste Management serves Gustine, Livingston, Livingston and unincorporated areas on the county’s west side, including Santa Nella and Volta.
Winton Disposal/Waste Management handles trash pickup in unincorporated areas on the east side of the county.
Meanwhile, Allied Waste provides waste collection services in Atwater, Los Banos and Dos Palos, while Mid Valley Disposal also serves designated areas in Atwater, Dos Palos, Gustine and Los Banos.
You can check the Merced County website to confirm your trash pickup day.
Will my trash be picked up on Christmas Day? New Year’s Day?
Christmas Day in 2025 and New Year’s Day in 2026 will delay trash pickup for residents of incorporated and unincorporated areas of Merced County.
According to the city of Merced’s website, certain holidays can delay garbage pickup.
Local haulers observe nine holidays each year:
- New Year’s Day
- Martin Luther King, Jr. Day
- Presidents’ Day
- Memorial Day
- Independence Day
- Labor Day
- Veterans Day
- Thanksgiving Day
- Christmas Day
“When the landfill is closed for a holiday, refuse service will be delayed one business day following the holiday,” the city said on its website.
If your usual pickup day falls on Christmas — Thursday, Dec. 25 — collection will shift to Friday, Dec. 26.
Mid Valley Disposal is also closed on several holidays, including Christmas and New Year’s Day.
“If one of these holidays fall on Monday through Friday, collection services will be delayed one day the remainder of the week,” the waste collection company said on its website.
Wilton Disposal/Waste Management closes for several holidays, including Christmas and New Year’s Day.
When a holiday falls on a weekday, the company said, collections for the remainder of the week are delayed by one day.
Gilton Solid Waste Management observes five holidays each year:
- New Year’s Day
- Easter
- Independence Day
- Thanksgiving Day
- Christmas
“Holidays that land on a weekday push our residential and commercial pickup schedules back one day with regular schedules resuming the following week,” the company said.
Allied Waste, which is a part of Republic Services, observes several holidays throughout the year, including Christmas and New Year’s Day.
“Holidays typically push our residential pickup schedules back one day with regular schedules resuming the following week,” the company said on its website.
