Weekly Collection Schedule
Official municipal pickup timing for Belmont
Trash Day
Varies by neighborhood zone
Recycling
Varies by neighborhood zone (collected weekly on the same day as trash)
Yard Waste
Varies by neighborhood zone (collected weekly on the same day as trash)
Set Out Time
By 6:00 AM on collection day
Utility Billing & Payments
Manage your local solid waste services
Trash, recycling, and compost services are managed through Recology San Mateo County and billed quarterly. Single-family households are entitled to two free bulky item collections per calendar year.
Billing Cycle
Quarterly
Accepted Methods
Online, Auto-Pay, Phone, Mail, Drop Box
Black Bin (Trash)
All trash must fit inside the cart with the lid completely closed. Do not overfill or compress trash so tightly that it fails to empty.
Accepted Items
- ✓broken ceramics
- ✓cat litter and pet waste
- ✓Styrofoam packaging
- ✓plastic bags and saran wrap
- ✓diapers
- ✓broken incandescent bulbs
Blue Bin (Recycling)
Ensure all recyclable bottles, cans, and containers are empty, clean, and dry before placing them loose (do not bag) in the blue bin.
Accepted Items
- ✓clean aluminum cans
- ✓glass food and beverage jars
- ✓clean cardboard and paper
- ✓plastic bottles and tubs
- ✓clean metal containers
Do NOT Include
- ✕black plastic containers
- ✕loose plastic bags
- ✕food-soiled containers
- ✕bubble wrap
- ✕electronic waste
Yard Waste Bin
Do not put plastic bags, bioplastics, or 'biodegradable' plastic cups in the green bin. Place all materials loose or wrapped in newspaper or paper grocery bags.
Accepted Items
- ✓food scraps and leftovers
- ✓coffee grounds and filters
- ✓leaves and grass clippings
- ✓branches and brush
- ✓food-soiled paper towels and napkins
- ✓pizza boxes
Bulky Item Pickup
Frequency
2 times per calendar year
Placement
Place accepted items curbside by 6:00 AM on your scheduled bulky collection day, adjacent to your driveway and clear of any path of travel or parked vehicles.
Accepted
- ✓ 1 bulky item (such as a mattress, box spring, couch, or table)
- ✓ 1 large appliance (such as a refrigerator, washing machine, or dryer)
- ✓ Up to 12 garbage bags (32-gallon size) of garbage, recyclables, or compost
- ✓ 1 electronic waste item (like a television or computer monitor)
Not Accepted
- ✕ household hazardous waste
- ✕ construction or demolition debris
- ✕ liquid waste
- ✕ dirt, rock, or concrete
- ✕ treated wood (fences, decks)
- ✕ items over 200 lbs or exceeding 5 feet in length
Additional collections beyond the two free annual appointments can be arranged with Recology for an extra fee.
Holiday Schedule
General Rule
If your scheduled collection day falls on or after Christmas Day or New Year's Day, your pickup will be delayed by exactly one day for the remainder of that week. Regular collection services resume the following week. For all other holidays, collection remains on its normal schedule.
Yard Waste Exception
No separate rules apply. Holiday scheduling applies identically to trash, recycling, and organic compost carts.
When Christmas and New Year's Day fall on a weekend, there is no service delay, and collections proceed entirely on their normal weekday schedule.
Observed Holidays
Seasonal Information
Winter Holiday
December - JanuaryClean, undecorated Christmas trees (under 8 feet, with all tinsel, stands, and lights removed) can be placed curbside next to your green compost cart for free collection from December 26 through January 31.
Autumn Leaf Drop
October - DecemberWith the heavy leaf fall in Belmont's wooded neighborhoods, residents must ensure excessive leaf debris is placed inside the green compost cart rather than blown into street gutters, helping to prevent seasonal storm drain blockages.
Local Tips & Community Info
Belmont's Residential Waste and Sustainability Program
As a community nestled in the San Francisco Peninsula, Belmont places a high priority on environmental stewardship and neighborhood cleanliness. Curbside sanitation is executed by Recology San Mateo County, overseen by the RethinkWaste joint powers authority. This framework guarantees that local households receive top-tier refuse, recycling, and composting services while adhering strictly to California's aggressive landfill diversion mandates. By participating correctly in the local sorting program, residents actively help reduce greenhouse gas emissions and keep local streets pristine.
Sorting Your Household Debris: The Color-Coded Carts
Proper waste separation is not just encouraged; it is legally required. Your black container is meant solely for landfill-bound trash, such as pet waste, treated wood, diapers, and non-recyclable plastics. The blue recycling receptacle is designed for loose, clean cardboard, glass bottles, and aluminum cans. Crucially, the green compost bin must be used for all yard trimmings and kitchen organics—including meat, bones, and food-soiled paper. This ensures full compliance with SB 1383, which mandates the recycling of organic waste statewide.
Best Practices for Cart Placement
Recology drivers navigate Belmont's hilly terrain early in the morning, so residents need to roll their containers out by 6:00 a.m. on their assigned pickup day. Position the receptacles side-by-side with at least two feet of space between them to accommodate the automated lifting arms of the collection trucks. Ensure the wheels touch the street curb and the lids face the roadway. It is vital to avoid obstructing bike lanes, mailboxes, storm drains, or parked cars.
Disposing of Large Furniture and E-Waste
Belmont homeowners do not have to worry about hauling bulky goods to a distant transfer station. Every residential account includes two complimentary On-Call Bulky Item Collections each calendar year. By calling Recology customer support in advance, you can schedule a curb pickup for old mattresses, broken appliances, couches, and bundled electronic waste. Please be aware that hazardous chemicals and construction debris are excluded from this program and require specialized disposal.
Holiday Adjustments and Seasonal Services
Standard collection operations pause completely on Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Year's Day. If your regular trash day falls on one of these holidays or later in that same workweek, your service will be pushed forward by one day, resulting in a Saturday collection for Friday routes. Additionally, in the weeks following the winter holidays, Recology provides dedicated curbside recycling for bare, un-flocked Christmas trees, provided they are cut down to an acceptable size.
Drop-off Facilities
Shoreway Environmental Center
333 Shoreway Road, San Carlos, CA 94070
Materials Accepted
Shoreway Transfer Station
225 Shoreway Road, San Carlos, CA 94070
Materials Accepted
Frequently Asked Questions
Who provides garbage and recycling services in Belmont?
Recology San Mateo County is the exclusive franchised waste hauler for the City of Belmont, operating in partnership with the RethinkWaste agency.
Can I put meat and dairy scraps in my yard waste bin?
Yes. Belmont's organics program requires all food scraps, including meat, bones, and dairy, to be placed in your green compost cart along with your landscape trimmings.
How do I get rid of an old mattress or refrigerator?
Residents can utilize their two free annual On-Call Bulky Item Collections. You simply need to contact Recology ahead of time to schedule a specific pickup date for your oversized household items.