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
!Contamination Tips
Keep Plastic Bags Out of the Blue Recycle Bin
Loose plastic film and plastic grocery bags easily tangle in the machinery at the sorting facility. Always place thin plastic wraps and bags in the black landfill cart, or recycle them at participating grocery store drop-offs.
Clean, Dry, and Empty Only
Slight liquid or food residue can ruin an entire truckload of clean cardboard and paper. Give jars and cans a quick rinse and let them dry before throwing them into your blue bin.
Say No to Black Plastics
The optical sorting scanners at our regional recycling facility cannot recognize black plastic pigments, meaning black take-out containers and trays end up in landfills anyway. Place these in your black trash cart.
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.
About Belmont Waste Management
Belmont's Local Environmental Commitment
Nestled in the hills of the San Francisco Peninsula, the City of Belmont works hand-in-hand with Recology San Mateo County and RethinkWaste to provide comprehensive, sustainable curbside management. To protect our redwood-canopied canyons and coastal ecosystems, Belmont operates under a three-bin collection system designed to divert organic compostables and clean recyclables away from local landfills.
Standard Curbside Collection Rules
Residential collections take place on weekdays between 6:00 AM and 6:00 PM. Carts must be rolled out to the curb before 6:00 AM on your scheduled collection day. To assist automated collection trucks, residents are asked to keep at least two feet of clearance around each bin and park vehicles away from carts. Remember that all garbage, recycling, and organic waste are collected on the same day once per week.
Comprehensive Compost and Green Waste Recycling
In alignment with California SB 1383 organic waste mandates, Belmont residential households are provided green compost carts. Food scraps, yard clippings, and soiled paper products like pizza boxes or paper towels belong exclusively in the green bin. Keeping organic waste out of landfill trash directly reduces harmful methane emissions in our local atmosphere.
Household Hazardous Waste and Specialty Drop-offs
San Mateo County strictly prohibits placing household hazardous waste (HHW) such as paints, electronics, toxic chemicals, or batteries into residential trash or recycling carts. Instead, Belmont residents are encouraged to utilize the drop-off programs at the nearby Shoreway Environmental Center in San Carlos or schedule free drop-off appointments through the San Mateo County Health Department.
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
How can I dispose of household batteries safely in Belmont?
Belmont residents can recycle household batteries (alkaline, button, and rechargeable) curbside by sealing them inside a clear plastic bag and placing the bag on top of their closed black garbage cart on regular pickup days.
Where can I drop off paint and unwanted medications?
Drop off latex and oil-based paint at Grays Paint & Wallpaper (601 Ralston Avenue, Belmont). Unused medications can be dropped off at local participating pharmacies, including CVS locations, or the local police station.
Are compostable plastic bags accepted in the green cart?
No. Recology San Mateo County does not accept any bio-plastics or compostable bags in the green bin, as they do not break down quickly enough and contaminate the finished compost. Keep materials loose, or use paper grocery bags/newspapers to wrap waste.
How do I recycle used motor oil and filters?
You can place used motor oil and filters next to your blue recycling cart on pickup day. You must use clear plastic jugs (up to 5) and zipper bags for filters, which can be requested free from Recology.