Weekly Collection Schedule
Official municipal pickup timing for Burlingame
Trash Day
Varies by neighborhood zone
Recycling
Varies by neighborhood zone
Yard Waste
Varies by neighborhood zone
Set Out Time
By 6:00 AM on collection day
Utility Billing & Payments
Manage your local solid waste services
Solid waste and recycling services in Burlingame are contracted through Recology San Mateo County. Residential service includes weekly trash, recycling, and organics/compost collection, plus two free on-call bulky item pickups per year.
Billing Cycle
Quarterly
Accepted Methods
Online, Auto-Pay, Mail, Phone, In Person
Pro Tip / Discount
No specific rate discounts listed; however, free Special Handling/backyard service is available for elderly or disabled residents who cannot bring carts to the curb.
Black Bin (Trash)
All waste must fit comfortably inside the cart with the lid closed to block local animal pests and wind scattering.
Accepted Items
- ✓Single-use plastic bags and wrap
- ✓Styrofoam block packaging and cups
- ✓Disposable diapers and sanitary wipes
- ✓Incandescent and halogen light bulbs
- ✓Mylar candy wrappers and chip bags
- ✓Thermal paper register receipts
Blue Bin (Recycling)
Do not bag recyclables; place them loose, clean, and completely dry inside the blue recycling cart.
Accepted Items
- ✓Clean, flattened cardboard and paperboard
- ✓Empty aluminum foil baking pans and beverage cans
- ✓Glass bottles and jars (emptied and rinsed)
- ✓Rigid plastics marked with numbers 1 through 7
- ✓Steel, tin, and bi-metal food cans
Do NOT Include
- ✕Loose plastic bags, film wrap, or stretch liners
- ✕Styrofoam materials of any kind
- ✕Soiled cardboard or grease-stained pizza boxes
- ✕Garden hoses, extension cords, or wiring
- ✕Household batteries or electronics
Yard Waste Bin
Keep organic materials loose or inside certified compostable bags (e.g., BioBag). Do not include soil, rocks, concrete, palm fronds, pet feces, or chemically treated wood.
Accepted Items
- ✓All raw and cooked food leftovers (meat, fish, bones, dairy)
- ✓Fruits, vegetables, bread, and eggshells
- ✓Food-soiled paper napkins, towels, and greasy pizza boxes
- ✓Grass clippings, tree leaves, garden weeds, and plant trimmings
- ✓Certified compostable BPI paper or BioBags
Bulky Item Pickup
Frequency
2 free collection appointments per calendar year
Placement
Place all scheduled bulky items at your front curb line (taking care not to block sidewalks or pathways) and attach a clear, highly visible sign that reads 'RECOLOGY'.
Accepted
- ✓ Oversized furniture (sofas, tables, chairs, dressers)
- ✓ Mattresses and box springs
- ✓ Home appliances (refrigerators, stoves, washers, dryers)
- ✓ Electronic waste (TVs, computers, monitors, cell phones)
- ✓ Drained and packaged home toilets (secured in taped boxes)
Not Accepted
- ✕ Household hazardous waste (liquid paints, chemicals, pool fluids)
- ✕ Construction and home demolition debris
- ✕ Automobile parts and vehicle tires
The two annual curbside bulk pickups are free. Additional bulky collections can be scheduled through Recology for an extra fee.
Holiday Schedule
General Rule
Recology San Mateo County operates normal collection schedules on all holidays except Christmas Day and New Year's Day. If your scheduled pickup day falls on or after one of these two holidays, your curbside pickup is delayed by exactly one day for the remainder of that week.
Yard Waste Exception
Organic waste and recycling follow the same one-day delay structure during holiday weeks.
Normal collections proceed on their regular schedule if Christmas Day or New Year's Day falls on a Saturday or Sunday.
Observed Holidays
Seasonal Information
Post-Holiday Christmas Tree Recycling
JanuaryUndecorated, natural holiday trees up to 8 feet in length are collected curbside between January 2nd and January 31st. Residents must strip all ornaments, lights, tinsel, and metal stands, then place the tree directly adjacent to their green compost cart on their normal service day. Flocked trees are not accepted for composting.
Stormwater Runoff & Leaf Sweeping Safety
October - JanuaryHeavy autumn leaf drops must go into the green cart. Do not sweep leaves or lawn clippings into street gutters or roadside piles, as this clogs municipal storm drains, blocks street sweepers, and can cause local street flooding.
Local Tips & Community Info
Burlingame Trash Pickup & Recycling Schedule
Managing your household waste in Burlingame is straightforward thanks to the city's partnership with Recology San Mateo County. Residents are provided with three primary bins: a black cart for general garbage, a blue cart for recyclables, and a green cart for compost and yard waste. Collection happens once a week. To find your specific neighborhood pickup day, you can use the Service Day Lookup Tool available on the Recology website or download their mobile app to get weekly reminders right on your phone.
Holiday Collection Delays
Nobody wants to leave their bins out on the wrong day. In Burlingame, trash and recycling collection schedules may shift during major national holidays like Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Year's Day. If your normal service day falls on or after a major holiday during the week, your pickup will likely be pushed back by one day. To stay ahead of the changes, you can consult the diversion calendar provided by RethinkWaste or check the Recology mobile app for instant notifications regarding holiday delays.
How to Handle Bulky Items and Electronic Waste
Are you doing some spring cleaning or moving out of your home? Burlingame residents are entitled to two free bulky item collections every calendar year through Recology. This convenient service allows you to easily dispose of large items like old mattresses, broken furniture, and major appliances without hauling them yourself. If you use up your free pickups, you can also drop off large items at the Shoreway Environmental Center in San Carlos. For smaller electronic waste such as cell phones, batteries, and old computers, Green Citizen in Burlingame provides safe drop-off options, or you can utilize the curbside used battery program.
Yard Waste and Composting Guidelines
Keeping Burlingame green is a community effort. The city strongly encourages residents to make full use of their green compost bin. You can toss in grass clippings, leaves, small branches, and food scraps. Interestingly, Burlingame also accepts certified compostable bags (like BioBags) in the green bin, as the local industrial composting facility reaches temperatures high enough to break them down safely. If you need a little nutrient boost for your own garden, residents can even pick up free compost year-round at the Shoreway Environmental Center.
Bin Placement and General Tips
To ensure a smooth pickup process, it is important to place your bins correctly on the curb. Roll your carts out the night before or by 6:00 AM on your scheduled service day. Place them side-by-side with the wheels against the curb, leaving about two feet of space between each bin and any nearby obstacles like parked cars, mailboxes, or fire hydrants. The lids should be completely closed to prevent litter from blowing into the street and to keep local wildlife away.
Drop-off Facilities
Shoreway Environmental Center (Transfer Station & Public Recycling)
333 Shoreway Road, San Carlos, CA 94070
Materials Accepted
San Mateo County Household Hazardous Waste (HHW) Drop-off Facility
Varying County Drop-Off Sites (Free; appointments required)
Materials Accepted
Frequently Asked Questions
What should I do if my trash or recycling was missed?
If your bins were out on time but completely skipped, contact Recology San Mateo County directly at 650-595-3900. Their customer service team can assist with inquiries regarding billing, missed pickups, and scheduling recovery services.
Can I recycle old receipts or styrofoam in my blue bin?
No. Most store receipts are printed on thermal paper containing chemicals like BPA and must go in the black landfill bin. Additionally, Burlingame has a strict ordinance prohibiting polystyrene (Styrofoam) single-use food containers, so those items belong in the garbage.
How do I dispose of hazardous household materials like paint and chemicals?
Hazardous waste cannot be placed in any of your regular curbside carts. You must set up an appointment at San Mateo County's drop-off facility to safely dispose of chemicals, paints, electronics, and fluorescent bulbs.