Weekly Collection Schedule
Official municipal pickup timing for Cupertino
Trash Day
Varies by neighborhood zone
Recycling
Same day as trash (Weekly)
Yard Waste
Same day as trash (Weekly)
Set Out Time
By 7:00 AM on collection day
Utility Billing & Payments
Manage your local solid waste services
Solid waste services are billed quarterly by Recology South Bay. Rates vary depending on your selected garbage cart size, with recycling and organics collection included.
Billing Cycle
Quarterly
Accepted Methods
Online, Auto-Pay, Phone, Mail, In-Person
Pro Tip / Discount
Low-income discounts are available for single-family residents enrolled in the PG&E CARE program. Proof of enrollment is required.
Grey/Black Bin (Trash)
All non-recyclable and non-compostable household debris should go here. Ensure all cooled ashes are placed in a sealed container before throwing them away.
Accepted Items
- ✓Compostable plastics and bioplastics
- ✓Diapers and feminine products
- ✓Styrofoam packing peanuts and meat trays
- ✓Cat litter and pet waste
- ✓Disposable masks and gloves
- ✓Aseptic containers
- ✓Textiles and leather
- ✓Ashes and coals (cooled and sealed)
Blue Bin (Recycling)
All recyclables must be completely empty, clean, and dry before placing them loosely in the cart.
Accepted Items
- ✓All plastic containers
- ✓Clean, dry plastic bags and film (bagged together)
- ✓Empty aerosol cans
- ✓Aluminum, steel, and bi-metal cans
- ✓Glass bottles and jars
- ✓Books, mixed paper, and envelopes
- ✓Flattened cardboard (no larger than 3ft x 3ft)
Do NOT Include
- ✕Food waste or liquids
- ✕Styrofoam
- ✕Batteries
- ✕Chemicals and paints
- ✕Garden hoses
- ✕Textiles
Yard Waste Bin
Collect food scraps in newspaper, paper bags, or BPI-certified compostable bags before placing them in the green organics cart. Ensure the cart lid can close completely.
Accepted Items
- ✓Fruits, vegetables, meat, and seafood scraps
- ✓Dairy products (no liquids)
- ✓Eggshells and coffee grounds
- ✓Branches, brush, and leaves
- ✓Grasses, weeds, and floral trimmings
- ✓Food-soiled paper (pizza boxes, napkins, uncoated takeout containers)
Bulky Item Pickup
Frequency
Two free on-call collections per calendar year.
Placement
Call (408) 725-4020 to schedule your appointment in advance, and place eligible materials at the curb on the designated collection morning.
Accepted
- ✓ Normal household garbage and bulky goods
- ✓ Yard waste and clean wood waste
- ✓ Furniture and mattresses
- ✓ Large household appliances
Not Accepted
- ✕ Products containing toxic chemicals
- ✕ Construction and demolition debris
- ✕ Dirt, rock, concrete, and asphalt
- ✕ Hot ashes
- ✕ Treated wood
Additional pick-ups beyond the two free annual collections, or items exceeding standard size restrictions, will incur an extra service fee.
Holiday Schedule
General Rule
Recology South Bay operates regularly on all holidays except Thanksgiving Day, Christmas Day, and New Year's Day. If your regular collection day falls on or after one of these holidays, your service will be delayed by one day for the remainder of that week.
Yard Waste Exception
Organics and yard waste collection follows the exact same holiday delay schedule as standard trash and recycling.
For all other holidays not listed (such as Memorial Day, 4th of July, or Labor Day), please place your bins out for service on your normal scheduled day.
Observed Holidays
Seasonal Information
Winter
December to JanuaryCut bare holiday trees to 5 feet or less and place smaller pieces inside your organics cart with the lid closed, or place the trimmed tree directly roadside on your normal collection day.
Fall
October to NovemberHelp keep local storm drains clear during the rainy season by ensuring all fallen autumn leaves are swept up and placed securely inside your green compost cart, rather than blowing them into the street.
Local Tips & Community Info
Overview of Waste Collection Operations
In the City of Cupertino, residential and commercial waste management is exclusively contracted through Recology South Bay. This dedicated single-hauler system ensures consistent and competitively priced services across all neighborhoods. Residents are issued three specific color-coded bins bearing the city logo: a gray bin for landfill waste, a blue bin for recycling, and a green cart for organics and food scraps. To encourage environmental consciousness and waste reduction, your quarterly garbage rate is directly determined by the size of your gray landfill cart, with options ranging from 20 to 96 gallons.
Guidelines for Curbside Cart Placement
To guarantee that your bins are emptied promptly, Recology South Bay requires all carts to be placed on the street by 6:00 a.m. on your scheduled pickup day. The automated collection trucks operate throughout the day between 6:00 a.m. and 6:00 p.m. Carts should be placed side-by-side with appropriate spacing, ensuring that the wheels are facing your property and lids are fully shut. Residents utilizing older, tan-colored yard waste bins or outdated containers should contact the waste provider directly at 408-725-4020 to request modern replacements.
Sorting Organics and the Bioplastic Rule
Cupertino complies strictly with state organics recycling mandates. All everyday food waste and yard trimmings must be disposed of in the green organics cart. However, the city maintains a very specific rule regarding compostable plastics: bioplastics and items labeled compostable are not accepted in the green bin and must go into the gray landfill cart. If a material looks like plastic, it belongs in the trash, whereas materials made from bamboo, wood, or paper can be safely composted. The only exception is BPI-certified compostable bags, which are permitted for collecting messy food scraps.
Debris Boxes and Construction Waste
If you are embarking on a home remodel, significant landscaping project, or doing a massive garage clean-out, standard curbside carts will not suffice. Per the city's franchise agreement, Recology South Bay is the only authorized provider of construction debris boxes in Cupertino. Residents and business owners must rent these dumpsters directly from the hauler. Depending on the scope of your renovation, local building codes may also require you to submit a construction waste diversion plan to prove that recyclable building materials are being kept out of local landfills.
Adjustments for Major Holidays
While waste collection operations run consistently year-round, Recology South Bay does observe three major holidays: Thanksgiving Day, Christmas Day, and New Year's Day. If any of these specific holidays fall between Monday and Friday, all subsequent collection routes for that week will be delayed by exactly one day. For example, if Thursday is Thanksgiving, Thursday's pickup will happen on Friday, and Friday's pickup will shift to Saturday. For all other public holidays, you should wheel your carts to the curb on your normal scheduled day.
Resolving Missed Pickups and Rate Discounts
If it is past 6:00 p.m. on your scheduled service day and your bins have not been emptied, you can report a missed pickup directly to Recology by phone or via their online portal. Additionally, Cupertino offers a financial relief option for qualifying low-income households. Single-family residents who are actively enrolled in the PG&E CARE program may be eligible for discounted waste collection rates. You will need to provide official proof of your CARE enrollment to Recology South Bay to apply this discount to your quarterly billing statement.
Drop-off Facilities
SMaRT Station Recycling Center
301 Carl Road, Sunnyvale, CA 94089
Materials Accepted
Santa Clara County HHW Drop-off Facility
Multiple locations; schedule via hhw.org or call (408) 299-7300
Materials Accepted
Frequently Asked Questions
What should I do with food-soiled paper products in Cupertino?
Food-soiled paper products, such as greasy pizza boxes, paper towels, and uncoated paper take-out containers, should be placed in your green organics (compost) cart, not in your blue recycling or grey trash carts.
How do I dispose of old household batteries safely?
Place household batteries inside a tightly sealed plastic bag and set them on top of your blue recycling cart on your normal collection day. Alternatively, you can schedule an appointment to take them to a designated Santa Clara County HHW drop-off site.
Can I put styrofoam packing peanuts in my blue recycling bin?
No. Styrofoam (EPS) packing peanuts, meat trays, and similar foam packaging materials are not accepted in Cupertino's recycling program. They must be placed in your grey landfill cart.
Does Recology pick up trash on major holidays in Cupertino?
Recology South Bay collects on most standard holidays. The only exceptions are Thanksgiving Day, Christmas Day, and New Year's Day. During the weeks of those three holidays, service is pushed back by one day if your collection day falls on or after the holiday.