Weekly Collection Schedule
Official municipal pickup timing for Gilroy
Trash Day
Varies by neighborhood zone
Recycling
Weekly on your collection day
Yard Waste
Weekly on your collection day
Set Out Time
By 6:00 AM on collection day
Utility Billing & Payments
Manage your local solid waste services
Residential waste and recycling services in Gilroy are managed by Recology South Valley. Gilroy residents with cart service are eligible for two free curbside bulky item collections per calendar year.
Billing Cycle
Monthly
Accepted Methods
Online, Auto-Pay, Phone, Mail
Gray Bin (Trash)
Place your gray cart at the curb by 6:00 a.m. on your collection day. Carts should be placed side-by-side with at least a few feet of clearance from each other, vehicles, and mailboxes. Lids must be fully closed.
Accepted Items
- ✓Styrofoam (expanded polystyrene)
- ✓Single-use plastic bags and wrap
- ✓Pet waste and cat litter
- ✓Diapers and sanitary products
- ✓Ceramics and non-recyclable glass
- ✓Snack wrappers and chip bags
Blue Bin (Recycling)
All recyclables must be placed loosely in the blue cart. Never bag your recyclables. Containers should be empty and lightly rinsed to remove heavy food residue.
Accepted Items
- ✓Plastics #1 through #7 (bottles, jugs, and tubs)
- ✓Clean paper, newspaper, and junk mail
- ✓Flattened cardboard (cut to 3ft x 3ft or smaller)
- ✓Glass bottles and jars (all colors, lids removed)
- ✓Aluminum and tin cans
- ✓Aseptic cartons (milk cartons and juice boxes)
Do NOT Include
- ✕Plastic bags or film
- ✕Food waste or liquids
- ✕Expanded Polystyrene (Styrofoam)
- ✕Ceramics or drinking glasses
- ✕Hazardous waste or electronics
Yard Waste Bin
Place organics loosely in the green cart. Do not use plastic bags to line your kitchen compost pail; use newspaper or an uncoated paper bag instead.
Accepted Items
- ✓Grass clippings, leaves, and weeds
- ✓Small tree branches and prunings
- ✓Meat, fish, poultry, and dairy
- ✓Fruits, vegetables, and coffee grounds
- ✓Food-soiled paper (pizza boxes, uncoated paper plates, napkins)
Bulky Item Pickup
Frequency
Two free collections per calendar year
Placement
You must call to schedule your bulky item pickup. Once confirmed, place the items at the curb by 6:00 a.m. on the scheduled day. If you need to cancel, you must notify them at least one business day prior to avoid forfeiting your free pickup.
Accepted
- ✓ Furniture (sofas, chairs, tables)
- ✓ Mattresses and box springs
- ✓ Large household appliances
- ✓ Scrap metal
- ✓ Large yard debris (bundled)
Not Accepted
- ✕ Automotive parts or motor vehicles
- ✕ Tires
- ✕ Large tree stumps or limbs
- ✕ Construction and demolition debris
- ✕ Items longer than 6 feet or over 200 pounds
- ✕ Hazardous waste
The first two bulky pickups are free for current residential account holders. Unused bulky item collections do not roll over to the next year. Exceeding your limit will incur a fee.
Holiday Schedule
General Rule
As of recent updates, Recology South Valley provides regular service on Thanksgiving Day. Services are only disrupted on Christmas Day and New Year's Day. If your normal collection day falls on or after one of these two holidays, your pickup will be delayed by one day for the rest of the week.
Yard Waste Exception
This holiday schedule adjustment applies to all three collection streams: trash, recycling, and organics.
If a holiday falls on a Saturday or Sunday, there is no change to the regular weekday pickup schedule.
Observed Holidays
Seasonal Information
Summer
June to SeptemberTo reduce odors and prevent pests in your green organics cart during the hot summer months, try keeping your meat and dairy food scraps in a container in the freezer until the night before your scheduled collection day.
Fall
October to DecemberDuring heavy yard work in the fall, remember that yard waste overages can be collected if bundled securely. Recology allows up to 7 bundles or 32-gallon customer-owned cans of extra yard waste per week.
Local Tips & Community Info
Gilroy Waste Management Rules and Guidelines
In the City of Gilroy, solid waste and recycling collection is proudly handled by Recology South Valley. Every residential property is provided with a three-cart system designed to streamline the disposal of garbage, organics, and recyclable materials. Maintaining the cleanliness of our neighborhoods requires residents to follow specific bin placement regulations. Carts must be rolled out to the street by the early morning of your designated pickup day, with the wheels touching the curb. Ensure that all lids are fully closed to prevent litter from escaping, and leave ample space around each container. This clearance allows the automated mechanical arms of the collection trucks to grab the bins without interfering with parked cars, fire hydrants, or mailboxes.
Sorting Recyclables and Yard Trimmings Correctly
Sorting your waste properly is vital for meeting California's stringent environmental targets. Your blue cart is exclusively for clean recyclables such as glass jars, flattened cardboard, aluminum cans, and mixed paper. Please remember that plastic bags, wrappers, and styrofoam do not belong in the recycling bin. For your green organics cart, you can discard food scraps, soiled paper products, grass clippings, and dry leaves. If you happen to generate more yard waste than the standard 96-gallon cart can hold, the city allows you to place extra 32-gallon cans or bundled branches (measuring less than 3 feet by 3 feet) right next to your organics bin on collection day.
Arranging Bulky Waste and Junk Pickup
When it comes to disposing of large, cumbersome items like old couches, broken appliances, or heavy mattresses, Recology South Valley offers convenient local solutions. Single-family households can schedule junk pickups by contacting their customer service office directly at 408-842-3358. Do not leave bulky items abandoned on the curb without a confirmed appointment, as this constitutes illegal dumping and blights the community. For those who need to get rid of hazardous household materials such as motor oil, old paint, or batteries, the city partners with Santa Clara County to provide safe drop-off options, ensuring these dangerous substances stay out of the local San Martin Transfer Station.
Holiday Delays and Seasonal Tree Removal
During certain major national holidays, normal trash operations throughout Gilroy may experience a standard one-day delay. If your regular collection day falls on or after a holiday like Thanksgiving or Christmas Day, you should expect the trucks to arrive a day later than usual. Furthermore, the city provides a highly helpful holiday tree recycling service in the weeks immediately following December. Residents must cut their trees into smaller manageable sections, typically around 3 feet long, and completely remove all metal stands, lights, and ornaments before placing them next to the green cart. Flocked trees are also gladly accepted during this seasonal program.
Drop-off Facilities
San Martin Transfer Station
14070 Llagas Avenue, San Martin, CA 95046
Materials Accepted
Frequently Asked Questions
Does Recology pick up trash on Thanksgiving in Gilroy?
Yes. Recology South Valley now provides regular collection service on Thanksgiving Day. The only holidays that cause a one-day delay in your service schedule are Christmas Day and New Year's Day.
How do I recycle old motor oil and filters?
Recology South Valley offers a free curbside collection program for used motor oil. You must call their customer service line to request specialized one-gallon oil jugs and filter bags, which you can then set out next to your blue cart on collection day.
Can I throw food waste in my regular gray garbage cart?
No. Due to California's SB 1383 mandate, all Gilroy residents must separate food scraps, including meat and dairy, and place them into the green organics cart so they can be composted into soil amendment.
Where can I drop off extra cardboard boxes if my recycling cart is full?
If you have an excessive amount of flattened cardboard or other clean recyclables, you can drop them off for free at the San Martin Transfer Station on Llagas Avenue, which is open Tuesday through Saturday.