Weekly Collection Schedule
Official municipal pickup timing for Los Gatos
Trash Day
Varies by neighborhood zone
Recycling
Varies by neighborhood zone (weekly on trash day)
Yard Waste
Varies by neighborhood zone (weekly on trash day)
Set Out Time
By 6:00 AM on collection day
Utility Billing & Payments
Manage your local solid waste services
Trash and recycling services are billed directly by West Valley Collection & Recycling on a quarterly cycle. You can lower your bill by increasing recycling/composting and requesting a smaller landfill cart.
Billing Cycle
Quarterly
Accepted Methods
Online, Auto-Pay, Phone, Mail, In Person
Pro Tip / Discount
Low-income rate discounts are available for eligible residential customers subscribing to smaller cart sizes.
Dark Gray or Black (labeled Landfill) Bin (Trash)
Place containers curbside by 6:00 AM on your scheduled collection day. All garbage should be securely bagged, and the cart lid must be completely closed to prevent wind-scattered litter and pest attraction.
Accepted Items
- ✓Single-use plastic bags and wrap
- ✓Styrofoam plates, cups, and protective packaging blocks
- ✓Disposable diapers, wipes, and securely bagged pet waste
- ✓Mylar snack wrappers, chip bags, and candy packaging
- ✓Broken window glass and home ceramics
- ✓Palm fronds, cactus, yucca, and bamboo
Blue Bin (Recycling)
Keep recyclables loose, dry, and free of food or liquid residue. Do not bag items loosely; only bundled film plastics tied inside a single clear bag are allowed.
Accepted Items
- ✓Clean, dry paper, junk mail, and catalogs
- ✓Flattened cardboard and paperboard packaging
- ✓Empty aluminum, tin, and steel cans
- ✓Glass bottles and food jars
- ✓Rigid plastics marked with numbers 1 through 7
Do NOT Include
- ✕Loose plastic bags, bubble wrap, or film wrap (unless bundled and tied in a clear bag)
- ✕Styrofoam materials of any kind
- ✕Garden hoses, extension cords, and string lights
- ✕Heavily soiled cardboard or greasy pizza boxes
- ✕Electronic waste and alkaline batteries
Yard Waste Bin
Do not use plastic bags of any kind to hold your organic material; paper bags, compostable bags, or newspaper lining are permitted. Keep dirt, rocks, concrete, sod, pet feces, and palm fronds out of this cart.
Accepted Items
- ✓Kitchen food scraps (raw/cooked meats, bones, cheese, fruits, vegetables)
- ✓Food-soiled paper towels, napkins, and greasy pizza boxes
- ✓Grass clippings, tree leaves, weeds, and plant trimmings
- ✓Small branches and prunings (under 3 feet long and 6 inches wide)
Bulky Item Pickup
Frequency
3 free scheduled collections per calendar year
Placement
Place your scheduled bulk items at your curb before 6:00 AM on your assigned service morning. Do not block vehicle access, walkways, or standard street drainage.
Accepted
- ✓ Sofas, mattresses, box springs, and household furniture
- ✓ Major home appliances (fridges, stoves, washers, dryers)
- ✓ Electronic waste (one e-waste item like a TV or computer per pickup)
- ✓ Bundled clean wood and extra yard trimmings
Not Accepted
- ✕ Household hazardous waste (liquid paints, chemicals, fuel tanks)
- ✕ Construction materials, concrete, bricks, dirt, and heavy rocks
- ✕ Auto and brake fluids, car engines, and vehicle batteries
Pickups exceeding the three allocated annual slots, or piles that exceed 3 cubic yards / 150 lbs per item, can be scheduled through West Valley Recycles for an extra fee.
Holiday Schedule
General Rule
Curbside collections run on schedule for all holidays throughout the year except Christmas Day and New Year's Day. If either holiday falls on a weekday, collections for the holiday and the remaining weekdays of that week shift later by exactly one day.
Yard Waste Exception
Organics and recycling follow the same holiday delay timeline as landfill collections.
If Christmas Day or New Year's Day falls on a Saturday or Sunday, there is no delay to your regular weekday service schedule.
Observed Holidays
Seasonal Information
Foothill Autumn Leaf and Garden Trimming Care
October - DecemberTo assist with heavy fall yard trimmings, Los Gatos residents can place extra yard waste beside their organics cart up to six times per year at no additional charge. Extra trimmings must be placed in paper bags or bundles no larger than 3 feet in length and 32 gallons in capacity.
Post-Holiday Christmas Tree Composting
December - JanuaryNatural holiday trees are collected curbside during the first few weeks of January. Remove all tinsel, stands, nails, and lights. Cut trees over 6 feet tall in half and place them beside your green organics bin. Flocked trees are accepted.
Local Tips & Community Info
Town Solid Waste Services with West Valley Collection
The Town of Los Gatos contracts exclusively with West Valley Collection & Recycling (WVCR) to handle all residential garbage, recycling, and yard trimming pickups. For your weekly scheduled collection, all carts must be wheeled to the curb by 6:00 a.m., as truck routes and times can fluctuate without notice. When placing your bins outside, ensure they are parked side-by-side with at least two feet of clearance between each container. Furthermore, keep them a minimum of three feet away from parked cars, fire hydrants, and utility poles to allow the automated mechanical arms to lift them safely without causing property damage.
Complying with Mandatory Organics and Recycling Rules
In accordance with California’s SB 1383 state law, every Los Gatos household must separate their organic waste from regular landfill trash. Your green yard trimmings cart is the designated place for all food scraps, including meat bones, dairy products, fruit peels, and vegetable clippings, alongside standard landscaping debris. The blue cart is meant for clean, dry recyclables like cardboard boxes (broken down to fit), glass bottles, and rigid plastics. It is highly important to rinse out food containers before recycling them, as leftover residue can contaminate the entire truckload. Non-recyclable wrappers, styrofoam, and pet waste belong strictly in your gray garbage cart.
Scheduling Your Semi-Annual Bulky Item Pickups
Dealing with household clutter or old furniture is straightforward for residents living in single-family homes. West Valley Collection & Recycling provides each eligible household with two complimentary bulky item cleanup appointments every calendar year. This service is ideal for disposing of broken appliances, discarded mattresses, and up to three large e-waste items per scheduled pickup. To take advantage of this benefit, residents must call WVCR customer service at (408) 283-9250 to reserve a specific date. Please note that hazardous materials, construction debris, and automobile parts are strictly prohibited from these special cleanups.
Handling Household Hazardous Waste (HHW)
Toxic chemicals should never be thrown into your curbside bins or poured down the drain, as they pose a severe threat to the local watershed and sanitation workers. Los Gatos residents must utilize the Santa Clara County Household Hazardous Waste Program to safely dispose of items such as old paint, motor oil, pesticides, pool chemicals, and fluorescent tubes. The county hosts various free drop-off events throughout the year. You must schedule an appointment in advance via the county’s HHW website to secure a time slot and receive directions to the nearest collection facility.
Drop-off Facilities
West Valley Recycles Public Drop-off Site
575 Charles Street, San Jose, CA 95112
Materials Accepted
Santa Clara County Household Hazardous Waste Program Facility
Varying drop-off locations (Appointments required)
Materials Accepted
Frequently Asked Questions
Does my trash collection day change during the holidays?
West Valley Collection & Recycling observes only three major holidays: Thanksgiving Day, Christmas Day, and New Year’s Day. If your standard collection day falls on or after one of these holidays, your service will be pushed back by one day for the remainder of that week.
Can I put pet waste or cat litter in the green organics cart?
No. Pet waste, animal feces, and cat litter carry pathogens and are not accepted in the organics stream. These items must be bagged securely and disposed of in your gray garbage cart.
How do I safely get rid of dead household batteries?
Los Gatos residents can place their used household batteries (AAA, AA, C, D, and small button cells) in a clear, sealed plastic bag and leave it resting on top of their blue recycling cart on their normal collection day.