Weekly Collection Schedule
Official municipal pickup timing for Menlo Park
Trash Day
Varies by neighborhood zone
Recycling
Varies by neighborhood zone (weekly on the same day as trash)
Yard Waste
Varies by neighborhood zone (weekly on the same day as trash)
Set Out Time
By 6:00 AM on collection day
Utility Billing & Payments
Manage your local solid waste services
Solid waste services in Menlo Park are provided and billed directly by Recology San Mateo County. Residential accounts are billed quarterly in advance.
Billing Cycle
Quarterly
Accepted Methods
Online, Auto-Pay, Phone, Mail
Pro Tip / Discount
Eligible low-income households enrolled in the PG&E CARE program can receive a 20% monthly discount on their solid waste bill through the City's rate assistance program.
Black Bin (Trash)
Carts must be rolled curbside by 6:00 AM on service morning with wheels placed against the curb and lid arrows pointing toward the street. Ensure all waste is bagged and the lid closes completely.
Accepted Items
- ✓Cat litter and bagged animal waste
- ✓Black plastics of all shapes and sizes
- ✓Ceramics, porcelain, and home glassware
- ✓Disposable diapers and sanitary wipes
- ✓Juice and soup boxes with internal foil lining
- ✓Polystyrene and Styrofoam packaging
Blue Bin (Recycling)
Do not bag recyclables. All accepted paper, metal, glass, and plastic must be loose, clean, and dry inside the blue bin.
Accepted Items
- ✓Clean cardboard and paperboard packaging
- ✓Clean, dry paper, junk mail, and catalogs
- ✓Aluminum, steel, and tin food or beverage cans
- ✓Glass bottles and food jars (rinsed and dry)
- ✓Plastic containers numbered 1 through 7
Do NOT Include
- ✕Black plastic items
- ✕Single-use plastic grocery bags or plastic film
- ✕Polystyrene foam packaging
- ✕Soiled cardboard or food residue
- ✕Hoses, electrical cords, and clothing
Yard Waste Bin
Do not use standard plastic bags. Only paper bags or compostable bags certified by the Biodegradable Products Institute (BPI) are permitted in the organics cart.
Accepted Items
- ✓All food leftovers (raw or cooked meat, fish, bones, dairy, fruit, veg)
- ✓Food-soiled paper towels, napkins, and paper coffee cups
- ✓Greasy pizza boxes and paper takeout containers
- ✓Grass clippings, yard weeds, leaves, and flowers
- ✓Prunings and small branches
Bulky Item Pickup
Frequency
2 free collection appointments per calendar year
Placement
Items must be placed at the curbside by 6:00 AM on your pre-arranged collection day, clear of sidewalks and vehicles.
Accepted
- ✓ Up to 2 cubic yards of bagged or boxed solid waste (approx. 12 garbage bags)
- ✓ One major home appliance (washer, dryer, refrigerator)
- ✓ One bulky furniture item (mattress, sofa, table)
- ✓ One e-waste item (computer monitor, television, microwave)
- ✓ Up to 4 passenger vehicle tires
Not Accepted
- ✕ Liquids, hazardous waste, and chemicals
- ✕ Dirt, sand, rocks, sod, and concrete
- ✕ Hot coals, ashes, and flammable liquids
The two annual curbside bulk pickups are free of charge. Pickups exceeding these allocations or involving oversized commercial items can be scheduled for an additional 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 regular collection day falls on one of these two holidays, your pickup is shifted to the Saturday BEFORE the holiday.
Yard Waste Exception
All trash, recycling, and organic collection schedules follow the same holiday adjustment.
If Christmas Day or New Year's Day falls on a Saturday or Sunday, there is no change to standard weekday collection routes.
Observed Holidays
Seasonal Information
Holiday Tree Composting
JanuaryNatural, undecorated Christmas trees are collected curbside between January 2nd and January 31st. All ornaments, stands, tinsel, and lights must be removed, though flocked trees are accepted. Trees exceeding 8 feet in length must be cut in half prior to placement.
Stormwater Runoff Prevention
October - FebruaryDuring heavy fall and winter rain seasons, avoid sweeping leaves or lawn trimmings into public street gutters. Loose debris quickly clogs local storm drains, which causes neighborhood flooding and routes pollutants directly into the San Francisco Bay.
Local Tips & Community Info
Curbside Collection with Recology San Mateo County
For residents of Menlo Park, managing household waste is streamlined through a partnership with Recology San Mateo County. To ensure a smooth weekly pickup, homeowners must roll their designated carts to the street edge no later than 6:00 a.m. on their scheduled service day. Proper placement is key to keeping the automated trucks running efficiently. Always position your bins with the wheels touching the curb and the lid arrows pointing toward the street. Leave a gap of about two to three feet between each container, and keep them clear of parked vehicles, low-hanging branches, and mailboxes.
Mastering the Three-Cart Sorting System
Menlo Park utilizes a standard three-cart system designed to divert as much material from the landfill as possible. Your green organics cart is for more than just yard trimmings—you can toss in food scraps like meat, dairy, coffee grounds, eggshells, and pizza boxes. If you prefer to line your compost bin, ensure you only use bags certified by the Biodegradable Products Institute (BPI). The blue recycling cart handles your clean paper, plastics, and glass. The black garbage cart is reserved for true refuse, but remember that electronics, batteries, fluorescent bulbs, and motor oil are strictly prohibited from entering the landfill stream.
Safe Disposal of HHW and Unwanted Medications
Certain items require special handling and should never be tossed into any of your standard curbside bins. For household hazardous waste (HHW) such as paints, pesticides, and harsh cleaning chemicals, residents must schedule an appointment through the San Mateo County Environmental Health program. Furthermore, flushing expired prescriptions down the toilet can harm the local watershed. The City of Menlo Park provides a highly convenient and secure medication drop box situated in the Police Department lobby at 701 Laurel Street. This drop-off is available during normal business hours and offers a safe way to dispose of unwanted drugs.
Post-Holiday Cleanup and Tree Recycling
When the winter festivities wrap up, dealing with your holiday tree is completely hassle-free. From December 26th through the end of January, Recology offers curbside pickup for residential trees on your regular compost collection day. Simply remove all ornaments, lights, and the stand, then place the bare tree directly next to your green organics cart. If your tree exceeds eight feet in length, it must be cut in half before placement. Flocked trees are also accepted in this program, making post-holiday cleanup incredibly simple for the community.
Drop-off Facilities
Shoreway Environmental Center (Transfer Station & Public Recycling)
333 Shoreway Road, San Carlos, CA 94070
Materials Accepted
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the best way to request a different cart size?
If you find that your current garbage, recycling, or organics bins do not meet your household's needs, you can easily request a size exchange by contacting Recology San Mateo County directly at (650) 595-3900.
Are plastic bags allowed in my green compost cart?
Traditional plastic bags are never allowed in the green cart, as they contaminate the compost. However, you are permitted to use compostable bags as long as they carry the official certification from the Biodegradable Products Institute (BPI).
What should I do with excess construction or remodeling debris?
Because construction and demolition waste is not covered under the standard franchise agreement, residents and contractors can hire any licensed debris box company. Just ensure that the materials meet local recycling ordinances.