Weekly Collection Schedule
Official municipal pickup timing for Millbrae
Collections in California municipal routes run weekly (Mon-Fri). Your specific collection day is determined by your local neighborhood route.
State Mandate
Follow SB 1383 guidelines for food waste.
Utility Billing & Payments
Manage your local solid waste services
Curbside waste, recycling, and organics services are provided and billed quarterly directly by South San Francisco Scavenger Company.
Billing Cycle
Quarterly
Accepted Methods
Online, Auto-Pay, Mail, Phone
Grey Bin (Trash)
All non-hazardous, non-recyclable garbage must go in the grey cart. Messy items like pet waste and Styrofoam peanuts should be securely bagged before disposal. Dirt, rock, brick, and sod are strictly prohibited.
Accepted Items
- ✓Non-recyclable plastics
- ✓Pet waste and kitty litter
- ✓Diapers and wipes
- ✓Styrofoam (polystyrene)
- ✓Broken glass and ceramics
- ✓Snack wrappers and chip bags
Blue (Split Cart with Lighter & Dark Lids) Bin (Recycling)
Do not bag recyclables. Sort materials carefully: paper goes under the lighter lid, and rinsed containers go under the dark blue lid. Large boxes must be flattened to 2'x2' and placed next to the cart.
Accepted Items
- ✓Clean, dry paper and cardboard (lighter lid)
- ✓Junk mail, magazines, and shredded paper in paper bags (lighter lid)
- ✓Plastic bottles and jugs (dark blue lid)
- ✓Glass bottles and jars (dark blue lid)
- ✓Aluminum and tin cans (dark blue lid)
Do NOT Include
- ✕Plastic bags and film
- ✕Food waste
- ✕Styrofoam
- ✕Tanglers (hoses, cords)
- ✕Bio/compostable plastics
Yard Waste Bin
Place organics directly into the green cart without plastic bags. Paper bags or newspaper may be used to contain messy food scraps. No compostable or biodegradable plastics are allowed.
Accepted Items
- ✓Food scraps (meat, bones, dairy, fruits, vegetables)
- ✓Food-soiled paper (napkins, pizza boxes)
- ✓Grass clippings and weeds
- ✓Leaves and flowers
- ✓Branches (under 6 inches in diameter and 3 feet in length)
Bulky Item Pickup
Frequency
Two free On-Call Cleanups per calendar year
Placement
Call SSF Scavenger at 650-589-4020 at least one business day in advance to schedule. Place items at the curb no more than 12 hours before the scheduled collection day.
Accepted
- ✓ Sofas and large furniture
- ✓ Mattresses and box springs
- ✓ Refrigerators and household appliances
- ✓ Carpet rolls (tied, under 4 feet)
- ✓ Bundled wood waste (under 4 feet)
- ✓ Bagged household garbage
Not Accepted
- ✕ Hazardous waste (chemicals, wet paint)
- ✕ Dirt, rock, concrete, and brick
- ✕ Commercial construction and demolition debris
- ✕ Loose, unbagged garbage
Special charges may apply for certain electronic waste or appliances containing Freon. Exceeding the two free cleanups per year will result in standard hauling fees.
Holiday Schedule
General Rule
South San Francisco Scavenger Company operates normally on almost all holidays, including Thanksgiving and Labor Day. Service is only delayed by one day if Christmas Day or New Year's Day falls on a weekday.
Yard Waste Exception
Organics and yard waste collections observe the exact same rare delay schedule as regular trash and recycling.
If Christmas Day or New Year's Day falls on a weekend, there is no change to the weekday residential collection schedule.
Observed Holidays
Seasonal Information
Winter
December - JanuaryChristmas trees are recycled after the holidays. Remove the stand, tinsel, and all lights. Cut the tree in half if it exceeds 6 feet. Place the unbagged tree near the curb on your regular collection day before 5:00 AM.
Year-Round
January - DecemberIf you have seasonal yard overflow, remember that all branches must be less than 6 inches in diameter and cut to 3-foot lengths to properly fit inside the green cart.
Local Tips & Community Info
Sanitation Services by SSF Scavenger
Household refuse and recycling efforts in Millbrae are operated exclusively by the South San Francisco Scavenger Company (SSF Scavenger). This long-standing partnership ensures that local neighborhoods remain hygienic and environmentally compliant. Single-family homes receive a three-cart setup, separating recyclables, organics, and mixed garbage. Your service charges are determined by the size of your grey garbage cart, so downsizing your landfill footprint can actually lower your quarterly waste bill.
Cart Positioning and Morning Deadlines
To avoid a missed pickup, residents must roll their containers to the curb no later than 6:00 a.m. on their assigned collection day. When lining up your carts, leave a two-foot gap between each one to allow the mechanical truck arms to grab them without knocking over adjacent bins. The wheels must rest against the curb with the lid opening facing the street. Once the trucks have passed, local municipal codes require you to pull the empty bins back onto your property by nightfall.
Composting Rules and Green Bins
Millbrae is fully aligned with California's organics recycling mandate, meaning food waste can no longer go into the standard garbage. Your green cart is designed for all yard clippings, vegetable peels, meat bones, and food-soiled paper products like greasy pizza boxes. Keeping these compostable items out of the landfill significantly cuts down on harmful greenhouse gases. Make sure to keep glass, plastics, and regular trash strictly out of the green bin to avoid contamination fees.
On-Demand Cleanup Appointments
Every residential customer is entitled to two free curbside cleanups per year to help manage overflow or large household items. This service is perfect for discarding broken furniture, tied bundles of branches, or heavy appliances that exceed the capacity of your regular carts. You must call SSF Scavenger ahead of time to secure a spot on the calendar. Only leave your approved bulky waste on the driveway or curb the night before your scheduled appointment to prevent illegal scavenging or street blockages.
Household Hazardous Waste Protocol
Toxic liquids, electronics, and chemicals pose a massive threat to sanitation workers and processing plants. Millbrae residents are prohibited from tossing items like motor oil, paint, or lithium batteries into their curbside containers. Instead, the San Mateo County Health Department provides free drop-off events and dedicated collection facilities for household hazardous waste. For smaller items like dry-cell batteries, SSF Scavenger allows residents to place them in a clear, sealed bag resting on top of the closed black garbage cart.
Winter Holiday Delays
During the festive season, your usual collection routine might shift slightly. SSF Scavenger only pauses operations for two specific holidays: Christmas Day and New Year's Day. If your regular trash day falls on or after these holidays during the workweek, expect your pickup to be delayed by one day. For example, a Wednesday holiday pushes Wednesday service to Thursday, and Thursday service to Friday. Standard operations apply to all other holidays, including Thanksgiving and Memorial Day.
Drop-off Facilities
Blue Line Transfer Station & BOPA Center
500 East Jamie Court, South San Francisco, CA 94080
Materials Accepted
Frequently Asked Questions
Which company handles Millbrae's residential garbage?
The South San Francisco Scavenger Company (SSF Scavenger) is the official franchised waste hauler for the city, managing all residential and commercial trash routes.
When do I need to put my carts out for collection?
All waste, recycling, and organics carts must be at the curb by 6:00 a.m. on your designated service day to ensure the drivers do not skip your property.
Can I throw old batteries in the blue recycling bin?
No. Batteries cause fires in recycling trucks. You can place household batteries in a clear, sealed zip-top bag on top of your grey garbage cart for safe removal.