Weekly Collection Schedule
Official municipal pickup timing for Pacifica
Trash Day
Varies by neighborhood zone
Recycling
Weekly on your scheduled trash day
Yard Waste
Weekly on your scheduled trash day
Set Out Time
By 5:00 AM on collection day
Utility Billing & Payments
Manage your local solid waste services
Trash, recycling, and organics services are provided and billed directly by Recology of the Coast, with monthly rates determined by the size of your garbage cart.
Billing Cycle
Monthly
Accepted Methods
Online, Auto-Pay, Phone, Mail, In-Person
Pro Tip / Discount
Lifeline Low-Income discounted rates are available for eligible customers enrolled in PG&E's CARE program using a 32-gallon cart. Curbside collection assistance is also provided for disabled residents under ADA guidelines.
Dark Gray or Black Bin (Trash)
All residential trash items must fit completely loose inside the container with the lid sealed flat down. Overflow items stacked next to the bin are not pulled by the mechanical arms unless advance arrangements are authorized.
Accepted Items
- ✓Unrecyclable snack wrappers and chip packaging
- ✓Diapers and feminine hygiene items
- ✓Bagged pet feces and cat litter
- ✓Polystyrene (Styrofoam) foam pieces
- ✓Broken incandescent light bulbs
- ✓Vinyl, rubber bands, and composite home garbage
Blue Bin (Recycling)
Recyclables must be deposited entirely loose, clean, dry, and unbagged. Small fragments of shredded paper must be safely sealed inside a paper bag marked 'Shredded Paper' to prevent scattering.
Accepted Items
- ✓Clean aluminum cans and tin foil balled up
- ✓Glass bottles and food jars (all colors)
- ✓Rigid plastics labeled #1 through #7
- ✓Flattened cardboard shipping boxes (non-waxed)
- ✓Newspapers, magazines, junk mail, and phonebooks
Do NOT Include
- ✕Loose plastic grocery sacks or heavy bubble wraps
- ✕Food-stained pizza boxes or greasy grease sheets
- ✕Fluorescent tubes and household electronics
- ✕Ceramic kitchenware or window pane shards
- ✕Loose shredded paper fragments
Yard Waste Bin
Vegetation and food remnants must be mixed loose directly in the cart. Do not encapsulate organics in traditional plastic bags, as they ruin the commercial composting digestors.
Accepted Items
- ✓Grass clippings, lawn weeds, and garden thatch
- ✓Dry autumn leaves, flowers, and shrub trimmings
- ✓Tree limbs under 6 inches in diameter and 2 feet in length
- ✓Household food scraps, meat scraps, bones, and dairy
- ✓Food-soiled paper towels, greasy pizza boxes, and coffee filters
Bulky Item Pickup
Frequency
3 pickups per calendar year
Placement
Bulky items must be positioned neatly at the street curb edge by 5:00 AM on the day of your approved collection appointment. Items must not exceed 6 feet in length or 100 lbs in weight per item.
Accepted
- ✓ Large home appliances (washers, dryers, refrigerators)
- ✓ Oversized furniture (sofas, tables, mattresses)
- ✓ Consumer electronics (television sets, computers, microwaves)
- ✓ Up to 12 garbage bags (32-gallon size) or 5 bundled parcels under 100 lbs
- ✓ Up to 4 passenger vehicle tires without metal rims
Not Accepted
- ✕ Liquid chemicals, paints, or solvents
- ✕ Commercial construction debris and concrete aggregates
- ✕ Treated wood or commercial railroad ties
- ✕ Loose unbagged household garbage piles
Once your three free annual choices are exhausted, additional items or extra runs can be reserved through Recology for an assessed structural service fee.
Holiday Schedule
General Rule
Recology of the Coast maintains normal curbside collection on Thanksgiving Day without scheduling changes. However, operations are adjusted for Christmas Day and New Year's Day; when these holidays occur, routes are completed on the preceding or designated Saturday (e.g., Saturday adjusted loops). Always consult your custom calendar for these specific holiday shifts.
Yard Waste Exception
Organic and yard waste collections shift on the exact same early or delayed timeline as standard trash carts during major holiday updates.
The Palmetto Recycling Yard drop-off facility closes on a broader list of dates, including MLK Day, Presidents' Day, Memorial Day, 4th of July, Labor Day, Fog Festival Weekend, and Thanksgiving.
Observed Holidays
Seasonal Information
Post-Holiday Tree Collection Loop
December to JanuaryRecology provides curbside tree recycling from December 26 through January 31. Residents must remove all ornaments, stands, tinsel, and light stringing. Flocked trees are accepted, but long trees must be trimmed into segments under 4 feet.
Community Compost Giveaway Series
March and SeptemberPacifica hosts free community compost giveaway events on select Saturdays (e.g., early March and September) at 2212 Beach Street. Residents can claim up to two 30-gallon containers of organic mulch; bags or boxes are not allowed.
Coastal Storm Operations & Wind Protection
November to MarchHeavy coastal Pacific winter winds can tip over curbside containers. To reduce wind scatter and run-off into marine zones, keep cart lids fully closed and align containers with the wind direction if necessary.
Local Tips & Community Info
Waste Management Operations by Recology
For residents in Pacifica, municipal refuse and recycling operations are exclusively handled by Recology of the Coast. Maintaining a pristine coastal environment requires strict adherence to local disposal rules. Your primary garbage cart size dictates your monthly utility rate, and any excess trash that does not fit with the lid fully closed requires a prepaid extra bag tag. Homeowners can reach the customer support office directly at (650) 355-9000 to adjust container sizes, purchase excess waste tags, or report a missed collection to avoid unnecessary return trip charges.
The Rules for Your Blue Recycling Cart
Diverting reusable materials away from the landfill is a crucial part of Pacifica's ecological initiatives. The blue curbside cart is designated for clean household recyclables. Acceptable items include aluminum foil, aseptic soup boxes, flattened cardboard, glass jars, and plastic containers labeled number 1 through 7. Residents must keep their recyclables loose inside the cart; bagging them in plastic film disrupts the sorting machinery. Items like bubble wrap, heavily soiled pizza boxes, and styrofoam packing blocks are strictly forbidden in this container and belong in the standard trash or a specialized facility.
Composting Organics in a Bag-Free Bin
California state law requires the separation of organic materials, and Pacifica strictly enforces a bag-free policy for the green compost carts. This means you cannot use plastic bags, and even biodegradable or compostable bags are prohibited. Toss your kitchen food scraps—like coffee grounds, bones, meat, and vegetable peels—straight into the bin along with yard trimmings. When disposing of tree branches, ensure they are cut to less than three feet in length and under three inches in diameter so the truck's mechanical arm can successfully empty the heavy load.
Utilizing Your Three Annual Bulky Pickups
To help keep neighborhoods clear of illegal dumping, single-family residential customers receive three complimentary bulky item collections per calendar year. This convenient curbside program accepts heavy objects weighing up to 100 pounds and measuring up to six feet in length. Eligible items include discarded furniture, broken appliances, electronic waste, or up to five 32-gallon bags of excess garbage. You must call Recology of the Coast in advance to schedule the appointment. Keep in mind that drivers will not enter your home to retrieve items, so everything must be properly staged at the curb.
Dropping Off Extras at the Palmetto Avenue Recycle Yard
If you have excess materials or items that cannot wait for a scheduled pickup, the Recology of the Coast Recycle Yard offers a local drop-off solution. Located at 1046 Palmetto Avenue in Pacifica, the facility is open to city residents who can provide valid proof of residency. Operating hours are Tuesdays and Thursdays from 8:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m., and Saturdays from 7:00 a.m. until noon. Here, you can safely dispose of automotive batteries, unpainted lumber, scrap metal, and consumer electronics without cluttering the municipal sidewalks.
Curb Placement Timelines and Missed Pickups
Following the city's specific curb placement ordinance ensures safe and efficient neighborhood navigation for sanitation trucks. All carts must be placed by the street by 5:00 a.m. on your designated service day. According to Pacifica's municipal codes, bins should not be set out more than twelve hours before your pickup, nor left out for longer than twelve hours afterward. If you forget to place your containers out in time, you must report the missed collection by the following business day to schedule a makeup run.
Drop-off Facilities
Recology of the Coast Recycling Yard
1046 Palmetto Ave, Pacifica, CA 94044
Materials Accepted
San Mateo County HHW Drop-off Program
Varies by Appointment (Main Facility in San Mateo / South SF)
Materials Accepted
Frequently Asked Questions
How do Pacifica residents schedule a free bulky item collection?
Pacifica homeowners can schedule their three annual free bulk pickups by emailing the Recology team at [email protected], or calling customer service at 650-355-9000. Appointments must be logged at least a week in advance and are available from February through December.
Can I throw away household batteries or fluorescent tubes in my carts?
No. Fluorescent light tubes are banned from all carts and should be taken to the Palmetto Recycling Yard. Small household batteries can be recycled curbside by sealing them inside a clear plastic baggie and setting it directly on top of your blue recycling cart lid.
What are the rules regarding extra garbage bags that don't fit in my bin?
Extra garbage bags cannot simply be left next to your gray cart. You must contact Recology at least 24 hours in advance to arrange a pickup for a per-bag fee, or you can utilize one of your annual free bulky item appointments to pick up a batch of up to 12 extra bags.
Is there a local discount available for low-income residents in Pacifica?
Yes. Recology of the Coast provides a Lifeline rate structure for qualifying low-income residential accounts in Pacifica. Residents can call the local service office at 650-355-9000 to obtain application forms and verify current income guidelines.