Weekly Collection Schedule
Official municipal pickup timing for Palo Alto
Trash Day
Varies by neighborhood zone
Recycling
Weekly on your scheduled collection day
Yard Waste
Weekly on your scheduled 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 provided by GreenWaste are billed directly on your monthly City of Palo Alto Utilities (CPAU) statement.
Billing Cycle
Monthly
Accepted Methods
Online, Auto-Pay, Mail, In Person, Phone
Pro Tip / Discount
The Rate Assistance Program (RAP) provides up to a 35% discount on electricity and 25% on gas for income-qualified households or those with eligible medical needs, plus one-time hardship relief via Project PLEDGE.
Black Bin (Trash)
All landfill garbage must fit inside the black cart with the lid completely closed. If bags are used to line the bin, they must be clear transparent bags.
Accepted Items
- ✓Plastic wrappers and film
- ✓Styrofoam (polystyrene foam)
- ✓Diapers and sanitary products
- ✓Ceramics and broken glass
- ✓Treated or painted wood
- ✓Pet waste and kitty litter
Blue Bin (Recycling)
All recyclables must be empty of liquids and scraped free of food residue. Do not bag recyclables; keep them loose in the cart. If a liner is used, it must be a transparent blue-tinted bag.
Accepted Items
- ✓Clean paper and flattened cardboard
- ✓Plastics #1 through #7
- ✓Glass bottles and jars
- ✓Aluminum and tin cans
- ✓Clean aluminum foil
Do NOT Include
- ✕Food-soiled paper
- ✕Styrofoam
- ✕Plastic bags and film wrap
- ✕E-waste with screens (TVs, monitors)
Green Bin (Yard Waste)
Use only BPI-certified compostable bags or paper bags for food waste. Place materials inside the cart with the lid shut to prevent pests.
Accepted Items
- ✓Food scraps (meat, dairy, bones, vegetables)
- ✓Food-soiled paper (pizza boxes, napkins, uncoated plates)
- ✓Yard trimmings and grass clippings
- ✓BPI-certified compostable plastics and cups
- ✓Coffee grounds and filters
Bulky Item Pickup
Frequency
Two pre-scheduled Clean Up Days per year for single-family residences. Additional pick-ups are available for a fee.
Placement
Place items at the curb by 6:00 a.m. on your pre-scheduled Clean Up Day. If items are reusable, clearly label them with the word 'Reuse'.
Accepted
- ✓ Furniture and mattresses
- ✓ Large appliances (doors secured/removed)
- ✓ Used motor oil (in clear jug) and filters (in clear bag)
- ✓ Standard household batteries (taped, in clear bag)
- ✓ Bundled yard waste and excess recyclables
Not Accepted
- ✕ Lithium or lithium-ion batteries
- ✕ Dirt, rocks, and concrete
- ✕ Liquid paint and toxic chemicals
- ✕ Monitors and televisions (take to e-waste recycling)
The two pre-scheduled Clean Up Days are included in your service. If you need a bulky item collected outside of those dates, you must call Customer Service to schedule an on-demand pickup for an additional fee.
Holiday Schedule
General Rule
Collection does not occur on Thanksgiving, Christmas, or New Year's Day. If your regular collection day falls on or after one of these holidays, your service will be delayed by one day for the rest of that week (e.g., Friday pickup moves to Saturday).
Yard Waste Exception
Green compost carts follow the exact same holiday delay schedule as trash and recycling.
GreenWaste of Palo Alto operates on normal schedules for all other holidays (e.g., Memorial Day, Labor Day, 4th of July).
Observed Holidays
Seasonal Information
Winter
Late December through JanuaryHoliday trees are collected curbside for the four weeks following Christmas Day. Trees must be cut to 4-foot lengths, completely unflocked, and stripped of all stands, tinsel, and ornaments. Place them next to your green compost cart.
Autumn
NovemberIf your normal collection day falls on Thanksgiving Thursday or the Friday after, expect a one-day delay. GreenWaste collection is pushed back one day for the remainder of the holiday week.
Year-Round
January through DecemberHoliday street sweeping schedules differ from trash schedules. If your sweeping day falls on Thanksgiving or a Friday holiday, the street will generally be swept on the Wednesday before or the Monday after.
Local Tips & Community Info
GreenWaste Collection Rules and Cart Placement
In Palo Alto, residential waste collection, transportation, and processing are strictly managed by GreenWaste of Palo Alto. Single-family homes are typically equipped with a standard three-cart system to separate their daily refuse. On your specific neighborhood collection day, you must wheel your carts to the curb or street-level edge no later than 6:00 a.m. Ensure the cart lids are completely closed; overstuffed bins may not be serviced. For automated trucks to lift the bins properly, residents should leave ample space between each container and ensure they are clear of parked vehicles, mailboxes, and low-hanging branches. After GreenWaste completes the route, residents should pull their containers back onto their property.
Waste Sorting: Landfill, Recycling, and Compost
Proper sorting is a critical element of Palo Alto's zero-waste sustainability goals. The city utilizes a color-coded system: the black cart is exclusively for non-recyclable garbage and landfill materials. The blue cart is designed for clean recyclables, including rigid plastics, aluminum cans, glass bottles, and loose cardboard. The green compost cart is for organic materials such as yard trimmings, grass clippings, leaves, and food scraps. Placing the wrong items in the recycling or compost bins leads to contamination and can result in additional fees on your utility bill. GreenWaste provides an online RE:Source search tool to help residents identify the correct disposal method for confusing items.
Scheduled Clean Up Days and Bulky Item Fees
Disposing of oversized household items is made easy through Palo Alto’s Clean Up Day program. Single-family residents automatically receive two pre-scheduled Clean Up Days each calendar year. On these specific dates, you can place out up to three bulky items like mattresses or appliances, as well as extra bags of clothing, yard waste, and boxed recyclables at no extra cost. Items must be out by 6:00 a.m. but no earlier than 24 hours prior to the collection date. If you need to dispose of bulky waste outside of these two designated dates, you can contact GreenWaste Customer Service at (650) 493-4894 to schedule a special collection for an additional fee.
Holiday Schedule Adjustments and Special Services
The GreenWaste collection schedule runs Monday through Saturday, but services are paused for three major holidays: New Year's Day, Thanksgiving Day, and Christmas Day. If any of these recognized holidays fall on your regular collection day, your pickup and all subsequent pickups for that week will be delayed by exactly one day. Furthermore, Palo Alto offers a unique Physical Limitations Program. This service provides free backyard or side-yard cart collection for residents who have a qualifying medical or physical disability, ensuring that everyone in the community has reliable access to waste disposal without facing physical strain.
Drop-off Facilities
Palo Alto Household Hazardous Waste (HHW) Station
2501 Embarcadero Way, Palo Alto, CA 94303
Materials Accepted
GreenWaste San Jose Material Recovery Facility
625 Charles St, San Jose, CA 95112
Materials Accepted
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I know when my Palo Alto Clean Up Day is?
GreenWaste mails a notification postcard to single-family residents before each of their two annual Clean Up Days. You can also look up your exact dates anytime by using the Clean Up Day search tool on the GreenWaste Palo Alto website, provided you have your address and Utility account number handy.
Can I throw lithium batteries in the trash or recycle bin?
No. Lithium-ion batteries pose a severe fire risk and are strictly prohibited from all curbside carts and Clean Up Day piles. You must bring lithium batteries directly to the Palo Alto Household Hazardous Waste Station at 2501 Embarcadero Way.
What happens if I have extra cardboard that doesn't fit in the blue cart?
Occasional excess cardboard can be flattened, tied into 2-foot by 3-foot bundles, and placed on the ground next to your blue recycling cart on your normal collection day, or saved for your pre-scheduled Clean Up Day.
Does Palo Alto pick up trash on Thanksgiving?
No, GreenWaste of Palo Alto is closed on Thanksgiving Day. If your regular trash day is Thursday, it will be picked up on Friday. If your regular day is Friday, your bins will be emptied on Saturday.