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
!Contamination Tips
Tape Your Battery Terminals
Household batteries cannot go in your regular carts. Instead, you can place standard AA, AAA, C, or D batteries in a clear, sealed zip-top bag on top of your blue recycling cart during your pre-scheduled Clean Up Day. Remember to tape the terminals with non-conductive tape to prevent fire hazards.
Look for the BPI Certification
Do not be fooled by plastics claiming to be 'biodegradable' or 'made from plants.' In Palo Alto, only items strictly labeled as BPI-certified compostable (meeting ASTM D6400 or D6868 standards) are permitted in your green compost cart.
Disassemble Large Items
For your Clean Up Day, items like trampolines, bed frames, or basketball hoops that are over 7 feet long or weigh more than 200 pounds will not be collected unless you fully disassemble them and bundle the parts together.
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.
About Palo Alto Waste Management
Palo Alto's Zero Waste Three-Cart System
The City of Palo Alto operates an aggressive Zero Waste program managed by GreenWaste of Palo Alto. Every single-family residence uses a strict color-coded, three-stream system: a blue cart for recycling, a green cart for compost, and a black cart for landfill. Because the city has banned all single-use plastic straws and utensils, sorting compliance is heavily enforced to keep local watersheds clean and meet California's organics recycling mandates.
Mandatory Organics Recycling and Compost Rules
In compliance with state law SB 1383, Palo Alto requires all food scraps, food-soiled paper, and yard trimmings to be placed in the green compost cart. This includes everything from meat and bones to coffee filters. If residents choose to line their compost bins or bag their organic matter, they are strictly required to use paper bags or BPI-certified compostable bags that meet ASTM D6400 or D6868 standards. Standard plastic bags will ruin an entire batch of compost.
Biannual Pre-Scheduled Clean Up Days
Palo Alto residents do not have to guess when to set out their bulky waste. GreenWaste provides single-family residences with two free, pre-scheduled Clean Up Days each year. Homeowners receive a notification postcard in the mail prior to their designated dates. On these specific days, residents can place bulky items, extra yard trimmings, bundled recyclables, and even used motor oil directly at the curb for free removal.
The Local Household Hazardous Waste and Reuse Zone
Toxic items like paint, pesticides, and strong cleaners are prohibited from residential carts, but Palo Alto makes disposal incredibly easy. The city operates its own Household Hazardous Waste (HHW) Station on Embarcadero Way. Uniquely, this facility features an 'HHW Reuse Zone' where residents can drop off gently used, high-quality household products or pick up screened items like partially full paint cans and cleaning supplies absolutely free.
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.