Gray or Black Bin (Trash)
Use the gray cart for items that cannot be recycled or composted. Ensure the lid closes completely and the cart is placed at the curb by 6:00 a.m.
Accepted Items
- ✓Thin plastic film and plastic bags
- ✓Saran wrap and snack wrappers
- ✓Cat litter and animal waste
- ✓Styrofoam (expanded polystyrene)
- ✓Ceramics and broken glass
- ✓Diapers and sanitary products
Blue Bin (Recycling)
All recyclables must be clean, dry, and placed loosely in the blue cart. Do not bag your recyclables, and never include black plastics.
Accepted Items
- ✓Clean cardboard and paperboard
- ✓Mixed paper, junk mail, and magazines
- ✓Aluminum and tin cans
- ✓Glass bottles and jars
- ✓Rigid plastic bottles, tubs, and containers
Do NOT Include
- ✕Black plastic of any kind
- ✕Plastic grocery bags or film
- ✕Styrofoam
- ✕Food-soiled paper or pizza boxes
- ✕Tanglers (hoses, cords, wires)
Yard Waste Bin
Place organics directly into the green cart. Do NOT use bioplastic or 'compostable' bags. Wrap food waste in newspaper or use a paper bag instead.
Accepted Items
- ✓Grass clippings, leaves, and weeds
- ✓Food scraps (meat, dairy, bones, fruits, vegetables)
- ✓Food-soiled paper (napkins, paper towels, paper plates)
- ✓Greasy pizza boxes and waxed cardboard (produce boxes)
Bulky Item Pickup
Frequency
Two (2) free appointments per calendar year
Placement
Items must be placed curbside by 6:00 a.m. on your regular collection day once an appointment is confirmed. Loose items must be bagged or boxed.
Accepted
- ✓ One large appliance (refrigerator, washing machine)
- ✓ One bulky item (mattress, sofa, up to 4 tires without rims)
- ✓ One e-waste item (TV, computer monitor)
- ✓ Up to 12 standard garbage bags/boxes of general refuse (max 2 cubic yards)
Not Accepted
- ✕ Items exceeding five feet in length
- ✕ Items weighing more than 200 pounds
- ✕ Treated wood waste (fences, decking)
- ✕ Hazardous waste (paint, motor oil, chemicals)
- ✕ Dirt, concrete, or construction debris
The first two collections per year are free. Additional pickups can be requested for an extra fee. Call (650) 595-3900 to schedule.
Holiday Schedule
General Rule
Recology San Mateo County observes only two holidays: Christmas Day and 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 remainder of that week.
Yard Waste Exception
The one-day holiday delay applies equally to all carts: garbage, recycling, and compost.
Minor holidays such as Memorial Day, Fourth of July, Labor Day, and Thanksgiving DO NOT cause service delays. Set your carts out on your normal schedule during those weeks.
Observed Holidays
!Contamination Tips
Ban the Bioplastic Compostable Bags
Even if a bag is labeled 'biodegradable' or 'compostable', Recology San Mateo County does not accept it in the green compost cart. These bags leave microplastics in the finished compost. To contain messy food scraps, wrap them in newspaper or use a standard paper grocery bag instead.
Black Plastic Belongs in the Trash
Recycling facility optical scanners cannot detect black plastic items. Consequently, all black plastic containers, tubs, and lids must be thrown into your gray landfill cart, regardless of the recycling symbol on the bottom.
Keep Recyclables Loose
Never place your clean recyclables inside a plastic garbage bag. Bagged items jam the sorting machinery at the Shoreway Environmental Center and are often sent directly to the landfill as contamination. Toss paper, cans, and bottles loosely into the blue cart.
Seasonal Information
Winter
December - JanuaryRecology provides curbside holiday tree recycling between December 26th and January 31st [2.1.2]. Place your bare, unflocked tree next to your green compost cart. Trees must have all lights, stands, and decorations removed, and trees over 8 feet tall must be cut in half.
Spring and Summer
VariableResidents who actively compost with their green carts can enjoy the rewards of their efforts. Recology San Mateo County frequently hosts annual Compost Giveaway events where residents can pick up free, nutrient-rich compost to use in their spring and summer gardens.
About Redwood City Waste Management
Mastering the Organics Mandate (SB 1383)
Redwood City has fully embraced California’s SB 1383 organics mandate to drastically cut methane emissions. The green compost cart is required for all food scraps (including meat, dairy, and bones), food-soiled paper like greasy pizza boxes and napkins, and general yard trimmings. Unlike some neighboring jurisdictions, Recology San Mateo County strictly prohibits the use of 'compostable' bioplastic bags in the green cart because they do not break down efficiently in local facilities and leave microplastics behind. Instead, wrap your messy food scraps in newspaper or place them in a standard paper bag.
Twice Annual Free Bulky Item Collection
For items too large to fit in your gray landfill cart, Redwood City residential customers are provided with two free curbside Bulky Item Collection (BIC) appointments every calendar year. These collections can be scheduled between February 1st and December 31st. A single appointment covers up to two cubic yards of bagged or boxed garbage, one large appliance, one large piece of furniture or mattress, and one electronic waste item. Appointments must be scheduled in advance by calling Recology at (650) 595-3900.
Proper Disposal of Household Hazardous Waste
Toxic materials such as paint, harsh chemical cleaners, motor oil, and batteries are illegal to throw away in your standard curbside bins. These items pose serious fire hazards to collection trucks and processing facilities. Redwood City residents can safely dispose of Household Hazardous Waste (HHW) for free by taking them directly to the Shoreway Environmental Center located nearby in San Carlos, ensuring these dangerous substances stay out of our local waterways and landfills.
Drop-off Facilities
Shoreway Environmental Center
333 Shoreway Road, San Carlos, CA 94070
Materials Accepted
Frequently Asked Questions
Does my trash get delayed on Thanksgiving or the Fourth of July in Redwood City?
No. Recology San Mateo County only observes two holidays: Christmas Day and New Year's Day [3.1.1]. If your pickup day falls on or after those two specific holidays, service is delayed by one day. For all other holidays like Thanksgiving, Labor Day, or Independence Day, you must set your carts out on your normal service day.
Can I use compostable bags in my green organics cart?
No. Unlike some other cities, Recology strictly prohibits the use of 'compostable' or 'biodegradable' bioplastic bags in the green cart because they do not break down in their facilities. To contain messy food waste, wrap it in newspaper or use a standard paper grocery bag.
How do I schedule a free bulky item pickup in Redwood City?
Residential customers get two free Bulky Item Collection appointments per calendar year (available from February 1st through December 31st). You can schedule a pickup by calling Recology customer service at (650) 595-3900.
Can I put black plastic takeout containers in my blue recycling bin?
No. The optical sorting machines at the recycling facility cannot 'see' black plastic, meaning it will contaminate other recyclables. All black plastics, regardless of their recycling number, must be placed in your gray landfill cart.