Weekly Collection Schedule
Official municipal pickup timing for Redwood City
Trash Day
Collection runs Monday through Thursday depending on your neighborhood zone.
Recycling
Collected weekly on the same day as trash.
Yard Waste
Collected weekly on the same day as trash.
Set Out Time
By 6:00 AM on collection day
Utility Billing & Payments
Manage your local solid waste services
Residential solid waste services are billed directly by Recology San Mateo County quarterly in advance, while municipal water and sewer utilities are billed separately by the City.
Billing Cycle
Quarterly
Accepted Methods
Online, Auto-Pay, Phone, Mail, In-Person
Pro Tip / Discount
Eligible low-income households can apply for the City's Utility Rate Assistance Program (URAP) to receive a discount credit on their garbage bill.
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
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.
Local Tips & Community Info
Curbside Operations on the Peninsula
Maintaining Redwood City's scenic charm requires active participation in local waste management. Recology San Mateo County acts as the dedicated hauler for all residential curbside collections. Homeowners are required to have their carts positioned along the gutter by 6:00 a.m. on their assigned pickup day. Lids should be fully closed to prevent wildlife from accessing the contents, and carts must be spaced at least two feet apart to accommodate automated lifting arms. Once the Recology trucks clear the neighborhood, containers should be pulled back onto private property within 24 hours to comply with municipal codes.
Mastering the Tri-Color Sorting System
Sorting correctly is a major priority under California's organic waste mandates. Redwood City utilizes a specific tri-color bin system. The green compost cart accepts all yard trimmings, uncoated paper products, and food scraps. The blue recycling container takes clean plastics, glass bottles, cardboard, and aluminum cans. The black garbage cart is strictly for non-recyclable materials like pet waste, diaper products, and foam packaging. By keeping contaminants out of the green and blue carts, you actively support regional climate action goals and help the city minimize its landfill contributions.
Scheduling Twice-a-Year Bulky Cleanups
Disposing of oversized furniture or broken appliances is simple with Recology's residential cleanup program. Single-family homes automatically qualify for two complimentary bulky item collections every calendar year. Each appointment allows for up to two cubic yards of bagged waste or large items like mattresses, couches, and washing machines. Advance scheduling is absolutely required; you cannot simply abandon oversized items on the sidewalk. Contact Recology customer support directly to book your slot, keeping in mind that spring and early summer dates tend to fill up extremely fast.
Diverting Household Hazardous Waste
Certain dangerous items never belong in your standard bins. Household hazardous waste (HHW) such as wet paint, garden pesticides, pool chemicals, and lithium-ion batteries pose severe fire risks to collection trucks and sorting facilities. San Mateo County Health operates specialized drop-off events and a permanent facility for safely processing these volatile materials. Residents must schedule an appointment online with the county's environmental health department to drop off HHW securely and at no additional out-of-pocket cost.
Holiday Route Interruptions
Collection schedules occasionally shift due to major national observances. Recology San Mateo County operations pause entirely on Thanksgiving Day, Christmas Day, and New Year's Day. When one of these specific holidays lands on a weekday, all subsequent neighborhood routes are pushed back one day for the remainder of that week. For example, Wednesday collections will move to Thursday. Regular operations run smoothly on all other federal holidays, including Memorial Day and the Fourth of July, so keep your bins out on their normal day during those times.
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.