Weekly Collection Schedule
Official municipal pickup timing for San Bruno
Trash Day
Trash collection runs Monday through Friday, with pickup days determined by neighborhood and street address.
Recycling
Recycling is collected weekly on the same day as your regular trash service.
Yard Waste
Organics and yard waste (green cart) are collected weekly on the same day as trash and recycling.
Set Out Time
By 6:00 AM on collection day
Utility Billing & Payments
Manage your local solid waste services
Residential waste and recycling services are billed directly by Recology San Bruno, while municipal water service is billed separately by the City of San Bruno and sewer fees are collected on the county property tax roll.
Billing Cycle
Monthly
Accepted Methods
Online, Auto-Pay, Phone, Mail, In-Person
Pro Tip / Discount
The City of San Bruno offers a 25% discount on garbage service (for 32-gallon cart customers) and city utilities to qualifying low-income households through an annual application.
Black Bin (Trash)
Place carts at the curb with wheels against the curb and handles facing the house. Do not overflow the cart; the lid must close.
Accepted Items
- ✓Bagged cat litter and pet waste [1.2.4]
- ✓Ceramic dishware and broken glassware
- ✓Mylar wrappers and chip bags
- ✓Plastics labeled 'biodegradable' only
- ✓Diapers and feminine hygiene products
- ✓Styrofoam and foam packaging
Blue Bin (Recycling)
Ensure all containers are empty and dry. Keep items loose in the cart—never bundle recyclables in plastic bags.
Accepted Items
- ✓Clean, non-waxed cardboard [1.2.2]
- ✓Glass bottles and jars (metal lids included)
- ✓Aluminum and tin cans
- ✓Rigid plastics numbered 1-7 (bottles, tubs, clamshells)
- ✓Shredded paper (must be sealed inside a labeled paper bag)
Do NOT Include
- ✕Food-soiled paper and pizza boxes
- ✕Foam packaging
- ✕Window glass and drinking glasses
Yard Waste Bin
Do not include dirt, rocks, concrete, animal waste, or any non-certified plastics. Materials must fit entirely inside the cart.
Accepted Items
- ✓Kitchen food scraps (meat, bones, dairy, vegetables) [1.2.4]
- ✓Yard trimmings, leaves, and small branches
- ✓Food-soiled paper and pizza boxes
- ✓Bio-plastics labeled 'compostable' displaying a green/brown stripe
Bulky Item Pickup
Frequency
Two (2) free On-Call Collections per fiscal year (July 1st through June 30th) for residential customers.
Placement
Collections must be scheduled at least 24 hours in advance and take place on your regular service day. Be prepared to provide an itemized list when calling.
Accepted
- ✓ Household appliances
- ✓ Bagged household garbage
- ✓ Electronic waste
Not Accepted
- ✕ Hazardous waste [1.1.4]
- ✕ Construction and demolition debris
- ✕ Liquids, rock, dirt, or hot ashes
- ✕ Items exceeding five feet in length
Items weighing over 200 lbs may require an extra fee. If you exceed your two free pickups, additional collections can be scheduled for a charge.
Holiday Schedule
General Rule
Recology San Bruno only observes Christmas Day and New Year's Day. If your regular collection day falls on or after one of these two holidays, your service will be delayed by one day for the remainder of the week.
Yard Waste Exception
No exceptions. The green organics cart follows the exact same delayed schedule as the trash and recycling carts.
Service occurs completely as normal on all other holidays, including Thanksgiving, Labor Day, and Independence Day. Always place carts out on your scheduled day.
Observed Holidays
Seasonal Information
Winter
December - JanuaryFollowing the holidays, Recology offers curbside Christmas tree collection. Trees must be stripped of all ornaments and lights. Depending on the exact weeks, you must either cut the tree to fit entirely inside your green compost cart with the lid closed, or place it next to your bins.
Spring
April - MaySan Bruno often hosts a Spring Community Drop Off Day and Compost Giveaway. Residents can safely dispose of unwanted bulk items, e-waste, and latex paint, while taking home a free bucket of nutrient-rich compost for spring gardening.
Year-Round
January - DecemberThe City sponsors community programs like Operation Clean Sweep (an annual litter clean-up event) and Clean Your Files Day for secure document shredding and recycling.
Local Tips & Community Info
Waste Management on the Peninsula: San Bruno's Program
Residents of San Bruno enjoy comprehensive refuse, recycling, and composting services provided by Recology San Bruno. As a community nestled on the San Francisco Peninsula, minimizing landfill impact is a top priority. The local program is designed around a three-cart system to maximize diversion rates and align with state environmental goals. By actively participating in proper waste separation, every household contributes to a cleaner, greener city.
When and Where to Place Your Receptacles
Proper cart placement is critical for the automated trucks navigating San Bruno's streets. Ensure your containers are wheeled out by 6:00 a.m. on the day of your scheduled pickup, as routes can change without notice. Keep the bins at least two feet apart from one another and maintain a safe distance from parked cars, fire hydrants, and utility poles. The lids must be completely closed to prevent litter from blowing into the street, and the wheels should rest against the curb facing your home.
What Goes in the Blue Recycling Cart?
Your blue cart is the destination for everyday recyclable materials. San Bruno operates a single-stream system, meaning you can mix your aluminum cans, glass bottles, clean paper, and rigid plastics in one container. It is vital to rinse out food jars and beverage containers to prevent contamination. Furthermore, never bag your recyclables. Items sealed inside plastic garbage bags are routinely pulled from the sorting line and sent straight to the landfill.
Mastering the Green Organics Container
To comply with California's SB 1383, Recology San Bruno requires all residents to utilize the green cart for compostable materials. This container accepts all yard trimmings, such as branches, leaves, and grass. More importantly, it is the designated bin for all kitchen food scraps, including meat, dairy, bones, and soiled paper products like coffee filters and greasy pizza boxes. Keeping organic waste out of the standard trash bin drastically reduces greenhouse gas emissions.
Bulky Item Pickups for San Bruno Households
Disposing of oversized items is hassle-free for residential customers. Recology San Bruno offers two complimentary curbside bulky item collections per calendar year. This service is ideal for discarding old furniture, mattresses, broken appliances, and large bundles of yard waste that exceed the capacity of your standard carts. You must contact Recology customer service in advance to schedule your specific pickup day. Note that hazardous materials like wet paint and motor oil are prohibited during these collections.
Recology Holiday Schedule Impacts
Collection services run smoothly year-round, with only a few exceptions. Recology San Bruno observes Thanksgiving Day, Christmas Day, and New Year's Day. If your regular garbage day happens to fall on one of these three holidays, your pickup will be pushed to the following day. All subsequent collections for that week will also experience a one-day delay, with normal operations resuming the following Monday.
Drop-off Facilities
San Bruno Transfer Station [1.1.4]
101 Tanforan Avenue, San Bruno, CA 94066
Materials Accepted
Frequently Asked Questions
Does my trash schedule change for Thanksgiving in San Bruno?
No. Recology San Bruno operates on all holidays except for Christmas Day and New Year's Day [2.2.1]. Your trash will be collected on its normal schedule during Thanksgiving, Fourth of July, Memorial Day, and Labor Day.
How do I schedule a bulky item pickup for my old couch?
San Bruno residential customers receive two free On-Call Collections every fiscal year (July 1 - June 30). You must call Recology San Bruno at (650) 583-8536 at least 24 hours in advance to schedule the pickup for your regular service day.
Can I put compostable plastic bags or cups in the green bin?
Yes, but with strict limitations. Recology San Bruno only accepts bio-plastics in the green cart if they are clearly labeled 'compostable' AND prominently display a green or brown stripe. Items simply labeled 'biodegradable' must go in the trash.
Where can I safely dispose of old paint and motor oil?
Household hazardous waste like paint, motor oil, and batteries cannot go in your curbside bins. You can drop these items off safely at the San Bruno Transfer Station located at 101 Tanforan Avenue. Call ahead to verify operating hours.