Black Bin (Trash)
Because San Jose sorts organics at the MRF, you MUST put all food scraps into your black garbage cart. Do not place food scraps in the street yard waste pile. Carts must be set out by 6:00 a.m. with the lid closed.
Accepted Items
- ✓Kitchen food scraps (meat, bones, dairy, vegetables)
- ✓Food-soiled paper and greasy pizza boxes
- ✓Standard household refuse
- ✓Diapers and pet waste
- ✓Polystyrene (Styrofoam) and packing peanuts
Blue Bin (Recycling)
Items should be empty, clean, and loose. Never place recyclables inside plastic garbage bags. Break down all cardboard boxes to save space.
Accepted Items
- ✓Clean paper, mail, and magazines
- ✓Flattened cardboard
- ✓Plastic bottles, jugs, and tubs
- ✓Aluminum and tin cans
- ✓Glass bottles and jars
Do NOT Include
- ✕Plastic grocery bags and film plastics
- ✕Food-soiled cardboard (must go in black cart)
- ✕Tanglers (cords, wires, hoses)
- ✕Textiles and clothing
Yard Waste Bin
Place yard trimmings loose in the street at least 1 foot away from the curb and 5 feet away from parked cars, or use an optional green subscription cart. Absolutely NO food scraps or pet waste.
Accepted Items
- ✓Leaves and grass clippings
- ✓Weeds and plant trimmings
- ✓Tree branches (cut to fit limits)
Bulky Item Pickup
Frequency
Unlimited (Must be scheduled by appointment in advance)
Placement
Place items at least 3 feet away from all other objects (cars, fences, mailboxes). Do not stack items. If rain is expected, cover any water-retaining items (like mattresses or sofas) in plastic.
Accepted
- ✓ Sofas, chairs, and household furniture
- ✓ Mattresses and box springs
- ✓ Refrigerators and large appliances
- ✓ Televisions and computers
- ✓ Tires (limits apply)
Not Accepted
- ✕ Construction and demolition debris
- ✕ Household hazardous waste
- ✕ Glass, mirrors, or items with sharp edges
- ✕ Items with untreated bed bugs
Junk Pickup is completely free for San Jose residents. However, setting items out without a confirmed appointment is strictly enforced as illegal dumping and may result in heavy fines.
Holiday Schedule
General Rule
Collection occurs on all holidays except Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Year's Day. If these holidays occur Monday through Friday, collection will be pushed back by one day for the remainder of that week.
Yard Waste Exception
Yard trimmings piles and recycling carts follow the exact same holiday delay schedule as the standard black garbage carts.
Service occurs completely normally on all other holidays, including July 4th, Memorial Day, and Labor Day.
Observed Holidays
!Contamination Tips
Food Belongs in the Garbage, Not Yard Waste
Unlike most cities, San Jose extracts compostable food scraps directly from your black garbage cart at a processing facility. Putting food scraps into your yard trimmings pile ruins the clean green waste stream.
Don't Park on the Piles
With the 'loose in the street' yard waste program, a major issue for collection drivers is residents parking vehicles directly on top of or too close to yard trimmings piles. Keep piles 5 feet away from all cars.
Plastic Bags Belong at the Grocery Store
Never bag your recyclables. Soft film plastics and grocery bags wrap around the sorting gears at the recycling facility, causing severe mechanical damage. Keep items loose in the blue cart.
Seasonal Information
Winter
December - JanuaryThe curbside collection of holiday trees runs on your regular collection day until January 30th. Remove all stands, tinsel, and decorations. Cut the tree into 5-foot pieces and set it out by 6 a.m.
Rainy Season
November - MarchWhen rain is forecast, try to delay putting loose yard trimmings in the street until right before collection day to prevent materials from washing into and clogging neighborhood storm drains.
About San Jose Waste Management
San Jose's Unique Mixed Waste Processing System
Unlike most California cities grappling with SB 1383 organic waste mandates, San Jose residents do not need a separate green organics bin for kitchen scraps. The city utilizes a highly advanced mixed waste processing system. Residents simply throw all food waste, food-soiled paper, and greasy pizza boxes directly into their black garbage cart. Once collected, the garbage is taken to the GreenWaste Materials Recovery Facility (MRF), where organic matter is mechanically separated from standard landfill trash and sent to the Z-Best facility in Gilroy to be turned into compost.
The Loose in the Street Yard Trimmings Program
San Jose is one of the few major metropolitan areas that still defaults to a 'loose in the street' yard waste collection program. Instead of wrestling branches into a cart, single-family homes can pile their grass clippings, leaves, and tree prunings directly on the asphalt, one foot away from the curb. Piles must be kept under 5' by 5' and cannot contain any food scraps, as that would contaminate the agricultural-grade mulch. If you prefer a container, you can order an optional yard trimmings subscription cart for a small monthly fee.
Unlimited Free Junk Pickups via San José 311
One of the most generous perks of San Jose's residential waste program is the provision for unlimited free bulky item pickups. Instead of paying premium dump fees to dispose of old mattresses, broken televisions, or worn-out sofas, residents can easily schedule a curbside Junk Pickup appointment using the San José 311 app or website. Because setting out large items without a confirmed appointment is heavily penalized as illegal dumping, you must receive your confirmation date before hauling your items to the curb.
Curbside Used Motor Oil and Filter Collection
San Jose makes it incredibly convenient for single-family homeowners to properly dispose of automotive fluids. You can request specially designed oil jugs and filter bags directly from your assigned recycling collection company. Once filled and sealed, simply place the jug and filter bag on the curb right next to your recycling cart on your normal collection day, keeping toxic chemicals out of the local groundwater and storm drains.
Navigating the Three Major Holidays
San Jose residents enjoy an incredibly stable collection schedule. The Environmental Services Department only observes three holidays per year that disrupt service: Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Year's Day. If your normal pickup day falls on or after one of these three holidays during a weekday, your service will be delayed by one single day for the remainder of that week. For all other holidays, including Memorial Day, Labor Day, and Independence Day, you must set your carts out on their normal schedule.
Drop-off Facilities
Santa Clara County Household Hazardous Waste Program
Various drop-off locations assigned upon appointment booking
Materials Accepted
Leo Blanco / GreenWaste Materials Recovery Facility
625 Charles St, San Jose, CA 95112
Materials Accepted
Frequently Asked Questions
Does San Jose require a green bin for kitchen food scraps?
No! Unlike most California cities, San Jose utilizes a mixed waste processing system. You must place all kitchen food scraps, meat, bones, and food-soiled paper directly into your black garbage cart. The city sorts the organic waste out at a specialized facility to turn it into compost.
Can I really put my yard waste directly in the street?
Yes. San Jose's default yard trimmings service allows you to place grass, leaves, and branches loose in the street. Piles must be no larger than 5' by 5', placed 1 foot from the curb, and kept 5 feet away from parked cars. Do not put any food waste in these piles.
How do I schedule a free bulky item pickup in San Jose?
San Jose offers unlimited free bulky item pickups for residents. You simply need to request an appointment through the San José 311 app, visit 311.sanjoseca.gov, or call (408) 535-3500. Never place items at the curb without a confirmed appointment, as you could be fined for illegal dumping.
Which holidays delay trash collection in San Jose?
There are only three holidays that disrupt your collection schedule: Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Year's Day. If your normal pickup falls on or after these days during a weekday, it will be delayed by one day. You should set your carts out on your normal day for all other holidays.