Weekly Collection Schedule
Official municipal pickup timing for San Mateo
Trash Day
Collection runs Monday through Friday depending on your neighborhood zone, with service occurring once per week.
Recycling
Collected weekly on the same day as your trash service in the blue recycling cart.
Yard Waste
Collected weekly on the same day as your trash service in the green compost and organics cart.
Set Out Time
By 6:00 AM on collection day
Utility Billing & Payments
Manage your local solid waste services
Single-family residents are billed quarterly directly by Recology San Mateo County. You can reduce your monthly rate by switching to a smaller black trash cart, as recycling and organics collection are included.
Billing Cycle
Quarterly
Accepted Methods
Online, Auto-Pay, Mail, Phone, In-Person
Pro Tip / Discount
Free backyard collection assistance is available for qualifying elderly or disabled residents who have a medical verification and no able-bodied person in the household to move carts to the curb.
Black or Gray Bin (Trash)
All loose materials like ashes or pet waste must be securely bagged. Lids must close completely. Hazardous waste, construction debris, and heavy rocks or dirt are strictly prohibited.
Accepted Items
- ✓Cat litter and animal feces (bagged)
- ✓Ceramic dishware and broken glassware
- ✓Diapers and feminine hygiene products
- ✓Plastic bags, wrappers, and film
- ✓Styrofoam packaging and peanuts
- ✓Treated and painted wood scraps
Blue Bin (Recycling)
Items must be empty, clean, and dry. Do not bag recyclables; place them loosely in the cart.
Accepted Items
- ✓Clean cardboard and paper
- ✓Aluminum cans, foil, and trays
- ✓Glass bottles and jars
- ✓Plastic bottles, jugs, and tubs
- ✓Steel (tin) cans
Do NOT Include
- ✕Plastic bags and shrink wrap
- ✕Garden hoses and wire hangers
- ✕Food-soiled paper
- ✕Styrofoam
- ✕Juice boxes with foil liners
Yard Waste Bin
No plastic bags, bio-based 'compostable' plastics (PLA), pet waste, or liquids. Lids must be fully closed.
Accepted Items
- ✓Food scraps (meat, bones, dairy, fruit, eggshells)
- ✓Food-soiled paper (pizza boxes, paper towels, wax-lined paper)
- ✓Grass clippings, leaves, and weeds
- ✓Tree trimmings and branches (under 4 inches in diameter)
- ✓Coffee grounds and filters
Bulky Item Pickup
Frequency
Two (2) free curbside pickups per calendar year for single-family residential customers.
Placement
Place items at the curb by 6:00 AM on your scheduled collection day. Ensure items do not block the sidewalk and attach a sign clearly reading 'RECOLOGY'.
Accepted
- ✓ Mattresses and box springs
- ✓ Furniture and couches
- ✓ Major household appliances
- ✓ E-waste (TVs, monitors, microwaves)
- ✓ Bagged miscellaneous household junk
Not Accepted
- ✕ Hazardous waste or chemicals
- ✕ Dirt, rocks, and concrete
- ✕ Construction and demolition debris
- ✕ Treated wood waste
- ✕ Items weighing more than 200 pounds
Unused pickups do not roll over to the next year. If you exceed your two free annual pickups, additional collections can be requested for an extra fee.
Holiday Schedule
General Rule
If your normal collection day falls on or after an observed holiday, your service will be delayed by one day for the remainder of that week. Normal schedules resume the following week.
Yard Waste Exception
Organics and compost collections follow the exact same holiday delay schedule as trash and recycling.
Recology customer service offices and recycling centers may close early (e.g., at 3:00 PM) on the day before major holidays like Thanksgiving.
Observed Holidays
Seasonal Information
Winter
Late December to JanuaryHoliday tree recycling is provided at no extra charge. Trees are collected on your regular compost collection day for four weeks starting the day after Christmas. Trees must be stripped of all decorations, lights, and stands, and larger trees should be cut into manageable sections.
Spring
April to MaySpring garden prep is heavily supported by the city through free compost giveaways. Monitor city announcements for exact dates, typically held at the City Corp-yard on Pacific Blvd. Remember to bring your own shovel and buckets.
Fall
September to NovemberRecology periodically hosts District Weekend Cleanup Events to help residents declutter before the holiday season. These events often feature partnerships with local charities to collect gently used clothing and electronics.
Local Tips & Community Info
Recology San Mateo County Operations
In the City of San Mateo, curbside sanitation is managed by Recology San Mateo County. This regional partnership delivers comprehensive waste, recycling, and composting services to thousands of Peninsula homes. By providing a unified three-cart system, the city makes it simple for locals to minimize their environmental footprint. Whether you reside in a single-family dwelling or a multi-tenant complex, understanding the specific collection day for your street ensures your property remains clean and compliant with local municipal codes.
Sorting Rules and the Compost Cart
Strict adherence to California's SB 1383 climate mandates is a focal point of San Mateo's waste strategy. Residents must utilize their green compost bin for all yard debris and kitchen food scraps, including meat, dairy, and soiled paper products like coffee filters. The blue recycling container is strictly for clean, loose items like rigid plastics, glass jars, and flattened cardboard. Never place plastic bags into the recycling or compost bins, as they severely damage sorting equipment at the Shoreway Environmental Center. The black cart is exclusively for non-recoverable household trash.
Street-Side Cart Protocols
For a seamless pickup experience, containers must be rolled to the gutter by 6:00 a.m. on your designated service morning. Recology drivers rely on automated lift arms, which require a minimum of two feet of clearance between each cart. Additionally, keep bins away from low-hanging tree branches, parked cars, and utility poles. The wheels should sit flat against the curb with the front of the lid facing the street. Once the trucks finish their neighborhood route, city ordinances require that you pull your bins out of public view.
Scheduling Your Oversized Junk Removals
Disposing of a broken mattress or a ruined couch is entirely hassle-free for San Mateo residents. Residential account holders are entitled to two free Bulky Item Collections (BIC) per calendar year. You must contact Recology customer service in advance to book a specific date for your oversized load. During your appointment, you can also place bagged clothing, small appliances, and e-waste on the curb for safe recycling. Hazardous materials, such as car batteries or wet paint, are not accepted and must be driven to the county's hazardous waste facility.
Impact of Winter Holidays on Service
Unlike some jurisdictions that pause operations for a half-dozen events, Recology San Mateo County only halts residential collection for three major holidays: Thanksgiving Day, Christmas Day, and New Year’s Day. If your normal pickup day lands on or immediately follows one of these three specific dates, your garbage and recycling service will be delayed by exactly 24 hours for the remainder of that week. For all other national holidays, including Labor Day and Memorial Day, trucks operate on their normal schedules.
Drop-off Facilities
Shoreway Environmental Center
333 Shoreway Rd, San Carlos, CA 94070
Materials Accepted
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I safely dispose of household chemicals in San Mateo?
Household hazardous waste (HHW) like pesticides, motor oil, and strong cleaners are not accepted in any curbside bin. San Mateo County residents must make a free appointment through the San Mateo County Health HHW program. You are limited to 10 liquid gallons or 50 solid pounds per appointment.
Will Recology pick up extra bags left next to my trash cart?
No. Drivers will only collect waste that is completely inside the cart with the lid closed. If you consistently have extra trash, you must call Recology to adjust your service level, or you can utilize one of your two free annual Bulky Item Collection appointments for the overflow.
Are juice boxes and milk cartons recyclable in San Mateo?
No. Aseptic containers like juice boxes and soy milk boxes that have foil or plastic liners cannot be recycled or composted in this specific facility. They must be placed in the black landfill cart.
How do I dispose of a toilet during a bathroom remodel?
You can schedule a Bulky Item Collection for a toilet, but strict rules apply. The toilet must be completely drained of liquids, placed in a sanitary condition, and secured inside a duct-taped cardboard box (or securely wrapped) to prevent handling injuries to the Recology crew.