Weekly Collection Schedule
Official municipal pickup timing for Santa Clara
Trash Day
Weekly collection runs Monday through Friday based on neighborhood zone.
Recycling
Collected weekly on the same day as your regular trash pickup (serviced by Recology South Bay).
Yard Waste
Collected weekly on your regular collection day (serviced by Mission Trail Waste Systems).
Set Out Time
By 7:00 AM on collection day
Utility Billing & Payments
Manage your local solid waste services
Garbage, recycling, and yard trimming charges are conveniently billed on your monthly City of Santa Clara Municipal Utilities statement alongside electric, water, and sewer services.
Billing Cycle
Monthly
Accepted Methods
Online, Auto-Pay, Phone, Mail, In-Person, Drop Box
Pro Tip / Discount
Income-qualified customers enrolled in the Financial Rate Assistance Program (RAP) receive a $10.00 monthly discount on residential garbage charges.
Grey or Black Bin (Trash)
Place carts out before 7:00 am on collection day. Lids must be fully closed to prevent litter and deter pests.
Accepted Items
- ✓Household garbage
- ✓Food waste
- ✓Pet waste
- ✓Non-recyclable plastics
- ✓Styrofoam (#6 polystyrene)
Blue Bin (Recycling)
All items MUST be empty, clean, and dry. Extra cardboard must be cut into 4'x4' sections and placed alongside the cart.
Accepted Items
- ✓Paper and non-metallic wrapping paper
- ✓Flattened cardboard
- ✓Glass bottles and jars
- ✓Aluminum cans and clean foil
- ✓Plastics (#1-#7 except #6)
Do NOT Include
- ✕Styrofoam/Polystyrene (#6)
- ✕Food-soiled paper
- ✕Clothing and textiles
- ✕Electronics and batteries
Yard Waste Bin
Do not place yard trimmings in plastic bags. Do not include painted wood, dirt, or rocks.
Accepted Items
- ✓Grass clippings
- ✓Leaves
- ✓Small branches and brush
- ✓Plant trimmings
Bulky Item Pickup
Frequency
On-call year-round (fee applies) or during the Annual Cleanup Campaign (free).
Placement
Everything must be ready at the curb prior to 6:00 am on your scheduled pickup day. Do not block sidewalks, bike lanes, or fire hydrants.
Accepted
- ✓ Furniture
- ✓ Mattresses
- ✓ Major appliances (non-freon)
- ✓ Rugs
- ✓ Large yard trimmings
Not Accepted
- ✕ Household hazardous waste
- ✕ Ammunition and explosives
- ✕ E-waste with lithium batteries
- ✕ Contractor demolition debris
- ✕ Pressure treated wood
The On-Call service costs approximately $197.52 per service trip. Free alternatives include the Annual Cleanup Campaign or registering for specific Free Disposal Drop-off days throughout the year.
Holiday Schedule
General Rule
If your regular service day falls on or after an observed holiday during the work week, your collection will be delayed by one day, with Friday routes serviced on Saturday.
Yard Waste Exception
Yard waste collection follows the exact same holiday delay schedule as garbage and recycling.
If a holiday falls on a Saturday or Sunday, there are no delays to the regular weekday collection schedule.
Observed Holidays
Seasonal Information
Winter
December - JanuaryHoliday trees are collected curbside on regular collection days. Remove all ornaments and stands. Flocked trees are not recyclable, must be broken down, and placed in the regular garbage to prevent stormwater pollution.
Spring
April - MayThe Annual Cleanup Campaign takes place during the spring months, allowing residents to legally place bulk items curbside without scheduling fees. Bulk bags for heavy materials can be purchased at the Municipal Utility Services Counter at City Hall.
Local Tips & Community Info
Mission Trail Waste Systems Collection Guidelines
For residents living in the City of Santa Clara, weekly curbside sanitation is managed in partnership with Mission Trail Waste Systems. To guarantee that your neighborhood route is serviced without interruption, you must wheel your carts out to the street edge by 6:00 a.m. on your specific collection day. Proper container spacing is highly enforced; you need to leave at least two feet of clearance between each cart and ensure they are at least three feet away from parked cars, fire hydrants, or utility poles. The lids must be completely closed to prevent local wildlife from scattering litter across the street. If your cart sustains damage or you miss a collection window, contact Mission Trail directly at (408) 727-5365 for swift assistance.
Mastering the Organics and Recycling Mandates
Santa Clara is deeply committed to keeping recoverable resources out of local landfills, heavily promoting its comprehensive food scraps and recycling programs. In your blue cart, you should strictly place unsoiled paper products, flattened cardboard, glass bottles, and rigid plastics. It is absolutely vital that recyclables remain loose and never bundled in plastic garbage bags. The green organics cart is designated for all yard trimmings, grass clippings, and kitchen food scraps, including dairy, meat, and bones. Utilizing a countertop compost pail makes transferring kitchen scraps to the green cart highly efficient and keeps your regular garbage bin free of odors.
Special Appointments for Oversized Debris
When it is time to clear out the garage or upgrade your living room furniture, Santa Clara homeowners can take advantage of the city's annual clean-up program. Single-family residences are entitled to two free bulky item collection appointments per calendar year through Mission Trail. This convenient service covers large household goods like mattresses, sofas, dishwashers, and bundled tree branches that exceed standard cart dimensions. E-waste, including discarded televisions and computer monitors, can also be collected during these scheduled visits. To reserve your spot, you must call the sanitation provider well in advance, as slots fill up quickly during the spring and summer months.
Sanitation Fleet Holiday Schedules
The standard waste collection calendar in Santa Clara only experiences interruptions during three major holidays: Thanksgiving Day, Christmas Day, and New Year's Day. If your regular trash day falls on one of these specific holidays, your pickup will automatically be delayed by 24 hours. Consequently, all subsequent collection days for that particular week will also shift forward by one day, culminating in Friday routes being serviced on Saturday. For all other federal holidays, such as Memorial Day or Labor Day, the Mission Trail crews maintain their normal operational routes.
Safe Drops for Toxic Household Chemicals
Dumping reactive chemicals, flammable liquids, or batteries into any of your municipal carts is an egregious violation that endangers public safety and sanitation infrastructure. Items like unused motor oil, aerosol cans, leftover house paint, and fluorescent tubes require specialized handling. Santa Clara residents must utilize the Santa Clara County Household Hazardous Waste (HHW) program to safely dispose of these materials. You can easily schedule a free, scheduled drop-off appointment at a county facility by visiting the HHW website or calling their dedicated hotline. Properly routing these toxins ensures our local waterways and processing centers remain uncontaminated.
Drop-off Facilities
Recology South Bay Transfer Station
1675 Rogers Ave, San Jose, CA 95112
Materials Accepted
Santa Clara County Household Hazardous Waste Facility
San Jose permanent facility (Address provided upon appointment)
Materials Accepted
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I dispose of excess cardboard that won't fit in my recycling cart in Santa Clara?
Extra cardboard must be flattened, neatly stacked into 4'x 4' sections, and placed directly alongside your blue recycling cart on your normal collection day.
Can I put my kitchen food scraps in the yard trimming cart?
No. Under Santa Clara's current compliance with SB1383 via Mixed Waste Processing, no additional sorting into the green cart is required for residential homes. Place your food scraps in your standard garbage cart, and it will be sorted out at the processing facility.
What should I do if my garbage pickup is missed by Mission Trail?
If your cart was missed, leave it at the curb and contact Mission Trail Waste Systems at 408-727-5365 within 24 hours. Because they use a two-pass system, your garbage and yard waste are collected by different trucks at different times of the day, so wait to see if the second truck arrives before calling.
Where can I buy Extra Garbage Bag Tags in Santa Clara?
Extra Bag Tags for overflow trash can be purchased for $7.91 each at the Municipal Utilities Customer Service Window at City Hall or at various city library branches including Central Park, Mission Branch, and Northside Branch.