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Weekly Collection Schedule
Official municipal pickup timing for Santa Cruz
Trash Day
Trash is collected once per week, Monday through Friday, depending on your neighborhood route.
Recycling
Recycling is collected weekly on the same day as your scheduled trash collection.
Yard Waste
Yard waste and curbside food scrap pails are collected weekly on your regular collection day.
Set Out Time
By 5:00 AM on collection day
Utility Billing & Payments
Manage your local solid waste services
Residential refuse, recycling, water, and sewer services are billed together on your monthly Santa Cruz Municipal Utilities (SCMU) statement.
Billing Cycle
Monthly
Accepted Methods
Online, Auto-Pay, Phone, Mail, In-Person
Pro Tip / Discount
The Utility Customer Assistance Program (UCAP) provides a 25% bill discount for eligible low-income single-family households enrolled in programs like PG&E CARE, CalFresh, Medi-Cal, SSI, or WIC, along with assistance grants for multi-unit renters.
Gray Bin (Trash)
Place your gray cart at the curb by 5:00 a.m. on your designated collection day. Ensure the lid is fully closed and the cart is kept clear of vehicles and mailboxes.
Accepted Items
- ✓Standard household garbage
- ✓Diapers and pet waste
- ✓Styrofoam (polystyrene)
- ✓Treated or painted wood
- ✓Broken ceramics and glassware
- ✓Snack wrappers and chip bags
Blue Bin (Recycling)
Do not bag your recyclables; keep all items loose in the blue cart. Rinse containers lightly to remove heavy food residue.
Accepted Items
- ✓Plastics #1 through #7 (bottles, jugs, and tubs)
- ✓Clean paper, newspaper, and magazines
- ✓Flattened corrugated cardboard and paperboard
- ✓Glass bottles and jars (all colors)
- ✓Aluminum and tin cans
- ✓Empty and completely dry paint cans (lids off)
Do NOT Include
- ✕Food waste and liquids
- ✕Styrofoam
- ✕Loose plastic bags
- ✕Window glass and mirrors
- ✕Hazardous waste and batteries
Yard Waste Bin
Never mix food scraps into the green yard waste cart. Place all yard trimmings loosely in the green cart. Place all food scraps loosely inside the 6-gallon brown pail without using plastic or compostable bags, and set the pail at least 2 feet away from the larger carts.
Accepted Items
- ✓Leaves, grass clippings, and weeds (Green Cart)
- ✓Small branches and prunings (Green Cart)
- ✓Meat, fish, poultry, and bones (6-Gallon Brown Pail)
- ✓Fruits, vegetables, and dairy products (6-Gallon Brown Pail)
- ✓Coffee grounds and eggshells (6-Gallon Brown Pail)
Bulky Item Pickup
Frequency
Up to four items per year
Placement
You must schedule your 'On Call' pickup by contacting Customer Service at 831-420-5220 or emailing [email protected]. Do not place items on the curb until your appointment is confirmed.
Accepted
- ✓ Couches and sofas
- ✓ Dressers and bookcases
- ✓ Chairs and desks under 100 pounds
- ✓ Large household appliances
Not Accepted
- ✕ Household hazardous waste
- ✕ Pianos
- ✕ Dirt, concrete, or construction debris
- ✕ Liquid paint
The first four items are collected for free each year. Non-account holders or those exceeding the four-item limit will be charged an additional bulky item fee.
Holiday Schedule
General Rule
The Resource Recovery Facility is closed on Thanksgiving Day, Christmas Day, and New Year's Day. If one of these holidays falls on a regular weekday, curbside collection for the remainder of that week will be delayed by one day.
Yard Waste Exception
This one-day delay applies to all collection streams, including the gray, blue, and green carts, as well as the brown food scrap pail.
Ensure your carts and pails are placed at the curb by 5:00 a.m. on the adjusted holiday collection day.
Observed Holidays
Seasonal Information
Winter
JanuaryCurbside holiday tree recycling is available for single-family residents from January 2 through January 24. Trees must be unbagged, un-flocked, and stripped of all ornaments and stands. Cut any trees taller than 6 feet in half.
Summer
July to SeptemberTo prevent pests and odors in your 6-gallon food scrap pail during warmer months, try freezing your food waste throughout the week and transferring it to the outdoor pail on the morning of your collection day.
Local Tips & Community Info
Santa Cruz Resource Recovery Operations
Protecting the Monterey Bay ecosystem starts right at the curb. The City of Santa Cruz operates its own Resource Recovery division, collecting residential trash, recyclables, and organics. Because of the city's deep commitment to coastal sustainability, adhering to the local sorting mandates is heavily emphasized for all single-family neighborhoods. Understanding how to properly utilize your provided bins ensures our local beaches stay clean and the city meets its aggressive waste diversion goals.
5 AM Cart Set-Out Instructions
Collection routes in this beach town start exceptionally early. Residents must wheel their carts to the gutter line by 5:00 a.m. on their scheduled collection morning, or place them out the night before. Position the containers with the lid hinges facing your property. Ensure there is at least a three-foot clearance between bins and keep them away from parked cars, bike lanes, and storm drains. Carts should be removed from the street by 8:00 p.m. to keep the neighborhood pathways clear.
Blue Bin Protocols for Clean Oceans
The blue recycling cart is meant for unbagged, clean materials. You can deposit flattened cardboard, aluminum cans, glass bottles, and rigid plastics. Crucially, plastic film, grocery bags, and styrofoam are banned from the blue cart because they blow away easily and pollute the nearby beaches. If your items are contaminated with food residue, they belong in the trash to prevent ruining the entire batch of recyclables at the sorting plant.
Food Scraps and Yard Trimmings
Following state laws, the green organics cart is utilized for all yard debris and kitchen scraps. Santa Cruz residents should place grass clippings, leaves, coffee grounds, eggshells, and leftover food directly into this bin. Avoid using any type of plastic liner; if you need to contain messy kitchen waste, utilize newspaper or paper compost bags. Keeping plastic out of the organics bin is essential for generating high-quality compost.
Dimeo Lane Drop-Offs and Bulky Goods
If you are renovating or doing a massive spring clean, standard bins won't suffice. The city allows residents to schedule special bulky item pickups for mattresses and furniture by calling customer service. Alternatively, you can haul large loads directly to the Resource Recovery Facility located on Dimeo Lane. This same facility safely accepts household hazardous waste, such as old paint, motor oil, and batteries, keeping toxic chemicals out of our coastal environment.
Drop-off Facilities
Santa Cruz Resource Recovery Facility & Recycling Center
605 Dimeo Lane, Santa Cruz, CA 95060
Materials Accepted
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I put my food scraps into the green yard waste cart?
No. Unlike other cities in the county, the City of Santa Cruz processes yard waste strictly into mulch. All food scraps must go into your separate 6-gallon brown pail, which is collected weekly by a dedicated truck.
What time do my carts and food scrap pail need to be at the curb?
All automated carts (gray, blue, and green) and your 6-gallon brown food scrap pail must be placed at the curb by 5:00 a.m. on your designated collection day. Ensure the small brown pail is at least 2 feet away from the larger carts.
How do I schedule a bulky item pickup for an old couch?
If you are the municipal utility account holder, you can schedule a free 'On Call' bulky item pickup by calling Customer Service at 831-420-5220. You are eligible for up to four free bulky items per year.
Where can I dispose of old paint and household chemicals?
Hazardous materials cannot go in your curbside bins. You can drop off Household Hazardous Waste for free at the Resource Recovery Facility (605 Dimeo Lane) on Saturdays only, between 7:30 a.m. and 3:30 p.m.