Weekly Collection Schedule
Official municipal pickup timing for South San Francisco
Trash Day
Trash is collected once per week, Monday through Friday, depending on your neighborhood route.
Recycling
Recycling is collected weekly on your regular trash collection day using your blue split cart.
Yard Waste
Organics and yard waste are collected weekly on your regular trash collection day using your green cart.
Set Out Time
By 5:00 AM on collection day
Utility Billing & Payments
Manage your local solid waste services
Residential waste services are billed directly by South San Francisco Scavenger Company on a quarterly cycle rather than bundled with city water bills.
Billing Cycle
Quarterly
Accepted Methods
Online, Auto-Pay, Mail, Phone
Grey Bin (Trash)
All household garbage must be securely bagged, especially lightweight items like packing peanuts. Carts must be placed at the curb by 5:00 a.m. on collection day and removed no more than 12 hours after service.
Accepted Items
- ✓Diapers, wipes, and hygiene products
- ✓Pet waste and kitty litter
- ✓Styrofoam (polystyrene)
- ✓Broken ceramics or glassware
- ✓Plastic wrapper and film
- ✓Traditional plastic trash liner bags
Blue (with split Grey/Light Blue and Dark Blue lids) Bin (Recycling)
Items must be placed loosely into the correct side of the split cart. Never bag your recyclables. Containers must be scraped and rinsed of food residue.
Accepted Items
- ✓Clean paper, mail, and flattened cardboard (Grey/Light Blue lid side)
- ✓Empty plastic bottles and jugs (Dark Blue lid side)
- ✓Glass bottles and jars (Dark Blue lid side)
- ✓Aluminum and tin cans (Dark Blue lid side)
Do NOT Include
- ✕Plastic bags of any kind
- ✕Food residue or liquids
- ✕Styrofoam
- ✕Electronic waste
- ✕Hazardous materials
Yard Waste Bin
Traditional AND compostable/bio plastic bags are strictly prohibited. Use only newspaper or uncoated paper bags to line your kitchen pail or cart.
Accepted Items
- ✓Grass clippings, leaves, and weeds
- ✓Fruits, vegetables, pits, and peels
- ✓Meat, bones, shells, and dairy
- ✓Coffee grounds and paper filters
- ✓Greasy pizza boxes and food-soiled paper
- ✓Wooden chopsticks and uncoated paper plates
Bulky Item Pickup
Frequency
Two free cleanups per calendar year
Placement
Cleanups are collected on your regular service day. You must provide advance notice by calling SSF Scavenger at least one business day prior to schedule the exact items you plan to set out.
Accepted
- ✓ Sofas and large furniture
- ✓ Mattresses and box springs
- ✓ Large household appliances
- ✓ Bundled wood and carpet rolls (max 4 feet in length)
- ✓ Bagged excess household trash
Not Accepted
- ✕ Loose unbagged garbage
- ✕ Hazardous waste (paint, oil, chemicals)
- ✕ Dirt, concrete, or construction debris
- ✕ Automotive fluids
The first two On-Call Cleanups are completely free. Additional cleanups, or items requiring special handling like certain electronics, will incur an additional fee.
Holiday Schedule
General Rule
South San Francisco Scavenger Company provides standard collection services on all holidays EXCEPT Christmas Day and New Year's Day. If one of these two holidays falls on a weekday, service is pushed back by one day for the remainder of the week.
Yard Waste Exception
Holiday schedule adjustments apply universally to all three carts (grey, blue, and green).
When a holiday-related service day change occurs, affected residential customers are typically notified by mail and a notice is posted on the hauler's website.
Observed Holidays
Seasonal Information
Summer
June to AugustTo minimize fruit fly and odor issues in the summer heat, consider freezing fruit and vegetable scraps in a paper bag or uncoated cardboard box throughout the week, placing them into the green cart the night before your scheduled collection.
Spring and Fall
March to May, September to NovemberIf you are doing heavy pruning and have too many yard trimmings for your green cart, SSF Scavenger will collect overflow for free on your regular day. Notify them one business day prior and place the extra trimmings in paper bags or reusable cans next to the cart.
Local Tips & Community Info
Understanding Your South San Francisco Trash Schedule
In South San Francisco, residential and commercial waste collection is managed exclusively by the South San Francisco Scavenger Company (SSF Scavenger Co.). Your neighborhood is assigned a specific weekly collection day for trash, recycling, and organic waste. To stay on top of your schedule, residents can sign up for real-time SMS notifications through the Scavenger website. These text alerts will remind you of upcoming pickup days, unexpected service delays, and holiday schedule shifts so you are always informed.
Recycling, Compost, and Bin Placement Rules
Proper sorting is a major priority for the city's sustainability efforts. Your recycling cart is strictly for clean cardboard, paper, glass bottles, and rigid plastics. The organics cart handles all yard trimmings and food scraps, while standard household garbage belongs in the landfill bin. City code enforcement requires that all trash bins be stored completely out of public view on non-collection days to keep neighborhoods looking neat and tidy. Carts should only be rolled out to the curb the night before or the morning of your scheduled pickup.
Bulky Waste Disposal and Transfer Station Options
Dealing with large, unwanted items like old furniture, appliances, or mattresses requires special handling. South San Francisco residents cannot simply leave massive items on the curb without making prior arrangements. You must contact SSF Scavenger Co. directly to inquire about bulky item pickups. Alternatively, residents can transport and drop off approved large items at the local Transfer Station. The Regular Transfer Station is typically open Monday through Friday from 6:00 am to 4:30 pm, making it convenient to clear out major household clutter.
Holiday Delays and Missed Pickup Guidance
During major annual holidays such as Christmas and New Year's Day, your regular curbside collection schedule may shift forward by one day. The SMS notification system is incredibly useful during these holiday weeks, as it automatically alerts you to any schedule adjustments. If you ever experience a missed pickup on a regular day despite placing your bins out properly on time, you should quickly contact the Scavenger Company customer service team at (650) 589-4020 to report the issue and arrange a recovery collection.
Drop-off Facilities
Blue Line Transfer, Inc. & BOPA Center
500 East Jamie Court, South San Francisco, CA 94080
Materials Accepted
Frequently Asked Questions
How does the split blue recycling cart work in South San Francisco?
Your blue recycling cart is uniquely divided into two compartments to prevent contamination. You must place clean paper and flattened cardboard under the grey or light blue lid. Rinsed glass, plastic, and metal containers go under the dark blue lid.
Can I use 'compostable' plastic bags for my food scraps in the green cart?
No. Both traditional and 'compostable' plastic bags are strictly prohibited because they disrupt the anaerobic digestion technology used to process South San Francisco's organic waste. You should line your kitchen pail with newspaper or standard uncoated paper bags instead.
What should I do if I have too many yard trimmings to fit in my green organics cart?
If you generate excess yard waste, you can place the overflow in paper bags, cardboard boxes, or reusable cans right next to your green cart. There is no extra charge, but you must contact SSF Scavenger at least one business day in advance to notify them.
How do I schedule a free bulky item pickup for an old mattress or sofa?
Single-family households receive two free On-Call Cleanups every year. Call SSF Scavenger Company at (650) 589-4020 at least one business day prior to your standard collection day to schedule. You can set out one large bulky item plus up to six sealed bags of extra garbage.