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
!Contamination Tips
Keep Plastic Bags Out of the Green Cart
Unlike some cities, South San Francisco explicitly bans 'compostable' or 'bio-plastic' bags in the green organics cart. These materials disrupt the anaerobic digesters. You must use newspaper or plain paper bags to contain your food scraps.
Pay Attention to the Split Blue Lids
The blue recycling cart is split to keep paper dry. Always place clean paper and flattened cardboard on the side with the grey or light blue lid, and place rinsed beverage and food containers on the side with the dark blue lid.
Batteries Cause Truck Fires
Never place household batteries in any of your curbside carts. South San Francisco residents can drop off batteries safely at the BOPA Center at the Blue Line Transfer Station or in the designated recycling bin located behind the front lobby counter at City Hall.
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.
About South San Francisco Waste Management
The Unique Split-Cart Recycling System
South San Francisco utilizes a specialized recycling method that sets it apart from many neighboring Bay Area cities. The blue recycling carts are designed with a split body and dual lids. The side with the grey or light blue lid is strictly for clean paper and cardboard, while the side with the dark blue lid is reserved for glass, plastic, and metal containers. This dual-compartment design mirrors the collection trucks, keeping paper dry and free from liquid contamination, ensuring a much higher rate of successful recycling.
Anaerobic Digestion and the Organics Program
In compliance with California’s SB 1383, South San Francisco residents are required to place all food scraps, food-soiled paper, and yard trimmings into the green organics cart. Instead of traditional open-air composting, South San Francisco Scavenger Company utilizes advanced anaerobic digestion technology. This process captures methane to create clean-burning renewable fuel for their own fleet of collection vehicles. The remaining digestate is then transported to farms to be used as a nutrient-rich soil amendment.
Bi-Annual On-Call Residential Cleanups
Rather than fixed neighborhood cleanup days, single-family households benefit from two free 'On-Call Cleanups' each calendar year. Residents can schedule a bulk pickup on their regular collection day by calling the hauler at least one business day in advance. A standard free cleanup allowance covers up to six sealed bags of extra garbage plus one large bulky item, such as a mattress or sofa, making it highly convenient for spring cleaning or minor household renovations.
Blue Line Transfer Station and BOPA Center
For waste that cannot be accommodated at the curb, residents have direct access to the Blue Line Transfer Station located on East Jamie Court. This local facility is critical for the safe disposal of Household Hazardous Waste. The site features a dedicated BOPA Center (Batteries, Oil, Paint, Antifreeze, and Sharps) and also accepts electronic waste, offering a safe, local drop-off point to keep hazardous materials out of the local watershed and San Francisco Bay.
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.