Weekly Collection Schedule
Official municipal pickup timing for Sunnyvale
Trash Day
Trash and FoodCycle carts are collected weekly, Tuesday through Friday, depending on your neighborhood route.
Recycling
Recycling is collected weekly on the same day as your trash service using a split cart for paper and containers.
Yard Waste
Yard trimmings are collected weekly on your regular collection day.
Set Out Time
By 7:00 AM on collection day
Utility Billing & Payments
Manage your local solid waste services
Residential garbage and recycling charges are bundled with your City of Sunnyvale water and sewer utility bill on a two-month billing cycle.
Billing Cycle
Bi-Monthly
Accepted Methods
Online, Auto-Pay, Mail, In-Person, Drop Box
Grey/Black Bin (Trash)
Place your garbage cart curbside by 7:00 a.m. on your collection day with the lid fully closed. Do not overfill.
Accepted Items
- ✓Non-recyclable plastics
- ✓Ceramics and porcelain
- ✓Crystal and pyrex
- ✓Black plastic
- ✓Pet waste
- ✓Diapers
- ✓General household garbage
Split Cart (One side Light Blue lid) Bin (Recycling)
Use the correct compartment for paper versus containers. Rinse containers and remove lids before recycling. Clean motor oil jugs and sealed battery bags can be placed on top of the cart.
Accepted Items
- ✓Paper side: catalogs, newspapers, junk mail, office paper, cardboard
- ✓Container side: glass bottles/jars, metal cans, plastic bottles/tubs (shampoo, yogurt, etc.)
- ✓Milk, soup, and juice cartons
- ✓Clean aluminum foil
Do NOT Include
- ✕Black plastic
- ✕Motor oil mixed with other fluids
- ✕Antifreeze
- ✕Window/auto glass and mirrors
- ✕Pyrex or ceramics
- ✕Food waste
Yard Waste Bin
Do not mix glass, plastic, or treated wood into your organics. Sunnyvale provides free compost back to residents from this diverted material.
Accepted Items
- ✓Food scraps (in the yellow FoodCycle side: meat, bones, plate scrapings)
- ✓Grass clippings
- ✓Leaves
- ✓Tree branches and prunings
- ✓Untreated wood
Bulky Item Pickup
Frequency
2 free On-Call collections per year for both single-family and multi-family residents.
Placement
Schedule online or call 408-730-7400 before 2 p.m. on the day before your regular garbage service day. Place items curbside on your scheduled day.
Accepted
- ✓ Washers and dryers
- ✓ Refrigerators
- ✓ Mattresses
- ✓ Furniture
- ✓ Carpets
- ✓ Consumer electronics (TVs, laptops)
Not Accepted
- ✕ Hazardous waste
- ✕ Liquids
- ✕ Treated wood (fencing, decking, railroad ties)
- ✕ Dirt and concrete (outside of Extra Dumping Weekends)
The two annual pickups are free of charge. Additional pickups can be arranged for a fee or hauled directly to the SMaRT Station.
Holiday Schedule
General Rule
Specialty Solid Waste & Recycling works all holidays except Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Year's Day. If your collection day falls on or after one of these holidays, your service will be delayed by one day for the remainder of that week.
Yard Waste Exception
Organics, FoodCycle, and recycling follow the exact same one-day delay as standard garbage.
The SMaRT Station facility is also closed to the public on Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Year's Day.
Observed Holidays
Seasonal Information
Spring & Fall
Varies (Spring and Fall)Take advantage of the city's 'Extra Dumping Weekends'. During these specific weekends, Sunnyvale residents can drop off extra garbage, concrete, demolition materials, and tires at the SMaRT Station for free.
Winter
December to JanuaryHoliday string lights cause major equipment jams at the SMaRT Station. Never put them in your recycling. Instead, drop them off at the e-waste container at the SMaRT Station Buy-Back Center for free.
Winter
Late December to JanuaryIf you have extra holiday garbage that doesn't fit in your bin, single-family residents can purchase Extra Garbage Bag Tags for $6. Attach the tag facing the street on a 35-gallon bag (up to 30 lbs) and place it curbside.
Local Tips & Community Info
Overview of Specialty Solid Waste Services in Sunnyvale
If you live in Sunnyvale, your residential refuse and recycling needs are serviced by Specialty Solid Waste & Recycling. Unlike some neighboring cities, Sunnyvale uses a comprehensive split-cart system designed to maximize landfill diversion and encourage sustainable habits. Residents are required to wheel their designated carts to the curb no later than 6:00 a.m. on their scheduled collection day. It is highly recommended to set them out the night before if you live on an early morning route. Ensure that lids are completely closed so pests and wind do not scatter debris across your neighborhood, and keep the bins spaced a few feet apart to allow the mechanical arms of the trucks to grab them without knocking anything over.
Managing Your Organics and Food Scraps
California state law requires strict diversion of organic material, and Sunnyvale makes this easy with dedicated yard trimmings and food scrap collection. All vegetable peelings, coffee grounds, meat bones, and yard clippings must go straight into your green compost cart. Keeping these materials out of the standard garbage bin prevents the release of harmful greenhouse gases in the landfill. If you have extra branches or leaves that exceed the capacity of your green cart, you may need to hold them for the next week or take them to a drop-off center, as overflowing bins will not be serviced by the drivers.
How to Handle Bulky Items and Overflow Garbage
Every household occasionally generates more trash than their standard cart can handle. Thankfully, Sunnyvale single-family residents are entitled to two free on-call bulky item curbside collections per year. This is the perfect solution for getting rid of old furniture, broken electronics, or large appliances without paying extra dump fees. For smaller amounts of excess trash, residents can purchase extra garbage bag tags for $6 each at locations like City Hall, the Community Center, or local Safeway stores. Simply stick the tag on a 35-gallon plastic bag weighing under 30 pounds, and leave it next to your regular bin on trash day.
SMaRT Station Drop-offs and Holiday Routing
The Sunnyvale Materials Recovery and Transfer (SMaRT) Station on Carl Road is an incredible local resource for sorting zero-waste materials. Twice a year, during the spring and fall, the city hosts Extra Dumping Weekends where residents can haul non-hazardous waste, concrete, and tires to the SMaRT Station at no additional cost. Regarding the collection calendar, Specialty Solid Waste operates on almost every holiday except for Thanksgiving, Christmas Day, and New Year's Day. If your normal pickup falls on or after one of these three major holidays, your service will be pushed back by one day for the remainder of that week.
Drop-off Facilities
Sunnyvale SMaRT Station®
301 Carl Road, Sunnyvale, CA 94089
Materials Accepted
Frequently Asked Questions
Does Sunnyvale offer free bulky item pickup?
Yes, Sunnyvale residents are eligible for two free On-Call Bulky Item Collections per year. Single-family homes can set out two bulky items plus two cubic yards of extra bagged trash, while multi-family units can set out two bulky items. Schedule your pickup by calling (408) 730-7400 by 2 p.m. the day before your regular trash day.
How does the split recycling cart work in Sunnyvale?
Specialty Solid Waste & Recycling provides a split cart. You must separate your recycling by placing paper, cardboard, and junk mail in one compartment, and clean glass, plastic, and metal containers in the compartment with the light blue lid. Do not bag your recyclables.
Where does my food waste go?
To comply with California's SB 1383, you must use the yellow side of your specialized FoodCycle cart for all food scraps, plate scrapings, and bones. Yard waste such as grass and branches goes into the green yard trimmings container.
What are the hours for the SMaRT Station in Sunnyvale?
The SMaRT Station, located at 301 Carl Road, is open 7 days a week from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. It is only closed on Thanksgiving Day, Christmas Day, and New Year's Day. Residents can pick up free compost here or drop off e-waste, paint, and CRV recyclables.