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
!Contamination Tips
Battery and Oil Curbside Collection
Unlike most cities, Sunnyvale allows you to recycle batteries and used motor oil at the curb. Tape battery terminals, put them in a tightly sealed clear bag, and place it on top of your split recycling cart. Put used motor oil in a clear one-gallon jug next to the cart.
Keep Black Plastic Out
Black plastics cannot be recognized by the optical sorters at the SMaRT Station facility. No matter the recycling number stamped on it, all black plastic containers, trays, and lids must go into your grey garbage cart.
Separate Your Paper Properly
Sunnyvale's unique split recycling cart requires paper and cardboard to be on one side, and glass/plastic/metal containers on the other. If you have extra paper that doesn't fit, put it in a brown paper bag labeled 'paper' next to your cart.
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.
About Sunnyvale Waste Management
Innovative Waste Management with the SMaRT Station
Sunnyvale stands out in Silicon Valley for owning and operating the Sunnyvale Materials Recovery and Transfer Station (SMaRT Station®) at 301 Carl Road. This state-of-the-art facility processes municipal solid waste, separated recyclables, and organic materials for Sunnyvale, Mountain View, and Palo Alto. By sorting refuse to extract recyclable and compostable materials before transferring the remainder to the Kirby Canyon Landfill, the SMaRT Station heavily reduces landfill dependency and helps the city achieve an impressive 68% citywide recycling rate.
Specialty Solid Waste & Recycling's Split Cart System
Residential recycling in Sunnyvale relies on a unique split-cart system provided by Specialty Solid Waste & Recycling, the city's franchised hauler since 1927. The 64- or 96-gallon recycling carts are divided into two compartments: one side for mixed paper and cardboard, and the light blue-lidded side for plastic, glass, and metal containers. This dual-stream method significantly reduces cross-contamination, ensuring that paper stays dry and clean for local recycling markets.
FoodCycle and SB 1383 Compliance
To comply with California’s SB 1383 organic waste mandates, Sunnyvale utilizes the innovative FoodCycle program. Residents use a specially designed cart that includes a yellow side dedicated specifically to food scraps, plate scrapings, and bones. Meanwhile, yard trimmings go into the standard green waste container. Keeping food waste separate allows the city to process it into high-quality, US Composting Council-certified organic compost, which is then made available for free pickup by residents at the SMaRT Station.
Generous Bulky Item and Extra Garbage Perks
Sunnyvale makes it incredibly easy for residents to declutter without resorting to illegal dumping. Single-family homes and multi-family units are entitled to two free On-Call Bulky Item Collections per year. Furthermore, the city hosts 'Extra Dumping Weekends' in the spring and fall, allowing residents to haul non-hazardous materials, concrete, and tires directly to the SMaRT Station at no additional charge.
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.