See current Commercial Garbage, Recycling and Organics Collection Rates

Commercial Garbage and Recycling Waste Guide

Mandatory Recycling Ordinance 

As part of our contract with Mission Trail Waste Systems, Santa Clara commercial businesses are eligible to receive a 96-gallon recycling container at no additional cost. For more information, please contact Mission Trail Waste Systems at 408-727-5365.

All commercial business customers with four (4) or more cubic yards of weekly solid waste service are required to subscribe to recycling services. See accepted recyclable materials.

Mandatory Organics Recycling Ordinance 

Commercial businesses (with the exception of gardeners, landscapers and contractors that generate organic waste and self-haul for disposal) are currently in compliance with the City's Mandatory Organics Recycling Ordinance via Mixed Waste Processing. Businesses at parcels zoned for industrial use with two (2) or more cubic yards of weekly solid waste service (garbage and recycling) are required to subscribe to organics recycling services. 

SB1383 requires gardeners, landscapers and contractors that generate organic waste and self-haul for disposal to separate organic waste from garbage and recycle it.

Landfill of organic waste is prohibited. Records of disposal must be maintained for at least 5 years. View the organic waste self-hauler requirements below. For additional information, visit CalRecycle's SB1383 Recordkeeping Resources.

• Organic Waste Self-hauler Requirements (English)
• Organic Waste Self-hauler Requirements (Chinese)
• Organic Waste Self-hauler Requirements (Spanish)
• Organic Waste Self-hauler Requirements (Vietnamese)

Edible Food Recovery

To reduce unnecessary food waste and help address food insecurity, Senate Bill 1383 (SB1383) requires that by 2025, California will recover and redistribute 20 percent of edible food that would have otherwise be sent to landfills. This law directs that:

• Jurisdictions must establish edible food recovery outreach and inspection programs, help connect mandated edible food generators with food recovery organizations/services, and ensure there is sufficient county-wide capacity for all the recovered edible food.
• Mandated edible food generators must arrange to recover the maximum amount of their edible food that would otherwise go to landfills. They must establish contracts with food recovery organizations/services that will accept their edible food and keep records of all edible food recovery.
• Food recovery organizations and services that work with mandated edible food generators must maintain and submit records of edible food recovery.

Jurisdictions in Santa Clara County are working together to provide a countywide food recovery network. For more information on these efforts, including potential food recovery organizations and services, as well as other resources aimed at assisting with compliance with new state SB1383 regulations, please visit Santa Clara County's Food Recovery Program. 

New Commercial Developments & Redevelopments

Project applicants for new commercial developments and redevelopment shall submit a Post-Construction Solid Waste Generation Estimation and Collection Form, provide a site plan showing all proposed locations of solid waste containers, enclosure locations, and street/alley widths to the Department of Public Works. All plans shall comply with the Development Guidelines for Solid Waste Services as specified by development type. For more information, email Environment@SantaClaraCA.gov or call 408-615-3080.

Businesses in Commercial or Institutional Zoning Districts

Mission Trail Waste Systems is the exclusive franchise hauler for businesses at properties zoned Commercial or Institutional. The City sets the rates for both garbage and recycling services. Mission Trail Waste Systems provides commercial business customers with up to 96 gallons of recycling per week at no charge. For questions, contact Mission Trail Waste Systems at 408-727-5365.

Debris Bin Service: Debris bins can be ordered from Mission Trail Waste Systems by calling 408-727-5364 or online at MissionTrail.com/santaclara. Please note: The City of Santa Clara has an exclusive waste hauling franchise agreement with Mission Trail Waste Systems. They are the only contractor permitted to place and collect debris boxes throughout the City, except for those areas specifically zoned industrial. Failure to comply may result in administrative citations. 

Businesses in Industrial Zoning Districts

The City maintains agreements with multiple non-exclusive franchise haulers to provide garbage, recycling, organics recycling, and debris bin services to businesses at properties zoned for Industrial use. The current term is set to expire on December 31, 2026. 

The City requires non-exclusive franchised (NEF) haulers that provide regular weekly garbage service to provide a bundled service, which includes garbage, recycling, and organics collection via a three-bin system to customers subscribing to two (2) cubic yards of solid waste per week (garbage and recycling combined), or by ensuring the waste is processed at a Materials Recovery Facility (MRF) that has a recovery rate greater than or equal to 50%. 

Businesses located on parcels zoned for industrial use can inquire about rates and services provided by the NEF haulers listed below, and are free to choose a hauler that best suits their needs. The haulers set their own rates and bill customers directly for services. 

If you are not sure if your business is located on a parcel zoned for industrial use, you can check the City of Santa Clara's Public Web Map to find out your zoning designation.

Hazardous Materials

For handling and storage, Visit the Fire Department Webpage or call 408-615-4900. For disposal, visit the Santa Clara County Department of Environmental Health webpage or call 408-918-3400.

Small businesses, those that generate less than 27 gallons or 220 pounds of hazardous waste per month, or less than 1 quart or 2.2 pounds of extremely hazardous waste per month are legally classified as conditionally exempt small quantity generators (CESQGs). The County of Santa Clara offers a cost effective and environmentally sound option to meet state requirements for disposal. To participate in the CESQG Program, please call 1-800-207-8222 and ask for the Santa Clara County Service Representative to provide an estimate for the cost of disposal and to set up an appointment for drop-off. For more information, visit the County's Very Small Quantity Generator Disposal Program webpage.

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