• Set carts out before 7:00 am on your pick-up day with the lids closed, and return them to the rear or side yard by the evening of your collection day.
• To increase or decrease the size of your containers, call Municipal Utilities Customer Service at 408-615-2300. You may also request additional recycling or yard trimming capacity at no additional charge. 

View current rates for garbage, yard trimming, recycling, cleanup campaign, and household hazardous waste services.

Garbage and Yard Trimming Service - View the Residential Waste Guide for a list of materials accepted in the garbage and yard trimmings cart. Questions? Call Mission Trail Waste Systems at 408-727-5365.

Recycling Service - View the Recycling Guide for a list of materials accepted through weekly recycling curbside collection. Questions? Call Recology South Bay at 408-970-5100 or email RecologySouthBay@recology.com.

List of materials accepted through weekly curbside recycling:

All items MUST be empty, clean and dry

PAPER:

• Bags (paper, all colors)
• Cardboard (flattened)*
• Egg cartons (non-styrofoam)
• Envelopes, mail & magazines
• Newspapers
• Phonebooks & soft cover books
• Wrapping paper (non-metallic). 
• Shredded paper (in a clear plastic bag or a securely closed paper bag)

* Extra cardboard that cannot fit inside a cart must be flattened and bundled/taped into 4’x 4’ sections alongside the recycling cart.

GLASS:

• Glass bottles
• Glass jars

METAL:

• Aluminum cans
• Aluminum foil and trays (clean)
• Paint cans (must be empty or dry)
• Spray cans (must be empty)
• Steel (tin) cans

PLASTIC:

• Bottles and tubs
• All plastics with or without the recycling symbols (except #6 Styrofoam/Polystyrene)
• Grocery, produce, dry cleaning and bread bags (bundled inside a clear plastic bag)

Need to dispose of other materials not listed here? Visit RecycleStuff.org to find local recycling centers. 

Recology South Bay hosts two Environmental Days per year for Santa Clara residents. These events are designed to promote recycling, reuse and diversion of usable materials from the landfill.

• March 2, 2024 from 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. at Recology, 1675 Rogers Ave., San Jose 
• October 19, 2024 from 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. at Recology,1675 Rogers Ave., San Jose

Accepted Materials

• Residential documents for confidential shredding (2-box limit)
• E-waste (computers, monitors, printers, etc.)
• Universal waste (batteries, cell phones, CFL's, and fluorescent tubes)
• Clothing and shoes suitable for donation

Residents must provide a current collection bill and personal identification to verify eligibility. No appointment required. Questions? Contact Recology South Bay at 408-970-5100.

E-waste should never be disposed of with regular curbside collection service. Instead, there are multiple opportunities throughout the year for Santa Clara residents to properly dispose of e-waste. Such events include:

• Environmental Days at Recology South Bay – these will occur on March 2, 2024 and October 19, 2024. Appointments are not required, but proof of residency is. Residents can call Recology South Bay for additional information at 408-970-5100.
  
  
• Free Disposal Day at Mission Trail Waste Systems – occurring on January 20, 2024, April 13, 2024, July 13, 2024, and October 19, 2024. Appointments are required – residents can inquire with Mission Trail at 408-727-5365 for additional information.
  
  
• Household Hazardous Waste (HHW) drop-off events – Santa Clara will host three HHW drop-off events in 2024 - January 27, April 27 and September 21. Appointments are required and can be made by calling 408-299-7300 or visiting HHW.org. If these dates don’t work – there are other HHW drop-off events occurring throughout the county and can be located at HHW.org.
  
  The County’s Household Hazardous Waste Program does accept e-waste at their drop-off locations, but there are other retailers that also accept these materials.  Visit recyclestuff.us for other local options for recycling e-waste including the County program.

Effective July 1, 2020, qualifying solid waste customers will be eligible to receive a $3.00 per month discount and will have increased income limits from $30,000 per household to match the income guidelines set forth by Silicon Valley Power’s Financial Rate Assistance Program (F.R.A.P.). In order to streamline the application process, all customers who are enrolled in F.R.A.P. will automatically receive the discount as long as their household does not share garbage service with another home (e.g. multi-family complex shared dumpsters). Customers who were previously receiving the rate assistance discount on their garbage rate and are not enrolled in F.R.A.P will have to submit an application and provide income verification documentation to receive the $3.00 discount. For more information and to apply, please visit www.SiliconValleyPower.com/Assist.   

Extra garbage bag tags are available for purchase at $7.53 each. Each tag allows for an additional 32 gallon size bag of garbage to be collected when placed alongside the garbage cart. These bag tags have no expiration date and can be used any time throughout the year. There is no limit to how many extra bags can be placed at the curb as long as each bag is properly tagged and weighs no more than 30 pounds.

How to Purchase

Extra Garbage Bag Tags are available for purchase at the following locations:

• City Hall's Municipal Utilities Customer Service windows & Drive-thru Service Window - 1500 Warburton Avenue
  Visit SantaClaraCA.gov/AccessSantaClara for the most up-to-date City Hall hours of operation
• Central Park Library - 2635 Homestead Road*
• Mission Branch Library – 1098 Lexington Street*
• Northside Branch Library – 695 Moreland Way*

*Limited hours of operation. Visit the Santa Clara Library online to view current hours.

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. Using non-franchised haulers for debris box services/dumpster rental is a violation of municipal code and subject to a $1,000 administrative citation.

Roll-off debris boxes/dumpster rentals may be ordered by phone by calling MTWS directly at 408-727-5365 or via their website: MissionTrail.com/santaclara. 

Household Hazardous Waste

The countywide residential Household Hazardous Waste (HHW) program resumed operations with modifications to follow appropriate social distancing protocol. Face coverings are worn by all staff and are required for all residents dropping off waste. Appointments for essential small businesses are available on Wednesdays. 

Santa Clara will host three temporary HHW drop-off events in 2024 - 

• January 27, 2024
• April 27, 2024
• September 21, 2024

*Residents can still schedule appointments at the permanent drop-off location in San Jose. A limited number of appointments for hazardous waste drop-offs will be available on Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays. Attendees are required to make an appointment and will receive a confirmation letter with the new participation requirements to maintain their safety of attendees and staff. To make an appointment, please visit HHW.org or call 408-299-7300.

Seniors may contact Heart of the Valley at 408-241-1571 to request pick-up of HHW and pharmaceutical waste.

Other Household Hazardous Waste disposal alternatives: 

• Motor oil and oil filter curbside collection: Place motor oil in a plastic container labeled "waste oil". Tape the lid down with masking or duct tape. Place used oil filters in a leak-proof plastic bag. Place items by your recycling cart on your regular collection day. You may set out up to three 1-gallon containers of used motor oil per week.
• Dry cell battery curbside collection: Tape the positive terminals and place in a zip-lock bag on top of your garbage cart.
• Dry cell battery drop-off: All residents may drop off batteries at any of the following locations during regular business hours:

• Fluorescent bulb curbside collection: Compact fluorescent light bulbs (CFL's) can be placed in a zip-lock bag next to your recycling cart on your regular collection day. Fluorescent tubes can be dropped off at any of these locations.
• Explosives and Ammunition: Call the Police Department at (408) 615-4700.
• E-waste: Find a local e-waste recycling center at RecycleStuff.org.
• Paint: Find a drop off location at PaintCare.org.
• Medicine: Expired and unwanted medicine disposal locations can be found at Med-Project.org. 

Need to dispose of other materials not listed here? Visit RecycleStuff.org to find local recycling centers. 

Santa Clara residents may take advantage of two FREE disposal drop-off events per year: 

• January 20, 2024
• April 13, 2024
• July 13, 2024
• October 19, 2024

Free Rubbish Disposal appointments are available between 6am and 12pm. Call Mission Trail Waste Systems at 408-727-5365 to make an appointment and acquire a confirmation number. Appointments are released 2 weeks prior to each event. Current utility bill, personal identification and confirmation number required at time of drop-off.

Please note that you are responsible for unloading the items from your vehicle. Make sure to wear appropriate clothing and any desired protection accessories (e.g. masks, gloves, etc.).

Call Mission Trail Waste Systems at 408-727-5365 for drop-off location, load size limits, and accepted materials. Hazardous waste is prohibited.

Residential Free Compost Giveaway

Ever wonder what happens to your yard trimmings? Yard trimmings placed out for collection get processed along with other organics into rich compost that improves soil structure and aeration, enriches soil with nutrients, and reduces pollutants all while diverting waste from landfills. 

The City of Santa Clara is hosting two residential compost giveaways in 2024 at the Dept. of Public Works Corporation Yard, 1700 Walsh Avenue on:

April 6, 2024, 8:00 a.m. - 11:00 a.m.
August 17, 2024, 8:00 a.m. - 11:00 a.m. 

City of Santa Clara residents must provide a current utility bill and/or personal identification to verify eligibility. Compost will be self-served - residents must bring their own shovel and sturdy container (i.e. 5-gallon bucket), fill their container, and load their container into their vehicle. Maximum of 40 gallons per household. Compost will be available while supplies last and quantity is limited. 

Home Composting Workshops

The City of Santa Clara hosts Home Composting Workshops throughout the year. To register, visit the Santa Clara County's Master Composter's website or call 408-918-4640.

• March 9, 2024 - Composting Basics Workshop
• June 1, 2024 - Worm Composting Workshop
• August 24, 2024 - Worm Composting Workshop
• November 2, 2024 - Composting Basics Workshop

Holiday Waste Collection Schedule

• Thanksgiving Day - Thursday, 11/28/24 - NO COLLECTION SERVICES
  • If your regular collection day is Thursday, collection will occur on Friday
  • If your regular collection is on Friday, collection will occur on Saturday

• Christmas Day - Wednesday, 12/25/24 - NO COLLECTION SERVICES
  • If your regular collection day is Wednesday, collection will occur on Thursday 
  • If your regular collection day is Thursday, collection will occur on Friday
  • If your regular collection is on Friday, collection will occur on Saturday

• New Year's Day - Wednesday, 1/1/25 - NO COLLECTION SERVICES
  • If your regular collection day is Wednesday, collection will occur on Thursday
  • If your regular collection day is Thursday, collection will occur on Friday
  • If your regular collection is on Friday, collection will occur on Saturday

Extra Holiday Waste

Santa Clara residents with cart service may set out up to two additional 32-gallon garbage bags on each of their collection days between December 26 – January 7 at no extra charge. Commercial and multi-family registered account holders with front load bin service may arrange for one additional pickup per garbage account per year at no extra charge by contacting Mission Trail Waste Systems at 408-727-5365.

Please recycle all non-metallic gift wrap, tissue paper, cards, boxes and tags. 

Holiday Tree Collection

Trees will be collected the week of January 6 - January 10, 2025. Please follow the set-out instructions:

• Remove ornaments and tree stand; and set out on your regular collection day. Flocked trees must be placed in a garbage bag to prevent stormwater pollution. Flocked trees will not be recycled.
• The City does not collect trees on private streets. Residents of multi-family dwellings may set out their trees on the nearest public street. Call (408) 615-3080 to find out what day we will be servicing your area.
• If you miss your pick-up day, you can bring in your tree (no larger than 9 feet) to the Corp Yard located at 1700 Walsh Avenue between January 6 - 10, 2025.
• After January 10, cut up your tree and place the pieces in the yard trimmings cart. Flocked trees (trees with artificial snow) should be cut up and placed in the garbage cart.

Agreement with Mission Trail Waste Systems (Garbage and Clean Green Collection)
Agreement with Recology South Bay (Recycling Collection and Processing)
Agreement with Green Waste Recovery (Garbage Processing)