One important way that people can protect our environment is to build awareness and behaviors that reduce waste and make sure that items are reused, donated, recycled, composted or disposed of properly.

The City of Santa Clara provides collection of garbage, recycling and organics (food waste and other organic materials) to residents and businesses to ensure that waste not only stays off our streets and out of stormdrains and waterways, but that it is also processed in a way that keeps materials that can be recycled or composted out of our landfills.

As of 2022 organic material is collected through residential curbside garbage pickup and is taken to a mixed waste processing facility to be sorted and made into compost. This enables the City to meet State requirements (SB 1383) and supports a more sustainable waste system.