Effective waste management is crucial for maintaining a clean, sustainable community. Palo Alto’s comprehensive trash pick up services ensure residents can easily dispose of waste, recycling, and compostable materials while supporting the city’s zero waste initiatives.
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Trash Pick Up Schedule in Palo Alto
Palo Alto residents receive weekly curbside collection services managed by GreenWaste of Palo Alto. Collection occurs Monday through Friday, with carts required to be placed curbside before 6:00 AM on your designated collection day.
Residential Trash Collection Options
Single-family homes have three standard cart options:
- Black Cart (Landfill/Garbage)
- Standard size: 32-gallon cart
- Additional sizes: 20, 64, or 96-gallon options
- Contains non-recyclable and non-compostable items
- Blue Cart (Recycling)
- Standard size: 64-gallon cart
- Alternative sizes: 32 or 96-gallon options
- Accepts paper, glass, metal, plastic, and electronics
- Green Cart (Compost)
- Standard size: 96-gallon cart
- Alternative sizes: 20, 32, or 64-gallon options
- Accepts yard trimmings, food scraps, and soiled paper products
Recycling Services
Palo Alto’s recycling program accepts a wide range of materials:
- Paper products (newspapers, magazines, cardboard)
- Glass bottles and jars
- Metal cans and foil
- All plastic types (except Styrofoam)
- Small electronics and appliances
Bulk & Large Item Pick Up
Residents can utilize two annual Clean Up Days for:
- Bulky items
- Excess recyclables
- Yard trimmings
- Additional items with specific guidelines
For extra bulk item collection, residents can:
- Request collection on regular service day
- Pay an additional fee
- Schedule at least one week in advance
Yard Waste & Seasonal Services
Special seasonal services include:
- Holiday tree collection (four weeks after Christmas)
- Yard trimmings collection
- Composting program
Holiday Trash Pick Up Changes
No collection on:
- New Year’s Day
- Thanksgiving Day
- Christmas Day
During holiday weeks, collection days shift by one day, with Friday collections moving to Saturday.
How to Find or Request Services
Contact GreenWaste of Palo Alto:
- Phone: (650) 493-4894
- Email: [email protected]
Additional service options:
- Physical limitations program
- Back/side yard service
- Cart size adjustments
Palo Alto’s trash pick up services provide comprehensive, environmentally conscious waste management. By following guidelines and utilizing available services, residents contribute to the city’s zero waste goals while maintaining a clean, sustainable community.
FAQ
What holidays are trash pickup at Palo Alto?GreenWaste of Palo Alto provides regular scheduled collection service throughout the year except on Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year’s Day. If your regular collection day falls on or after one of these holidays, your collection day will be moved to the following day for the rest of the week.
Why was trash not picked up today?A garbage truck might skip your trash pickup for several reasons. Common reasons include improper sorting of waste, overweight or oversized containers, blocked access to the garbage due to parked vehicles or construction, hazardous materials in the garbage, or severe weather conditions.
What is the cheapest way to get rid of a lot of garbage?Rent a Dumpster
If you have a lot of trash to dispose of—more than your bins can contain—renting a dumpster might be worthwhile. This is also a good option when you have a lot of objects that aren’t accepted with typical waste, like electronic objects and large construction items.
How to get rid of furniture in Palo Alto?Palo Alto’s top furniture removal service
We’ll be more than happy to haul away your heaviest, bulkiest unwanted items. Now, you can easily get rid of all junk with BAY JUNK. Here at 1-855-BAY-JUNK, we love to serve the Palo Alto community.
https://www.paloalto.gov/Departments/Public-Works/Zero-Waste/What-Goes-Where/Curbside-Collection-Services
Curbside collection services are available for recycle, compost, and landfill. GreenWaste of Palo Alto is the contractor. Contact them at (650) 493-4894.
Single-family homes receive weekly collection of garbage, recycle, and compost. There are two annual clean up days for bulky items and limited hazardous waste.