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Trash & Recycling in Santa Clara, CA (2026)

10 verified trash & recycling rules for Santa Clara, California, sourced directly from the municipal code and official government pages.

Verified from official government sources

Pickup Rules & Schedules

Santa Clara bars refuse collection before 7:00 a.m. or after 6:00 p.m. at residential properties under City Code Section 8.25.110, requires collections to run as quietly as possible, and sets equipment standards, covered containers and uniform-painted trucks, so crews don't spill or scatter waste along the route.

Santa Clara Trash Pickup Hours and Rules

Some Restrictions

Santa Clara, CA, City Code § 8.25.110

(a) Refuse collection shall not occur after 6:00 P.M. or prior to 7:00 A.M. at or adjacent to properties zoned for residential use. (b) All collections shall be made as quietly as possible. All unnecessarily noisy trucks or equipment for such uses are prohibited. (c) Collection vehicles must meet the following standards: ... (3) All containers shall be covered while collection vehicles are in o...

Bin Placement Rules

Santa Clara requires refuse, recycling and organics containers to be kept in an enclosure or the side/rear yard, with tight-fitting lids at all times, and bars setting carts out on the curb before 5:00 p.m. the day before collection; carts must come back off the right-of-way the same collection day.

Santa Clara Trash Cart Placement Rules

Some Restrictions

Santa Clara, CA, City Code § 8.25.080(d) (Containers required - Description, storage and labeling)

(d) All containers shall be stored in an enclosure or within the side or rear yard of the premises. Containers shall not be set out upon the public right-of-way in front of said premises prior to 5:00 P.M. the day prior to collection. Containers must be removed from the public right-of-way on the collection day, after service.

Bulk Item Disposal

Santa Clara's clean-up campaign lets residents set bulky items at the curb only during a scheduled collection week under City Code Section 8.25.300, with strict placement and hazardous-material limits, and treats items placed in front of a neighbor's home instead of your own as illegal dumping.

Santa Clara Bulky Item Clean-Up Campaign Rules

Some Restrictions

Santa Clara, CA, City Code § 8.25.300

(a) All items must be set out no later than 7:00 A.M. on the Monday of the designated collection week, but no earlier than the Saturday prior to the designated collection week. (b) All concrete, asphalt, dirt, brick, rocks, drywall and/or sawdust must be placed in a bulk bag to prevent stormwater runoff pollution potential. The placement of these materials directly onto the street is prohibited...

Recycling Requirements

Santa Clara mandates recycling and organics separation under California SB 1383. Residents must sort recyclables, organics (food scraps and yard waste), and landfill trash into color-coded carts.

Santa Clara Recycling Requirements

Some Restrictions

California SB 1383 - Short-Lived Climate Pollutant Reduction Strategy

Fight Climate Change by Recycling Organic Waste To reduce methane pollution and other short-lived climate pollutants, California passed SB 1383 (Lara, 2016). The law set targets for 2025: 75% less organic waste sent to landfills. 20% of unsold, still-edible food sent to food recovery organizations. SB 1383 Regulations The Office of Administrative Law approved SB 1383 regulations. Landfills Are ...

Mandatory Organics Recycling

Santa Clara phased in mandatory organic waste recycling for commercial businesses under City Code Section 8.25.276, starting with 8+ cubic yards weekly in 2016 and dropping to a 4-cubic-yard threshold for nonindustrial businesses by January 2019, with subscription required unless the City Manager grants a storage-space exception.

Santa Clara Mandatory Organic Waste Recycling

Significant Restrictions

Santa Clara, CA, City Code § 8.25.276

(a) All responsible parties of commercial business properties are required to divert organic waste from landfill by subscribing to an organic waste recycling program that includes collection and recycling services. ... (b) On and after April 1, 2016, commercial businesses generating eight cubic yards or more of organic waste per week are required to subscribe to and maintain organic waste recyc...

Illegal Dumping

Santa Clara makes it unlawful to dispose of refuse on City-controlled disposal land outside the terms of Chapter 8.25 under City Code Section 8.25.330, and any Chapter 8.25 violation defaults to the citywide penalty scheme: up to $1,000 and six months in jail for a misdemeanor.

Santa Clara Illegal Dumping Penalties

Heavy Restrictions

Santa Clara, CA, City Code § 8.25.330

It shall be unlawful for any person or collector to dispose of refuse on the land utilized by the City, if any, as an authorized disposal facility except in compliance with the provisions of this chapter.

Yard Waste Collection

Santa Clara bans mixing green waste into garbage or recycling containers under City Code Section 8.25.290, lets the City Manager require single-family and multifamily homes to subscribe to clean green collection, and prohibits putting anything but plant material in a container designated for clean green.

Santa Clara Clean Green Yard Waste Container Rules

Some Restrictions

Santa Clara, CA, City Code § 8.25.290

(a) It shall be unlawful to dispose green waste in a container designated for garbage or recycling. (b) The City Manager or designee may require a single-family or multifamily residence to subscribe to clean green collection services. (c) It shall be unlawful to dispose of any material other than plant material accepted by a collector in a container designated for clean green. The City Manager ...

Dumpster Rules

New solid waste enclosures built in Santa Clara must meet exact design specs under City Code Section 8.25.100(c): drainage to the sanitary sewer or a 25-foot storm drain setback, a 120-degree swinging gate with a 12-foot clear opening, and a reinforced concrete pad rated for at least 40,000 pounds.

Santa Clara Commercial Dumpster Enclosure Rules

Some Restrictions

Santa Clara, CA, City Code § 8.25.100(c)

All new solid waste enclosures shall meet the following specifications: (1) Drain to sanitary sewer, or be covered and located twenty-five (25) feet or more from any storm drain inlet. (2) Entrance shall have a slope with a minimum gradient of two percent but no greater than four percent to prevent outside stormwater runoff from entering the enclosure. (3) A double, swinging gate with bollards ...

Collection Schedule

Santa Clara requires weekly refuse pickup for every residential, commercial, industrial and institutional property under City Code Section 8.25.120, and only the City Manager can approve a different frequency in writing, keeping collection mandatory even for property owners who would rather skip a week.

Santa Clara Weekly Trash Collection Schedule

Some Restrictions

Santa Clara, CA, City Code § 8.25.120

All refuse from all residential, commercial, industrial and institutional properties within the city shall be collected at least once a week, unless otherwise approved in writing by the City Manager.

Recycling Rules

Every household in Santa Clara must subscribe to residential recycling service, and commercial properties generating 4 or more cubic yards of refuse weekly must subscribe to commercial recycling, under City Code Section 8.25.275, with limited exceptions the City Manager can grant for insufficient container storage space.

Santa Clara Mandatory Recycling Subscription Rules

Significant Restrictions

Santa Clara, CA, City Code § 8.25.275

(a) All responsible parties of residential properties are required to subscribe to and maintain residential recycling services for each individual household in the dwelling. An exception may be granted at the discretion of the City Manager or the City Manager's designated representative if it is determined there is not sufficient storage space for the containers at the residential property. (b)...

Looking for Santa Clara County county-wide rules?

County ordinances apply to unincorporated areas and may supplement Santa Clara city rules.

Trash & Recycling in Santa Clara County