Trash & Recycling in Sunnyvale, CA (2026)
8 verified trash & recycling rules for Sunnyvale, California, sourced directly from the municipal code and official government pages.
Verified from official government sources
Pickup Rules & Schedules
Sunnyvale collects garbage, recycling, and organics weekly on the same day. Look up your day with the city's 'How to Get Rid of Anything' tool or the Sunnyvale Recycles Right app. On Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Year's weeks, collection slides one day later.
Sunnyvale, CA Trash Pickup Schedule & Rules
Light RestrictionsCalifornia SB 1383 (2016) — Health and Safety Code § 39730.6; PRC Chapter 13.1 (commencing with § 42652)
SB 1383, Lara. Short-lived climate pollutants: methane emissions: dairy and livestock: organic waste: landfills. ... The bill also would establish specified targets for reducing organic waste in landfills. ... The bill would require the department, in consultation with the state board, to adopt regulations that achieve the specified targets for reducing organic waste in landfills. The bill woul...
Bin Placement Rules
Sunnyvale bins cannot sit on the curb around the clock. Municipal Code Section 8.16.050 bars storing mixed waste, recycling or organics containers on any public street or sidewalk except in a narrow curbside window: out no earlier than 12:01 a.m. the day before pickup, and back off the curb by 6 a.m. the morning after.
Sunnyvale Trash Cart Curbside Placement and Timing Rules
Some RestrictionsSunnyvale, CA, Municipal Code Sec. 8.16.050(a) (Placement of discarded materials containers), Chapter 8.16 Solid Waste, Recyclable Materials and Organic Materials
(a) No mixed waste, organic materials, or recyclable materials container or receptacle, other than one owned by the city and designated for public use, shall be placed, stored, or kept in or on any public street, sidewalk, footpath, or any public place whatsoever, except as follows: (1) Containers may be placed curbside or in a designated collection location, or in a location accessible for rem...
Bulk Item Disposal
Sunnyvale residents can only set out large discards like furniture, appliances, mattresses or carpet rolls when the city runs a scheduled bulky-item program, and even then the window is tight. Municipal Code Section 8.16.050(a)(4) caps curbside placement to no more than twenty-four hours before the scheduled neighborhood clean-up or on-call bulky pickup date.
Bulky Item Curbside Collection Rules in Sunnyvale
Some RestrictionsSunnyvale, CA, Municipal Code Sec. 8.16.050(a)(4) (Placement of discarded materials containers, bulky items), Chapter 8.16 Solid Waste, Recyclable Materials and Organic Materials
(4) In the event that the city authorizes periodic collection of un-containerized mixed waste, organic materials, recyclable materials, and/or large, bulky items (furniture, appliances, mattresses, rolls of carpet, etc.) through a neighborhood clean-up day, on-call bulky item collection or similar program, those items may not be placed curbside more than twenty-four hours before the scheduled c...
Recycling Requirements
Sunnyvale residents and businesses must source-separate recyclables and organics from trash to comply with state laws AB 341, AB 1826, and SB 1383.
Recycling Requirements in Sunnyvale
Light RestrictionsCalRecycle SB 1383 (Short-Lived Climate Pollutant Reduction)
California's Organic Waste Reduction SB 1383 Short-Lived Climate Pollutant Reduction Strategy Landfilled food and other organic waste rotting in landfills emits methane climate pollution contributing to California's hotter summers, more frequent droughts, and more wildfires. Fight Climate Change by Recycling Organic Waste To reduce methane pollution and other short-lived climate pollutants, Cal...
Mandatory Organics Recycling
Sunnyvale requires large food businesses to divert edible food from the trash instead of throwing it away. Municipal Code Section 8.16.210 phases in mandatory food recovery contracts for tier-one generators such as supermarkets, large grocers and food distributors starting January 1, 2022, and tier-two generators such as bigger restaurants, hotels and hospitals starting January 1, 2024, implementing SB 1383 locally.
Sunnyvale Commercial Food Waste Recovery Rules
Some RestrictionsSunnyvale, CA, Municipal Code Sec. 8.16.210 (Requirements applicable to Commercial Edible Food Generators), Chapter 8.16 Solid Waste, Recyclable Materials and Organic Materials
(a) Tier one commercial edible food generators must comply with the requirements of this section commencing January 1, 2022, and tier two commercial edible food generators must comply commencing January 1, 2024, pursuant to 14 CCR Section 18991.3. ... (c) Commercial edible food generators shall comply with the following requirements: (1) Arrange to recover the maximum amount of edible food that...
Illegal Dumping
Dumping trash, debris or refuse anywhere in Sunnyvale outside a designated disposal site is a standalone violation under Municipal Code Section 8.04.060. The rule bans placing garbage, offal, sludge, manure, broken glass or any other rubbish on lots, streets or waterways, and separately bars owners from letting such material pile up on their own property. It is enforced as a Title 8 infraction.
Sunnyvale Illegal Dumping Prohibition and Penalties
Some RestrictionsSunnyvale, CA, Municipal Code Sec. 8.04.060 (Dumping or accumulating debris prohibited), Chapter 8.04 General Sanitation Regulations
It is unlawful for any person, firm, association or corporation to place or dump on any lot, land, street, or in any water or waterway, within the limits of the city of Sunnyvale any house refuse, butcher's offal, garbage, refuse, filth, sludge, bones, putrid vegetable matter, manure, paper, feathers, straw, broken glass or rubbish or debris of any description, except in such places as may be d...
Yard Waste Collection
Sunnyvale defines yard trimmings broadly, covering everything from grass clippings to whole dead trees, and requires it to go out for collection within size limits set by the city's waste-hauling franchise agreement. Municipal Code Section 8.16.020 pairs that definition with weekly green-waste pickup folded into every single-family household's mandatory discarded-materials subscription.
Yard Trimmings and Green Waste Rules in Sunnyvale
Some RestrictionsSunnyvale, CA, Municipal Code Sec. 8.16.020(y) (Definitions, "Yard trimmings"), Chapter 8.16 Solid Waste, Recyclable Materials and Organic Materials
"Yard trimmings" means types of organic waste resulting from normal yard and landscaping installation, maintenance, or removal, including but not limited to, green trimmings, grass, weeds, leaves, prunings, branches, dead plants, brush, tree trimmings, dead trees and small pieces of unpainted or untreated wood. Yard trimmings placed for collection must meet the size limitations of the city's cu...
Dumpster Rules
Sunnyvale allows a debris box or dumpster on private property during building construction or remodeling only in conjunction with a valid building permit, and it must come off the lot within one year of the miscellaneous plan permit's issuance or when construction finishes, whichever happens first (Muni Code Sec. 19.82.020(k)).
Sunnyvale Construction Debris Box Placement Rules
Some RestrictionsSunnyvale, CA, Municipal Code Sec. 19.82.020(k) (When required), Chapter 19.82 Miscellaneous Plan Permit
In conjunction with a valid building permit, debris boxes or dumpsters may be allowed on private property during building construction or remodeling. The debris box or dumpster shall be removed no later than one year from issuance of the miscellaneous plan permit, or the completion of construction, whichever comes first.
Looking for Santa Clara County county-wide rules?
County ordinances apply to unincorporated areas and may supplement Sunnyvale city rules.
Trash & Recycling in Santa Clara County →