Palo Alto vs San Jose
How do pickup rules & schedules rules compare between Palo Alto, CA and San Jose, CA?
Palo Alto, CA
Santa Clara County
No data available yet for Palo Alto.
San Jose, CA
Santa Clara County
San Jose provides curbside collection of garbage, recycling, and organics through a contracted waste hauler. Collection occurs weekly on assigned days. Carts must be placed at the curb by 6:00 AM on collection day with handles facing the house. Carts should be set out no earlier than 5:00 PM the day before collection and retrieved by midnight on collection day. The City provides three carts: blue for recycling, green for organics/yard waste, and brown/gray for garbage.
View full San Jose rules →Key Facts Comparison
| Fact | Palo Alto | San Jose |
|---|---|---|
| Collection | - | Weekly curbside pickup on assigned day |
| Set-Out | - | By 6:00 AM on collection day; no earlier than 5 PM prior day |
| Cart Colors | - | Blue (recycling), Green (organics), Gray (garbage) |
| Retrieval | - | By midnight on collection day |
| Goal | - | 90% landfill diversion by 2030 |
Highlighted rows indicate differences between cities.
Palo Alto FAQ
No FAQs available.
San Jose FAQ
What day is my trash pickup in San Jose?
Collection days are assigned by address. Check the City's website at sanjoseca.gov/recycle or call 408-535-3500 to find your collection schedule.
What goes in each cart?
Blue cart: paper, cardboard, bottles, cans. Green cart: food scraps, yard waste, food-soiled paper. Gray cart: non-recyclable, non-compostable materials only.
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