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🗑️ Trash & Recycling/Pickup Rules & Schedules

Palo Alto vs Santa Clara

How do pickup rules & schedules rules compare between Palo Alto, CA and Santa Clara, CA?

Palo Alto and Santa Clara have similar restriction levels.

Palo Alto, CA

Santa Clara County

Some Restrictions

GreenWaste of Palo Alto collects garbage, recycling, and compost weekly on assigned routes. Residents must place carts at the curb by 6:00 AM on pickup day and remove them within 24 hours.

View full Palo Alto rules →

Santa Clara, CA

Santa Clara County

Some Restrictions

Santa Clara provides weekly curbside collection of garbage, recycling, and organics through Mission Trail Waste Systems. Carts must be placed curbside by 6 AM on collection day.

View full Santa Clara rules →

Key Facts Comparison

FactPalo AltoSanta Clara
HaulerGreenWaste of Palo AltoMission Trail Waste Systems
Set-out timeBy 6:00 AM on pickup dayBy 6:00 AM
Remove cartsWithin 24 hours after pickup-
Cart spacing3 feet apart, 3 feet from obstacles-
Rate modelPay-As-You-Throw by cart size-
Frequency-Weekly
Cart sizes-20, 32, 64, 96 gallon
Streams-Garbage, recycling, organics

Highlighted rows indicate differences between cities.

Palo Alto FAQ

Who is Palo Altos trash hauler?

GreenWaste of Palo Alto, a subsidiary of GreenWaste Recovery, holds the exclusive residential collection franchise for the city.

When do I set my carts out?

Carts must be at the curb by 6:00 AM on your collection day. Putting them out the night before is typical, but they must be removed within 24 hours after pickup.

What if I miss my pickup?

Contact GreenWaste customer service or use the Palo Alto 311 app to request a missed-pickup return within 24 hours of your regular service day.

Santa Clara FAQ

Who provides trash service in Santa Clara?

Mission Trail Waste Systems (MTWS) is the franchised hauler for residential customers.

What time must carts be out?

Carts must be placed curbside by 6:00 AM on your collection day and removed within 24 hours.

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