Mandatory Organics Recycling: Palo Alto vs Sunnyvale
How do mandatory organics recycling rules compare between Palo Alto, CA and Sunnyvale, CA?
Palo Alto and Sunnyvale have similar restriction levels.
Palo Alto, CA
Santa Clara County
California SB-1383 requires every household and business in Santa Clara County to separate food scraps and yard waste from trash. Local haulers including Recology, GreenWaste, and Mission Trail Waste run weekly green-cart collection for compostable organics.
View full Palo Alto rules →Sunnyvale, CA
Santa Clara County
California SB-1383 requires every household and business in Santa Clara County to separate food scraps and yard waste from trash. Local haulers including Recology, GreenWaste, and Mission Trail Waste run weekly green-cart collection for compostable organics.
View full Sunnyvale rules →Key Facts Comparison
| Fact | Palo Alto | Sunnyvale |
|---|---|---|
| State law | SB-1383 (2016) | SB-1383 (2016) |
| Goal | 75% organics diversion by 2025 | 75% organics diversion by 2025 |
| Local haulers | Recology, GreenWaste, Mission Trail | Recology, GreenWaste, Mission Trail |
| Tier-1 duty | Edible food donation | Edible food donation |
| Multi-family | Containers + annual education | Containers + annual education |
Highlighted rows indicate differences between cities.
Palo Alto FAQ
What goes in the green bin in Santa Clara County?
All food scraps including meat, bones, and dairy, plus food-soiled paper, BPI-certified compostable foodware, and standard yard waste. Plastic bags, glass, and metal contaminants must stay out so finished compost meets state standards.
Do I have to subscribe if I compost at home?
Backyard composters can request a self-haul or reduced-service waiver from their hauler, but most generators must still subscribe to baseline service to ensure overflow and seasonal yard-waste capacity is available.
Sunnyvale FAQ
What goes in the green bin in Santa Clara County?
All food scraps including meat, bones, and dairy, plus food-soiled paper, BPI-certified compostable foodware, and standard yard waste. Plastic bags, glass, and metal contaminants must stay out so finished compost meets state standards.
Do I have to subscribe if I compost at home?
Backyard composters can request a self-haul or reduced-service waiver from their hauler, but most generators must still subscribe to baseline service to ensure overflow and seasonal yard-waste capacity is available.
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