Pickup Rules & Schedules: Palo Alto vs Sunnyvale
How do pickup rules & schedules rules compare between Palo Alto, CA and Sunnyvale, CA?
Palo Alto and Sunnyvale have similar restriction levels.
Palo Alto, CA
Santa Clara County
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 →Sunnyvale, CA
Santa Clara County
Sunnyvale provides weekly curbside collection of garbage, recycling, and organics through Specialty Solid Waste and Recycling with strict set-out time requirements.
View full Sunnyvale rules →Key Facts Comparison
| Fact | Palo Alto | Sunnyvale |
|---|---|---|
| Hauler | GreenWaste of Palo Alto | Specialty Solid Waste and Recycling |
| Set-out time | By 6:00 AM on pickup day | - |
| Remove carts | Within 24 hours after pickup | - |
| Cart spacing | 3 feet apart, 3 feet from obstacles | - |
| Rate model | Pay-As-You-Throw by cart size | - |
| Frequency | - | Weekly |
| Set-out window | - | After 5 p.m. prior day |
| Removal deadline | - | 10 p.m. collection day |
| Service | - | Mandatory subscription |
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.
Sunnyvale FAQ
When can I put out my trash cans?
Carts may be set out after 5 p.m. the day before your scheduled collection and must be removed by 10 p.m. the collection day.
Is trash service mandatory in Sunnyvale?
Yes. All residential and commercial properties must subscribe to trash, recycling, and organics collection.
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