Pickup Rules & Schedules: San Jose vs Sunnyvale
How do pickup rules & schedules rules compare between San Jose, CA and Sunnyvale, CA?
San Jose and Sunnyvale have similar restriction levels.
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 →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 | San Jose | Sunnyvale |
|---|---|---|
| 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 | - |
| Hauler | - | Specialty Solid Waste and Recycling |
| 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.
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.
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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