San Mateo County, CA Trash & Recycling: Bin Placement Rules (2026)

San Mateo County does not publish a detailed countywide cart-setout time in its general code; the operational setout rules come from the franchised hauler's service guidelines, which apply in the unincorporated franchise areas. Recology San Mateo County directs residents to place bins curbside in the street before 6 a.m. of the service day, with the wheels against the curb and the lid pointed toward the street, and to place bins about 2 to 3 feet apart, all facing the same direction. This spacing and orientation lets the automated collection truck service each cart. Carts should be brought back from the curb after collection rather than left out, consistent with the County's broader interest in avoiding accumulations that read as blight. County Code Chapter 4.04 (Section 4.04.100) requires that solid waste and recyclable materials be properly contained while in transit, reinforcing that loose or spilling material is not acceptable at the curb. Residents in non-Recology areas should follow their own hauler's setout instructions (GreenWaste, Republic Services, South San Francisco Scavenger, or Kunz Valley Trash), which follow similar curb-placement and clearance conventions for automated trucks. Carts blocking sidewalks, bike lanes, or travel lanes, or left at the curb well beyond collection day, can be addressed as obstructions or nuisances by Code Compliance.