Santa Clara County, CA Trash & Recycling: Bulk Item Disposal (2026)

Santa Clara County's garbage and refuse ordinance (Division B11, Chapter IX) does not contain a separate bulky-item or large-item collection section, and the County does not publish a county-wide bulk pickup calendar in the code. Instead, bulk and large-item disposal in the unincorporated area is handled through the franchised residential collection programs run by the County's permitted haulers (GreenWaste Recovery in District South and GreenTeam of San Jose in District West, per the County's solid waste pages), which residents arrange directly. What the County code does regulate is improper disposal. Section B11-188 makes it unlawful for any person to throw away, deposit, or bury refuse except at an approved disposal or collection area unless authorized by the Director, and it may be enforced by any peace officer. Section B11-192 prohibits any person with occupancy or control of a property from allowing an accumulation of refuse of any description to remain on the property. A refrigerator stored outside for more than 72 hours is blight under Section B38-14, and the doors of any refrigerator left outside must be removed, taped shut, or otherwise secured. Residents should contact their hauler to schedule large-item pickups rather than setting bulky items at the curb outside the hauler's program, which can constitute illegal dumping or a nuisance.