San Jose, CA Trash & Recycling: Bulk Item Disposal (2026)
Key Facts
- Covered items
- Furniture, tires, appliances, yard debris
- Setout location
- Public parkway in front of premises
- Setout window
- Day before to day after pickup
- Collector
- City's authorized residential solid waste collector
- Ownership
- Stays with generator until collected
Summary
San Jose residents can set bulky goods, old furniture, appliances, tires, yard debris, on the public parkway only within the scheduled pickup window, for collection by the city's authorized residential hauler under Municipal Code § 9.10.1080.
The Owner of a Residential Premises or the Generator of Bulky Goods generated at such Premises may set out Bulky Goods for collection by the City's authorized Residential Solid Waste Collector by placing the Bulky Goods on the public parkway in front of the Premises where the Bulky Goods were generated.D.The Owner of a Residential Premises or the Generator of waste corrugated cardboard generated at such Premises may set out uncontainerized corrugated cardboard for collection by the City's authorized residential Recycling collector by placing the cardboard in the public parkway in front of the Premises where the corrugated cardboard was generated except at Premises where the City or the City's authorized residential Recycling collector has provided a recyclables container for corrugated cardboard. (Ords. 24315, 25694, 26625, 30684.)
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Code of Ordinances: Supplement 5 Update 3).
Full Breakdown
"Bulky Goods" is defined at SJMC § 9.10.040 as discarded furniture, carpets, mattresses, major appliances ("white goods"), electronics ("brown goods"), clothing, tires, and yard waste up to two feet in diameter and four feet long: excluding vehicles or vehicle parts other than tires. Under § 9.10.1080(C), the owner or generator may place bulky goods on the public parkway in front of the premises for pickup by the city's authorized residential solid waste collector. Section 9.10.1100(E) confines that curb placement to the day before the scheduled collection day through the day after it. Ownership stays with the generator under § 9.10.730 until the authorized collector picks the material up.
Violations & Fines
Setting bulky goods out earlier or leaving them past the window violates SJMC § 9.10.1100(E). The Director and health officer enforce Chapter 9.10 under § 9.10.3000, and violations are chargeable under the city's general Municipal Code penalty provisions.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I put a broken refrigerator on the curb early?
What counts as bulky goods in San Jose?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in San Jose
California rules heatmap·Compare San Jose to another location·View the California trash & recycling overview
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Bulk Item Disposal in Nearby Cities
How other cities in Santa Clara County handle bulk item disposal.