Residential trash, recycling, and organics collection in unincorporated San Mateo County is provided primarily by Recology San Mateo County under franchise agreements coordinated through the South Bayside Waste Management Authority (RethinkWaste) and SBR (South Bayside Recycling). Weekly curbside service includes three carts: gray for garbage, blue for recycling, and green for organics. Holiday service is delayed by one day the week of the holiday.
Waste collection in the unincorporated County is provided under franchise agreements between the County and regional haulers — primarily Recology San Mateo County for most unincorporated areas, with Coastside Scavenger (Recology Coast) serving Half Moon Bay coastside unincorporated communities and GreenWaste serving some South County areas. All residents receive weekly curbside collection of three carts: gray (landfill garbage), blue (commingled recycling — paper, cardboard, plastics #1-5, glass, aluminum, tin), and green (organics — food scraps, food-soiled paper, and yard trimmings). Carts must be curbside by 6 AM on the scheduled collection day and returned within 24 hours. Observed holidays (New Year's Day, Memorial Day, Independence Day, Labor Day, Thanksgiving, Christmas) delay service by one day that week. Contaminated recycling or organics carts may be tagged and skipped. SB 1383 (statewide organics mandate, effective 2022) requires organics separation from all residential and commercial generators.
Contaminated cart contents: warning tag on first occurrence, $25-$100 per subsequent occurrence possible under SB 1383 enforcement (effective 2024). Missed placement: cart not collected that week. Commercial non-compliance with SB 1383: escalating fines up to $500/day.
San Mateo County, CA
Amplified music in unincorporated San Mateo County is regulated by County Code Chapter 4.88 Noise Control, which caps exterior noise at 55-75 dBA daytime and...
San Mateo County, CA
Unincorporated San Mateo County enforces CVC §22651(k) for vehicles on public streets (72 hours) and Ordinance Code Chapter 4.48 for inoperable vehicles on p...
San Mateo County, CA
Unincorporated San Mateo County has no general overnight parking ban on most streets. Specific residential neighborhoods may have permit parking. California ...
San Mateo County, CA
Unincorporated San Mateo County enforces California Swimming Pool Safety Act (H&S Code §115920-115929) and CBC Chapter 31B. Minimum 60-inch barrier, self-clo...
San Mateo County, CA
Unincorporated San Mateo County requires building permits for retaining walls over 4 feet measured from bottom of footing to top of wall, per California Buil...
San Mateo County, CA
Unincorporated San Mateo County allows backyard chickens on residential parcels of at least 2,500 sq ft under the County Zoning Regulations. 2,500 to 7,500 s...
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