Palo Alto, CA Trash & Recycling: Recycling Requirements (2026)
Key Facts
- Mandate
- SB 1383 + AB 341 + AB 1826
- Recycling cart
- Blue, weekly pickup
- Organics cart
- Green, weekly pickup
- Plastics accepted
- Rigid #1-#5 and #7
- Contamination
- Fees for wrong items
Summary
Palo Alto requires residents and businesses to separate recyclables and organics from trash under SB 1383, AB 341, and Chapter 5.20. GreenWaste collects mixed recyclables weekly in blue carts.
Fight Climate Change by Recycling Organic Waste To reduce methane pollution and other short-lived climate pollutants, California passed SB 1383 (Lara, 2016). The law set targets for 2025: 75% less organic waste sent to landfills. 20% of unsold, still-edible food sent to food recovery organizations. Landfills Are Third Largest Source of Methane in California Organic waste in landfills emits: 20% of the state's methane, a climate super pollutant that heats 84 times more than carbon dioxide. Air pollutants like PM 2.5, which contributes to health conditions like asthma. Organics like food scraps, yard trimmings, paper, and cardboard make up half of what Californians dump in landfills. Collections All jurisdictions need to provide organic waste collection services to all residents and businesses, and recycle organic waste. Procurement Procurement requirement information. Jurisdictions must use the products made from the recycled organic material, such as compost and mulch. Food Recovery Some food service businesses must donate unsold food to food recovery organizations to help some of the 1 in 5 Californians without enough to eat.
Full Breakdown
California SB 1383 and AB 1826 require all Palo Alto households and businesses to separate organic waste (food scraps, yard waste, food-soiled paper) into the green organics cart and recyclable materials (paper, cardboard, glass, metal, rigid plastics #1-#5 and #7) into the blue recycling cart. AB 341 additionally requires businesses generating four or more cubic yards of waste per week to subscribe to recycling service. Contamination fees may apply when non-recyclable items are placed in the blue cart or food/recyclables are placed in the black trash cart. Plastic bags, film, styrofoam, and tanglers such as hoses and electronics do not go in curbside recycling and must be taken to special drop-off programs. Palo Alto also bans polystyrene food ware and single-use plastic foodware accessories under local ordinances. The Sunnyvale Materials Recovery Facility processes Palo Altos recyclables. Multifamily properties must provide recycling and organics collection access to all tenants. Call GreenWaste at (650) 493-4894 with questions.
Frequently Asked Questions
What goes in the blue recycling cart?
Is food waste separation required?
What if I put trash in the recycling cart?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Palo Alto
California rules heatmap·Compare Palo Alto to another location·View the California trash & recycling overview
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Recycling Requirements in Nearby Cities
How other cities in Santa Clara County handle recycling requirements.