San José Trash & Recycling Pickup Schedule (2025)
Complete guide for San José, CA: weekly garbage & recycling, weekly yard trimmings (street pile or cart), FREE junk pickup appointments, holiday changes, rates, and how to report missed service.
Garbage (Black Cart)
Weekly curbside collection (Mon–Fri, 6 a.m.–6 p.m.). Set carts out by 6 a.m.; lids closed.
Recycling (Blue Cart)
Weekly single-stream recycling for residential homes/mobile home parks (apartments/condos vary by complex).
Yard Trimmings
Weekly collection — either loose in the street (most areas) or via optional green cart subscription.
📍 Address Lookup (Official)
Use San José’s Residential Services Lookup to see your collection company and exact pickup day(s) for garbage, recycling, and yard trimmings.
🗓️ Weekly Pickup & Set-out Rules
- All materials weekly: garbage, recycling, and yard trimmings are collected once per week (Mon–Fri, 6 a.m.–6 p.m.).
- Set-out: carts at curb/alley by 6 a.m., lids fully closed, ~3 ft clearance from obstacles.
- Apartments/condos: collection frequency varies; check with property manager.
- SB 1383 (Organics): San José’s residential program is compliant; food/food-soiled paper go in garbage (organics recovered at the MRF). Keep food out of recycling and out of yard trimmings.
- Oil jugs/filter bags: request via 311 for curbside used-oil pickup.
♻️ Recycling — Accepted & Not Accepted
Accepted (Blue Cart)
- Paper & cardboard (flattened)
- Glass bottles & jars
- Metal cans (aluminum/steel)
- Rigid plastics (#1–#7, bottles/jugs/tubs/trays)
Not Accepted
- Plastic bags/film; tanglers (hoses/cords)
- Food, liquids, foam
- HHW/e-waste (see county HHW)
🌿 Yard Trimmings (Street Pile or Cart)
- Weekly yard trimmings collection. Many neighborhoods use loose-in-street piles; others use a green cart (subscription in most areas). Use the Lookup to check your method and sweep day.
- Accepted: branches, grass/leaves, palm fronds, sod (shake soil), Christmas trees.
📦 Free Junk Pickup (Bulky Items)
- FREE appointments via 311 — same-day(s) as your regular service; up to 12 items per appointment. Unlimited appointments permitted.
- Examples: sofas, mattresses, appliances (see accepted items list).
🎉 Holiday Schedule
- Collection occurs on all holidays except Thanksgiving, Christmas Day, and New Year’s Day. If these fall Mon–Fri, service is one day later for the rest of that week.
🚚 Missed Pickup — What to Do
- Confirm set-out time (by 6 a.m.), lids closed, and access clear.
- If still missed after 6 p.m., report via **San José 311** (web/app) or call **(408) 535-3500**.
💲 Cart Sizes & Rates
Single-family rates include **weekly garbage, recycling, yard trimmings**, and **unlimited junk pickup**. See current fees (effective Jul 1, 2025) and cart sizes (32/64/96 gal and above).
| Example Cart Size | What’s Included |
|---|---|
| 32 / 64 / 96 gal | Weekly garbage + recycling + yard trimmings, plus free junk pickup appointments. |
📞 Contacts & 311
- San José 311: services lookup, missed collection, junk pickup, oil jugs/filter bags — (408) 535-3500 or web/app.
- Service Providers: GreenWaste Recovery (yard trimmings & some areas), GreenTeam of San José, Garden City Sanitation — routing depends on address (use Lookup).
- County HHW: Santa Clara County Household Hazardous Waste program (appointments).
🔗 Data Sources