• Materials must be placed in the public street along the gutter line in front of the residence where the materials are generated at least 3 feet away from any obstructions such as fire hydrants, fences, poles, cars, trees, bushes or walls. Placing materials in front of a neighbor’s house will be deemed illegal dumping.
• Participating residences located on private streets must place their material in the gutter at the nearest public street at least 3 feet away from any obstructions such as fire hydrants, fences, poles, cars, trees, bushes or walls.
• Avoid parking on the street during your collection week. Do not block driveways, sidewalks or bike lanes.
• Place materials in the gutter in front of your residence no earlier than the Saturday prior to your assigned collection week, and no later than 7:00 a.m. on the Monday of your designated collection week. Early set-outs are subject to a $150 fine.
• Be courteous to other residents - do not place piles in alleys, private streets, bike lanes, or against fences, retaining walls, hydrants, or landscaping. Sidewalks must remain clear of obstructions at all times. 
• Do not place piles in front of curbs painted red for “No Parking,” as large piles can obstruct the view of motorists pulling out of driveways.
• Call 408-615-3080 weekdays or 408-615-5580 after 4:30 p.m. or on weekends to report illegal dumping in progress.
• Do not trim or remove City street trees. This is a violation of City Code 12.35.110 and subject to a $1,000 fine and all associated replacement costs. Call 408-615-3080 for information.
• Violation notices will be left at residences where materials have been improperly set out. Please contact the Dept. of Public Works Street Division at 408-615-3080 for questions about what can be set out and for assistance in determining your collection area.

• Only set out materials generated from your residence and place only in front of your address.
• Bulky items such as old furniture, carpets, mattresses, toilets, foam packaging, etc.
• Appliances, tires, e-waste (anything that requires a plug or battery to operate), untreated lumber, branches and brush (no longer than 6-feet in length). Separate each of these materials for special collection.
•  All concrete, asphalt, dirt, brick, rocks, drywall and/or sawdust MUST be set out in a heavy-duty bulk bag no larger than 1-cubic yard to prevent potential stormwater runoff pollution. Failure to use a bulk bag for these items is subject to a $150 fine.
  •  Bulk bags may be purchased from a retailer of your choice or at the City’s Municipal Utility Services Counter for $23.79 starting April 15.
    • To purchase in person, visit City Hall (1500 Warburton Avenue, Santa Clara, CA) at the Municipal Utility Services Counter located on the upper level of the west wing. The counter is open Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. – 4:55 p.m. (excluding holidays).
    • Accepted forms of payment include cash, check, money order, credit, or debit.
  • A total of 1-cubic yard of bagged debris will be picked up at no charge. Additional bagged cubic yards will be assessed at $25/cubic yard.

• Items containing lithium batteries, such as smartphones, laptops, tablets, smartwatches, Bluetooth headphones, digital cameras, cordless power tools, LED flashlights, robot vacuums, electric scooters, drones, portable power banks, key fobs, hearing aids, and smart home devices. 
  • For dry-cell battery drop-off locations in Santa Clara click here
  • Visit HHW.org or call the County Household Hazardous Waste Program at 408-299-7300 to schedule a FREE drop-off appointment.
  • Download the "Lithium-Ion Battery Safety" PDF by the National Fire Protection Association.
  • Properly dispose of these items at one of our following events:
    • Environmental Day and Household Hazardous Waste Drop-off (scroll to the next section for all disposal event dates)
  • Visit local retailers to learn about their battery and electronics disposal programs.
• Putrescible waste, such as food, food-soiled paper, or liquids (i.e. anything that can spoil, decompose, or rot). Please dispose of these items through your regular garbage pick-up.
• Pressure treated wood waste, such as fence posts, railroad ties and decking must be managed as hazardous waste and will not be collected. For a list of facilities accepting treated wood, please visit the DTSC website.
• Contractor generated landscape or construction/demolition debris
• Household hazardous waste such as paint, chemicals, automotive fluids, solvents, fertilizers, cleaning products, compact fluorescent light bulbs (CFLs), batteries or sharps. Illegal set-out of hazardous materials is subject to a $500 fine. 
  • Visit HHW.org or call the County Household Hazardous Waste Program at 408-299-7300 to schedule a FREE drop-off appointment.
• Bio-hazardous waste or biomedical waste such as diapers, sanitary napkins, sharps and syringes, human and animal waste, and any other infectious materials.
• Ammunition and explosives - For safe disposal, call the Santa Clara Police Department at 408-615-5580.
• Medications - Safely dispose of expired or unwanted medications at the MED-Project kiosks located throughout the City. For additional information and a list of locations, visit Med-Project.org. 

Do your part to make sure recyclable and salvageable materials stay out of the landfill. Visit SantaClaraCA.gov/CleanSC for a list of items accepted in your weekly curbside collection. To find out where you can donate your salvageable items, visit RecycleStuff.us or call 1-800-533-8414.

1. Consider Reuse - Many items that are placed out each year can be reused or recycled. For information, please visit the Center for the Development of Recycling at RecycleStuff.org or call them at 1-800-533-8414.

2. On-Call Bulky Item Collection Program for residents living in single-family homes and townhomes in Santa Clara - This program is designed for on-call collection of large items that don’t fit in residential carts such as old furniture, appliances, or mattresses. For $171.45, residents may call and schedule the removal of up to three bulky items and two debris bags (one cubic yard each) of material from the front curb of their residence (debris bags are provided). Not all HOAs participate. To check eligibility, program guidelines, or to arrange for a collection, contact Mission Trail Waste Systems at 408-727-5365.

3. Citywide Garage Sale - Register for the April 19 or August 9 Citywide Garage Sale. Use this opportunity to make some extra cash while preventing usable items from going to the landfill. Registration for both events open a month prior. 

4. Free Disposal Day on March 29 (registration opens March 17), July 12 (registration opens June 30), and October 18 (registration opens October 6). Call Mission Trail Waste Systems at 408-727-5365 for drop-off location, load size limits and accepted materials. Hazardous waste is NOT accepted. Residents are responsible for unloading items from their vehicles.

5. Household Hazardous Waste Drop-off Event on April 26, July 26, and September 20 the City of Santa Clara will be hosting a free household hazardous waste (HHW) drop-off event. Register to attend this event or any of the other countywide HHW drop-off events by calling the County Household Hazardous Waste Program at 408-299-7300 or by visiting hhw.org.

6. Environmental Day on March 1 and October 18, from 8 a.m.-12 p.m. promotes recycling, reuse and diversion of material from the landfill. Accepted materials include: Mattresses, tires, documents for confidential shredding (2-box limit), e-waste, including computers, monitors, printers, etc. Universal waste, including batteries, cell phones, CFLs, fluorescent tubes, and clothing in good condition for donation.

7. Mission Trail Transfer Station - Located in Santa Clara and open the public. For pricing and hours of operation, please visit Mission Trail Waste Systems - Transfer Station or call 408-727-5365.

Questions?
Visit SantaClaraCA.gov/CleanUp
Call 408-615-3080
Email Environment@SantaClaraCA.gov