Santa Clara, CA trash pickup schedule
Santa Clara trash and recycling: who collects, how often, how to find your pickup day, and what changes on holidays in 2026.
Population 133,446 (Census 2025 estimate)Last checked Not affiliated with any city, county or hauler.
Contents10 sections
Quick answer
| Who collects | A private hauler under city contract: Mission Trail Waste Systems (garbage and yard trimmings); Recology South Bay (recycling) The city franchises two haulers: Mission Trail Waste Systems collects garbage (black cart) and yard trimmings (green 'Clean Green' cart); Recology South Bay collects recycling (blue cart) for single-family and multi-family residents. Billing and start/stop of service go through the City's utility customer service (408-615-2300).12 |
|---|---|
| How often | Trash weekly, recycling weekly1417 |
| Set out | at the curb by 7 a.m. on collection day; in the gutter, wheels against the curb, 3 ft from other carts and obstacles; lids closed; return carts after collection1 |
| Your pickup day | Hauler’s address lookup: missiontrail.com4 |
| Holiday | Veterans Day, Wed, Nov 11, 2026: No change. Normal service8 |
Bulk items: On-call pickup: call or book online (details). Drop-off sites: 3 listed (hours and fees).
Santa Clara holiday trash schedule 2026
| City’s rule | Mission Trail observes Thanksgiving, Christmas Day and New Year's Day. When one falls on a weekday, service before the holiday is unaffected; service on the holiday and later that week runs one day late (Friday moves to Saturday). Recology's 2026 recycling calendar follows the same pattern; other holidays are normal service.2 |
|---|---|
| Official notice | recology.com |
| Garbage rule | Mission Trail (garbage, yard trimmings): during Thanksgiving week only Thursday and Friday customers are affected2 |
| City confirmation 2025 | City's Nov 2025 bulletin: no garbage, recycling or yard trimmings collection on Thanksgiving; Thursday to Friday, Friday to Saturday12 |
| Extra bags after christmas | 2025-26 season: up to two extra 32-gallon garbage bags (max 30 lb) free on collection days Dec 26-Jan 7 (2026-27 not yet announced)13 |
| Holiday | Date | Pickup | What the city says |
|---|---|---|---|
| New Year's Day | Thu, Jan 1, 2026 | No dated list; see the city’s rule | See the city’s rule above |
| Martin Luther King Jr. Day | Mon, Jan 19, 2026 | No change | Recycling (Recology) normal; Mission Trail does not observe this holiday8 |
| Presidents' Day | Mon, Feb 16, 2026 | No change | Normal service8 |
| Memorial Day | Mon, May 25, 2026 | No change | Normal service8 |
| Juneteenth | Fri, Jun 19, 2026 | Not on the city’s list | Not on the city’s list for this year |
| Independence Day (Fourth of July) | Fri, Jul 3, 2026 | No change | Observed Friday July 3: normal service8 |
| Labor Day | Mon, Sep 7, 2026 | No change | Normal service8 |
| Indigenous Peoples' Day | Mon, Oct 12, 2026 | No change | Normal service8 |
| Veterans Day | Wed, Nov 11, 2026 | No change | Normal service8 |
| Thanksgiving Day | Thu, Nov 26, 2026 | Delayed one day | Thursday customers serviced Friday 11/27; Friday customers Saturday 11/28 (Recology 2026 calendar; Mission Trail FAQ gives the same rule for garbage and yard trimmings)8 |
| Christmas Day | Fri, Dec 25, 2026 | Delayed one day | Friday customers serviced Saturday 12/268 |
| Holiday | Date | Pickup | What the city says |
|---|---|---|---|
| New Year's Day | Fri, Jan 1, 2027 | Delayed one day | Friday customers serviced Saturday 1/2/20278 |
| Martin Luther King Jr. Day | Mon, Jan 18, 2027 | No dated list; see the city’s rule | See the city’s rule above |
| Presidents' Day | Mon, Feb 15, 2027 | No dated list; see the city’s rule | See the city’s rule above |
| Memorial Day | Mon, May 31, 2027 | No dated list; see the city’s rule | See the city’s rule above |
| Juneteenth | Fri, Jun 18, 2027 (observed) | No dated list; see the city’s rule | See the city’s rule above |
| Independence Day (Fourth of July) | Mon, Jul 5, 2027 (observed) | No dated list; see the city’s rule | See the city’s rule above |
| Labor Day | Mon, Sep 6, 2027 | No dated list; see the city’s rule | See the city’s rule above |
| Columbus Day / Indigenous Peoples' Day | Mon, Oct 11, 2027 | No dated list; see the city’s rule | See the city’s rule above |
| Veterans Day | Thu, Nov 11, 2027 | No dated list; see the city’s rule | See the city’s rule above |
| Thanksgiving Day | Thu, Nov 25, 2027 | No dated list; see the city’s rule | See the city’s rule above |
| Christmas Day | Fri, Dec 24, 2027 (observed) | No dated list; see the city’s rule | See the city’s rule above |
Check your own day for the next three holidays with the holiday delay checker, or download a pickup calendar.
Bulk trash pickup in Santa Clara
| How it works | On-call pickup: call or book online3 |
|---|---|
| How to request | Call Mission Trail at 408-727-5365, first come first served; two 4'x4'x4' bags are delivered before the scheduled day; everything out by 6 a.m.3 |
| Limits | two bags (up to 2 cubic yards each, 1.5-ton weight limit per bag) plus up to three bulky items (mattresses, sofas, appliances) per service3 |
| Fees | $197.52 per service (subject to increase July 1, 2027); paid by credit card over the phone3 |
| Not accepted |
|
| Annual cleanup | City Annual Cleanup Campaign (2026: April 27 - May 22): bulky items set out on designated weekends; construction debris must be in a debris bulk bag (1 cubic yard free, then $25/cubic yard)16 |
Recycling in Santa Clara
| Pickup | weekly14 |
|---|---|
| Type | single-stream7 |
| Glass | accepted in cart (glass bottles and jars)11 |
| Plastics | all plastics #1-#7 (Recology page; the 2021 brochure excludes #6 polystyrene foam)7 |
Accepted
Not accepted
- Food-contaminated packaging, garden hoses/rubber gloves, packing peanuts or Styrofoam, light bulbs or window glass (2021 brochure)11
Programs
- Used motor oil (up to three 1-gallon screw-top containers), drained oil filters and CFLs in bags may be set next to the recycling cart (single-family homes; 2021 brochure)11
Yard waste, food scraps and seasonal pickups
| Yard waste pickup | yes - green cart (Clean Green), collected by Mission Trail1 |
|---|---|
| Season | Not published by the city (official page) |
| How often | Not published by the city (official page) |
| Rules | Yard trimmings in the green cart, never loose in the street; a free extra green cart is available from Mission Trail12 |
| Food scraps | Not published by the city (official page) |
| Christmas trees | 2025-26 season (latest published): trees collected curbside on regular garbage day the week of Jan 5-9, 2026, ornaments/tinsel/stand removed; after Jan 9 cut up into the green cart; flocked trees in the garbage cart. 2026-27 dates not yet published.13 |
| Leaf collection | Leaf season: streets swept bi-weekly the next business day after trash pickup; yard trimmings go in the green cart12 |
| Cleanup events |
|
Drop-off sites: landfill, recycling and hazardous waste
Mission Trail Waste Systems Transfer Station
| Type | Transfer station |
|---|---|
| Run by | hauler (Mission Trail Waste Systems) |
| Address | 1313 Memorex Dr., Santa Clara, CA 95050 · Map5 |
| Hours | Monday-Friday 6:00 a.m.-2:00 p.m.; closed Saturday and Sunday5 |
| Fees | Not published by the city (official page) |
| Accepts | garbage, appliances, furniture, metal, sheetrock, dirt/rock/concrete, C&D, clean wood, green waste, computer monitors/CPUs, flattened cardboard; not accepted: liquid waste, hazardous materials, paint, batteries, automotive fluids, fluorescent tubes, toxic cleaners, pool chemicals, fertilizers, pesticides, poisons, sharps, pressure-treated wood5 |
| Phone | 408-727-5365 x514 |
Recology South Bay Transfer Station
| Type | Transfer station |
|---|---|
| Run by | hauler (Recology South Bay) |
| Address | 1675 Rogers Ave, San Jose, CA · Map19 |
| Hours | Monday-Friday 6 a.m.-5 p.m.; Saturday 6 a.m.-2 p.m.; Sunday closed19 |
| Fees | Not published by the city (official page) |
| Accepts | extra garbage, furniture, large appliances, construction and demolition19 |
County of Santa Clara Household Hazardous Waste Program
| Type | Household hazardous waste |
|---|---|
| Run by | The county |
| Address | Not published by the city (official page) |
| Hours | by appointment (408-299-7300, hhw.org); periodic free drop-off events in Santa Clara3 |
| Fees | free3 |
Item guides: Mattress · Couch and furniture · Appliances · Paint · Batteries · Electronics · Tires · Motor oil · Christmas tree.
Missed pickup and contacts
| Missed pickup form | Not published by the city (official page) |
|---|---|
| Phone | Mission Trail Waste Systems (garbage, yard trimmings, bulky items) 408-727-5365; Recology South Bay (recycling) 408-970-510012 |
| 311 | Not published by the city (official page) |
| Official website | santaclaraca.gov |
| City program | City of Santa Clara Environmental Programs 408-615-308013 |
| Missed pickup | Call Mission Trail with your address (garbage/green cart); if reported within 24 hours a truck can return within one business day; two-pass system means trash and green carts are emptied at different times2 |
Nearby cities
- Sunnyvale, CA4 miles · A private hauler under city contract
- Fremont, CA9 miles · A private hauler under city contract
- San Jose, CA10 miles · A private hauler under city contract
- Hayward, CA20 miles · A private hauler under city contract
- San Mateo, CA23 miles · A private hauler under city contract
- Oakland, CA31 miles · A private hauler under city contract
Other cities served by Recology
- San Francisco, CARecology (Recology Sunset Scavenger, Recology Golden Gate, Recology San Francisco)
- Seattle, WAWaste Management of Washington (northwest and south Seattle); Recology King County (northeast and central Seattle)
- Portland, ORNine City-franchised private haulers, each with its own exclusive area: Arrow Sanitary, Portland Disposal & Recycling, Waste Management of Oregon, Heiberg Garbage Service, City Sanitary, Wacker Sanitary, Walker Garbage Service, Republic Services of Lake Oswego and Recology Clackamas (per the City hauler-area layer)
- Santa Rosa, CARecology Sonoma Marin
- Vallejo, CARecology Vallejo
- Vacaville, CARecology Vacaville Solano
- San Mateo, CARecology San Mateo County
All California cities: California trash pickup schedules.
Santa Clara trash pickup FAQ
What day is trash picked up in Santa Clara?
Trash is collected weekly. Santa Clara does not use one citywide day: your day depends on your address. Look it up with the city’s hauler’s address lookup (missiontrail.com).
Is trash picked up on Thanksgiving Day 2026 in Santa Clara?
Thanksgiving Day falls on Thu, Nov 26, 2026. Delayed one day: Thursday customers serviced Friday 11/27; Friday customers Saturday 11/28 (Recology 2026 calendar; Mission Trail FAQ gives the same rule for garbage and yard trimmings)
Is trash picked up on Christmas Day 2026 in Santa Clara?
Christmas Day falls on Fri, Dec 25, 2026. Delayed one day: Friday customers serviced Saturday 12/26
Is trash picked up on New Year's Day 2027 in Santa Clara?
New Year's Day falls on Fri, Jan 1, 2027. Delayed one day: Friday customers serviced Saturday 1/2/2027
How do I get rid of bulky items in Santa Clara?
On-call pickup: call or book online. Call Mission Trail at 408-727-5365, first come first served; two 4'x4'x4' bags are delivered before the scheduled day; everything out by 6 a.m. Fees: $197.52 per service (subject to increase July 1, 2027); paid by credit card over the phone.
Does Santa Clara recycle glass?
Glass: accepted in cart (glass bottles and jars).
How do I report a missed trash pickup in Santa Clara?
call Mission Trail Waste Systems (garbage, yard trimmings, bulky items) 408-727-5365; Recology South Bay (recycling) 408-970-5100.
Sources
- 1 Residential Program Details (City of Santa Clara)hauler (Mission Trail Waste Systems) · missiontrail.com · checked October 30, 2026
- 2 Residential FAQs (City of Santa Clara)hauler (Mission Trail Waste Systems) · missiontrail.com · checked October 30, 2026
- 3 Bulky Item Collection (City of Santa Clara)hauler (Mission Trail Waste Systems) · missiontrail.com · checked October 30, 2026
- 4 Find Your Service Day (City of Santa Clara)hauler (Mission Trail Waste Systems) · missiontrail.com · checked October 30, 2026
- 5 Transfer Stationhauler (Mission Trail Waste Systems) · missiontrail.com · checked October 30, 2026
- 6 Santa Clara service area pagehauler (Mission Trail Waste Systems) · missiontrail.com · checked October 30, 2026
- 7 Your Recycling Bin - Recology South Bay: City of Santa Clarahauler (Recology South Bay) · recology.com · checked October 30, 2026
- 8 Holiday Calendar - Recology South Bay: City of Santa Clarahauler (Recology South Bay) · recology.com · checked October 30, 2026
- 9 Recology South Bay: City of Santa Clarahauler (Recology South Bay) · recology.com · checked October 30, 2026
- 10 Collection Calendar - Recology South Bay: City of Santa Clarahauler (Recology South Bay) · recology.com · checked October 30, 2026
- 11 Santa Clara Recycles brochure (2021, PDF)hauler (Recology South Bay) · recology.com · checked October 30, 2026
- 12 November 2025 City Hall News (city email bulletin)city (City Hall News email bulletin, hosted on GovDelivery) · content.govdelivery.com · checked October 30, 2026
- 13 December 2025 City Hall News (city email bulletin)city (City Hall News email bulletin, hosted on GovDelivery) · content.govdelivery.com · checked October 30, 2026
- 14 February 2026 City Hall News (city email bulletin)city (City Hall News email bulletin, hosted on GovDelivery) · content.govdelivery.com · checked October 30, 2026
- 15 March 2026 City Hall News (city email bulletin)city (City Hall News email bulletin, hosted on GovDelivery) · content.govdelivery.com · checked October 30, 2026
- 16 April 2026 City Hall News (city email bulletin)city (City Hall News email bulletin, hosted on GovDelivery) · content.govdelivery.com · checked October 30, 2026
- 17 September 2026 City Hall News (city email bulletin)city (City Hall News email bulletin, hosted on GovDelivery) · content.govdelivery.com · checked October 30, 2026
- 18 October 2026 City Hall News (city email bulletin)city (City Hall News email bulletin, hosted on GovDelivery) · content.govdelivery.com · checked October 30, 2026
- 19 Recology South Bay Transfer Station (City of Santa Clara section)Contracted hauler · recology.com · checked October 30, 2026
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Second-pass verification against every source: November 1, 2026. Not affiliated with any city, county or hauler.