Set Out Instructions

Set out trash, recycling and green waste containers at the curb by 6:00 a.m. on the scheduled collection day.

Household Battery and Cell Phone Recycling

Residents can place batteries or cell phones in a sealed, clear plastic bag (zip-lock works best) and place the bag on top of the mixed paper recycling bin on recycling collection day. The types of household batteries accepted include rechargeable, alkaline and the small button-shaped lithium batteries. Lithium batteries must be taped and cell phones must be wrapped in paper before being placed in the plastic bag. Automotive batteries are not accepted.

Weight Limits

For the safety of our employees, each trash, recycling, and green waste container should not exceed 60 pounds. The yard trimmings cart provided by Allied Waste should not exceed 200 pounds. Containers exceeding the weight limits will be tagged and not collected. These weight limits reduce driver injuries. Overloaded containers will also cause damage to the container.

Green Waste Recycling

Acceptable:

• Grass clippings
• Plant trimmings
• Leaves
• Tree limbs (branches under 2 inches in diameter and less than 4 feet in length)
• Ivy
• Succulents/ice plants
• Pine needles
• Clean wood (no plywood or wood that is painted, treated, or contains nails)
• Pumpkins are accepted without the decorations and candles   

Unacceptable:

• Trash/rubbish
• Palm fronds or yucca plants
• Food scrap, fruits, or vegetables
• Paper or plastic bags
• Sod
• Dirt/rocks
• Plywood or wood that is painted, treated, or contains nails

Mixed Paper Recycling

Acceptable:

• Newspapers
• Unwanted mail (catalogs, envelopes, letters, postcards, junk mail, etc.)
• Magazines, phone books, paperback books, etc.
• Office paper (white paper, colored paper, file folders, etc.)
• Cardboard (corrugated and paper board) flattened and no longer than 3 feet by 3 feet.
• Rinsed coated milk and juice cartons (plastic caps and spouts removed)
• Other mixed paper (paper bags, paper packaging, cereal and dry food boxes, etc.)
• Shredded paper should be placed in a paper bag and stapled shut so the wind doesn't blow it around.

Unacceptable:

• Wax-coated cardboard
• Paper contaminated with food (no pizza boxes, paper plates, or napkins)
• Blueprints or carbon paper
• Plastic (no grocery bags or other film plastic)
• Hardback books
• Cardboard must be cut to size, flattened and no larger than 3 feet by 3 feet. Do not tie or tape together. Stack between recycling bins.
• Milk and juice cartons should be rinsed and should NOT contain plastic  pour spouts.

Bottles, Cans and Plastic Recycling

Acceptable:

• Glass bottles and jars
• Aluminum and bi-metal cans
• Plastic bottles and dairy containers 
• Coded plastics #1-#7
• Plastic grocery bags or other film plastics

Unacceptable:

• Plastic buckets, baskets, crates, or carts
• Styrofoam® (any type)
• Take-out food containers or plastic boxes
• Nursery plant containers (unless coded #1-#7)
• Ceramics, drinking glasses, window glass, or mirrors
• Toys 

Used Motor Oil Curbside Collection

• Residents can set out a maximum of two one-gallon, clear plastic containers of used motor per collection day. Tape containers shut to avoid spills.
• Do NOT mix with antifreeze, transmission fluid, water or anything else.
• Used oil filters are not collected. Call the Household Hazardous Waste hotline at (650) 363-4718 for the drop-off locations nearest you.

How To Handle Overflow of Recyclables

If you have more recyclables than can fit into your containers, you can exercise the following:

• Put your mixed paper into paper grocery bags.
• As long as paper is kept separate from commingled bottles, cans and plastics, use any of the recycling bins (no matter how the bin is labeled).
• Call Allied Waste at (650) 592-2411 to order additional containers