Residential Waste

Single-family home

Cupertino’s curbside garbage, recycling and composting program for residents includes food and yard waste collection for composting, single-stream recycling, used cooking oil collection, battery and compact fluorescent bulb collection, household hazardous waste drop-off, and on-call collection of bulky items. Additional detail can be found in Annual Brochure for Residents(PDF, 3MB).

Multi-family complex

• Waste Guide for Multifamily Residents in English(PDF, 12MB)
• 中文廢棄物指南多戶家庭(PDF, 14MB)
• बहु-परिवार निवासियों के लिए अपशिष्ट मार्गदर्शिका हिंदी में(PDF, 12MB)
• Guía de residuos para residentes multifamiliares en Español(PDF, 12MB)

Cart Set Out Guidelines

• Carts should be a minimum of 24" apart.
• Cart lids should be closed completely with no debris overflowing to allow for proper servicing and reduce litter.
• Carts should not be in the park strip, bike lane. If you reside on a street with a class IV Bike Lane, carts should be placed on divider strip to not block bike path.

Additional Set Out Guidelines

• Batteries, compact fluorescent bulbs, and used oil can be placed out separately from waste carts.
• Extra cardboard that does not fit in your cart can be flatten and stacked neatly next to the recycling cart.
• Bulky item curbside collection should not be placed in the street or sidewalk. Curbside collections must be scheduled with Recology before setting items on the curb. 

Cupertino’s garbage, recycling and composting program for residents includes food and yard waste collection for composting, single-stream recycling, battery and compact fluorescent bulb collection, household hazardous waste drop-off, and on-call collection of bulky items.

• Current Multi-Family Dwelling Garbage Rates(PDF, 146KB)
• Multi-Family Dwelling Waste Guide(PDF, 3MB)
• Recology Audits & Consultations

Battery and light bulb collection may be available at your leasing office of your apartment complex. Please check with your apartment manager to find out what services are available to you.

(PDF, 12MB)

Residents are eligible for two curbside pick-ups for oversized/bulky items per year for free. Additional bulky item pick-up service is available for a fee. This applies to single-family homes and residents in apartment complexes. 

Residents MUST contact Recology prior to putting items on the curb. 

Visit Recology's webpage for on-call collection for more information. Call Recology at 408-725-4020 for more information.

Acceptable Items for On-Call Collection:

• Construction & Demolition Debris
• Furniture or appliances (limit 3 per pick-up)
• Compostable Materials or Clean Wood Waste
• Extra Garbage & Recycling
• Electronic Waste

Non-acceptable Items:

• Hazardous waste such as paint, medication, solvents, pesticides, fertilizers.
• Treated wood such as fence posts and deck material.

Visit County of Santa Clara HHW to dispose of these items.

Set Out Guidelines:

• Combination of loose items must fit within an 8-foot long, 4-foot wide and 4-foot high area
• Items left out for pick up must be on private property only (entrance to your driveway) and not in the street or on the sidewalk.
• Single items should not weigh more than 50lbs each or exceed 6ft in length and must be manageable by one person. If items are bagged the bag must be securely closed to prevent litter.

This applies to all residents (single-family and apartment complexes)

Holiday trees can be picked up on the curb if you follow these simple steps:

1. Remove all decorations, lights, and tinsel from the tree.
2. Cut your tree smaller than 5 feet in length.
3. Set your tree out between December 26 and January 31.
4. Place your tree on the curb next to your cart or bin on your collection day. Smaller piece can be put in the organics cart or bin (never in the trash).
   • Flocked trees are accepted
   • Please ensure the organics cart lid is closed.