San José, California resident guide
San José trash, recycling, yard trimmings & junk pickup
Schedule unlimited San José Junk Pickup appointments, find the address provider and weekly collection day, prepare up to 12 items, and check yard trimming and 2026 holiday rules.
Checked against public guidance from the responsible city service on September 1, 2026.
Regular household service
San José weekly carts, yard trimmings, and street sweeping
Residential garbage, recycling, and yard trimmings are collected weekly between 6 a.m. and 6 p.m. The address lookup identifies the weekday, providers, and monthly street sweeping day.
The exact collection day can depend on the service address.
Follow the provider schedule assigned to the property.
Use the official instructions when a property has alley or private service.
Need it gone before the next city collection?
Get a LoadUp quote when the city schedule is too far away or your items do not qualify for the included service.
Start here
Schedule a San José junk pickup
Submit a request through San José 311, dial 311, or call 408-535-3500. The automated 311 receipt is not the appointment. Wait for the separate confirmation email sent within two business days.
- 1
Review the accepted item list and count bundles, sofa sections, bed pieces, and other separate objects toward the 12 item limit.
- 2
Submit the San José 311 request, choose a preferred date, and wait for the separate appointment confirmation.
- 3
Place only confirmed items at the approved street location no more than 24 hours before the appointment.
San José 2026 resident collection guide
Schedule up to 12 items with no annual appointment cap
San José includes unlimited Junk Pickup appointments in residential service. Owners and renters can request up to 12 accepted items at a time, while the address lookup identifies the weekly carts, provider, yard trimming route, and street sweeping day.
Current City guidance does not publish an annual cap for eligible residents.
Count separate pieces and prepared bundles before submitting the request.
Garbage, recycling, and yard trimmings follow the assigned weekday.
Place carts two feet apart and five feet from vehicles and other obstacles.
San José Junk Pickup allowance
Unlimited appointments are included in residential service
Owners and renters may request Junk Pickup without a separate appointment charge. San José allows up to 12 accepted items in each request and does not publish an annual appointment limit.
Submit another request when more than 12 accepted items need collection.
A sofa section, bed piece, or prepared bundle may count as its own item.
Current residential garbage rates include Junk Pickup service.
The separate provider email, not the automated 311 receipt, supplies the date.
Appointment and item preparation
Count every item and wait for the confirmed date
The request tool asks for each object and a preferred date, but the provider assigns the actual appointment. Only confirmed and correctly prepared items belong at the collection point.
Earlier or improper placement may be treated as illegal dumping.
Keep red zones, hydrants, and parked vehicles clear.
Many bundles also have a maximum weight of 60 pounds.
Ask property management or call GreenTeam at 408-282-4400 for help.
Weekly routes, yard trimmings, and holidays
All regular material is collected once each week
Garbage, recycling, and yard trimmings run from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. on the assigned weekday. The address lookup also identifies the responsible providers and monthly street sweeping day.
Place carts two feet apart and five feet from vehicles and other obstacles.
Keep it one foot from the curb and five feet from carts, vehicles, and other piles.
Each branch must also remain under six inches in diameter.
New Year's Day, Thanksgiving, and Christmas delay the rest of that week.
Item guidance
Choose the correct collection path
Accepted examples
Mattresses, box springs, sofas, chairs, tables, refrigerators, freezers, washers, dryers, dishwashers, televisions, computers, monitors, tires, prepared carpet, wood, fencing, grills, exercise equipment, and many outdoor items can qualify. Follow the exact preparation rule for every selected object.
Use another disposal option
Glass, mirrors, oil, paint, pressurized tanks, pool chemicals, other hazardous material, commercial appliances, central air units, unapproved construction debris, and upholstered items with bed bugs, mold, or fecal matter do not qualify.
San José pile rules
Know the limits before you set it out
The program serves houses, mobile homes, apartments, and condominium communities.
The separate confirmation email provides the actual appointment date.
Earlier placement may be treated as illegal dumping.
Many disassembled or loose item bundles use this preparation limit.
Accepted items
What San José Junk Pickup covers
The City publishes preparation instructions for hundreds of objects. Count every separate item or bundle, remove prohibited glass and hazardous material, and follow the rule shown for each selected object.
Usually accepted
- Mattresses, box springs, sofas, chairs, tables, and other prepared furniture
- Refrigerators, freezers, washers, dryers, dishwashers, and many household appliances
- Televisions, computers, monitors, and selected electronics
- Prepared tires, carpet, wood, fencing, grills, exercise equipment, and outdoor items
Do not include
- Glass, mirrors, and prohibited ceramic, porcelain, or cement objects
- Oil, paint, pressurized tanks, pool chemicals, and other hazardous material
- Commercial appliances, central air units, untreated construction loads, and unlisted debris
- Upholstered items with bed bugs, mold, or fecal matter and any item missing from the confirmation
Before collection
Place the pile correctly
Set out only the items listed in the confirmed appointment and follow the preparation rule for each object.
Use the street next to the curb, away from red zones, hydrants, and parked cars.
Place the items outside no more than 24 hours before the appointment. Apartment residents must use the location approved by property management.
Holiday collectionSan José delays collection for only three holidays2026 schedule confirmed
Garbage, recycling, and yard trimmings are collected on every holiday except New Year's Day, Thanksgiving Day, and Christmas Day. Routes on and after each affected holiday move one day later for the remainder of that week.
Other City holidays keep normal collection
San José confirmed normal collection for Memorial Day, Juneteenth, and the July 3 Independence Day observance in 2026. The annual rule applies to the other City holidays as well.
Keep the Junk Pickup confirmation
A preferred date in the 311 request is not the final appointment. Follow the separate confirmation from the recycling company during a holiday week.
One day delay for the remainder of the week
Collection on and after the holiday moves one day later through Saturday.
- New Year's Day. Thursday, January 1
- Thanksgiving Day. Thursday, November 26
- Christmas Day. Friday, December 25
Common questions
San José bulk pickup FAQ
Is San José Junk Pickup included for renters?
Yes. Both owners and renters may use the service. Apartment and condo residents should follow property placement instructions or contact GreenTeam at 408-282-4400.
How many San José Junk Pickup appointments can I schedule?
Eligible residents may schedule unlimited appointments. Each individual request may contain no more than 12 accepted items.
Is the automated San José 311 email my appointment confirmation?
No. The recycling company sends a separate appointment date confirmation within two business days. Check the spam folder or call the assigned recycling company if it does not arrive.
What time should San José carts and yard trimmings be outside?
Have everything ready by 6 a.m. and no earlier than the day before. Keep carts two feet apart and five feet from obstacles or yard piles.
How large can a loose San José yard trimming pile be?
Keep each pile within 5 feet by 5 feet, one foot from the curb, and five feet from carts, vehicles, and other piles. Branches must be under five feet long and six inches in diameter.
Which holidays delay San José collection?
Only New Year's Day, Thanksgiving Day, and Christmas Day delay collection when they fall Monday through Friday. Routes on and after the holiday move one day later for that week.
Sources used for this guide
Official supporting information
TrashDayFinder used these public sources to prepare the resident guidance above. They were checked on September 1, 2026 and are provided here as evidence.
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