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How do I start, stop or change my service?
Please call us at 650.589.4020 during regular office hours (Monday through Friday, 7am – 4:30pm). Starts/stops and changes can be made immediately.
What belongs in each of my carts?
Garbage belongs in the gray, recyclables in the blue (clean paper under the gray lid, recyclable containers under the blue lid) and organics (yard trimmings, food scraps and food-soiled paper) in the green. Review our Service Guide & Newsletters or use our Sort Smart Recycling Guide for more detailed information.
Why should I separate recyclable paper from containers when they are picked up by one truck?
Your split recycling cart is emptied by a truck with a split body. Paper recyclables are kept clean and dry on one side of the truck while recyclable containers are kept in the other side. This prevents paper items from becoming contaminated and being sent to landfill. Please watch this short video for more detail.
What do I do if one or more of my carts was missed?
Check to see if there was a problem. Carts that are not at the curb by 5am, are in a location that our truck cannot safely access, are overloaded, have materials tightly wedged inside, or that contain hazardous or improperly sorted material cannot be emptied. Please correct the problem and contact us if you would like a truck to return. Fees may apply.
If there does not appear to be a problem and your neighbors’ carts have been emptied, it is possible that you were unintentionally missed. Keep in mind that there are 3 different trucks (one for each color cart) and they may arrive at different times. Please leave the missed cart(s) out and contact us. We will send a truck back as soon as possible but usually on the next business day.
How can I dispose of overflow garbage and items that are too large to fit in the appropriate cart?
Schedule an On-Call Cleanup or make a trip to Blue Line Transfer.
What can be done about collection-related litter?
Prevent litter by bagging your garbage before placing in the gray cart– especially small and light-weight items like packing peanuts. Also, make sure your cart lids all fully close. Contact us if you need assistance with overflow or if critters and wind frequently tip your carts over. We can help!
Where can I find free compost?
The materials we collect in green carts are anaerobically digested at our facility but then hauled off-site to be processed into finished compost. Unfortunately, this means we do not have finished product to give away. We encourage residents to make their own backyard compost. If interested, visit the San Mateo County Office of Sustainability website and review the instructions for How to Start Composting at Home.
How do I dispose of paint, fertilizer, cleaning products, batteries, automotive fluids, pressurized tanks & other hazardous items?
These items do not belong in any of your carts. Please click here or use our Sort Smart Recycling Guide for more information.
How do I dispose of contruction, demolition and landscaping debris?
Please order a roll-off box or self-haul the material to Blue Line Transfer.
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If it’s after hours, we will respond as soon as possible and always within 1 business day.