Unincorporated Santa Clara County Recycling Program

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Service Schedule
The recycling bins are emptied on a bi-weekly basis on your regular collection day. When you begin collection service, you will receive a calendar that informs you which week your recycling is picked up, A or B week. All garbage and recycling containers need to be placed at the curb or roadside the night before your service day or by 6:00 a.m. on your service day. Remember that collection times may vary.

Recycling Bins
Each Unincorporated Santa Clara County customer receives two recycling bins, one for mixed paper and one for bottles and cans. If you need more bins, please contact customer service.

Glass, Metal & Plastic Food and Beverage Containers

Please empty all food and beverage containers before placing them in your recycling bin.

Glass, Metal and PlasticGlass: Please recycle all glass food jars and beverage bottles such as wine, mayonnaise, and spaghetti sauce jars. Remove any metal lids and place them separately into the recycling bin.

Metal: Please recycle all metal food and beverage containers, including those made of aluminum, tin or steel such as soda, pet food, soup, and tuna cans.

Plastic Containers: Please recycle plastic containers imprinted with recycle symbols through .

Look for the recycle symbol imprinted on the bottom of the container or on the side of the container near the bottom.


Examples of recyclable plastic include:
  • Milk jugs
  • Water bottles
  • Shampoo bottles
  • Yogurt cups
  • Margarine tubs
  • Styrofoam blocks and "take-out" containers
  • Styrofoam packing peanuts (must be in secured or tied clear plastic bag)
Unacceptable Plastics: Plastics without the symbol through must be discarded in the garbage.

Aseptic Containers: Aseptic containers are sterile cardboard containers, which are used to preserve food. Examples of aseptic containers are fruit juice boxes or cardboard milk cartons.
Mixed Paper

Mixed Paper & Corrugated Cardboard

Place mixed paper in your other recycling bin. Examples of mixed paper include:
  • Newspaper
  • White & Colored Office Paper
  • Envelopes
  • Cereal Boxes (remove liners)
  • Cracker Boxes
  • Magazines
  • Phone books
  • Junk Mail
  • Adhesive Notes
  • Paper Egg Cartons
  • Brown Paper Grocery Bags
Corrugated Cardboard: Please flatten cardboard boxes into dimensions no larger than three feet by three feet and tie into bundles. Driver will not pick up loose piles of cardboard!

The following are examples of paper products that are unacceptable in the recycling bin: Food contaminated paper and packaging such as pizza boxes, food bags, liners, paper plates, napkins and paper towels. We are also unable to accept facial tissues, blueprint or carbon paper, wax paper and paper coated with plastic or metallic substances.

Used Motor Oil & Oil Filters


Oil Filter To recycle motor oil and used oil filters, you must request one-gallon plastic containers with a screw top lid and special oil filter bags by contacting customer service.

You may place up to two one-gallon containers of used motor oil and two fully drained filters (in bags) next to your recycling bins on collection day.
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