Skip to content

San Jose Trash Pickup Schedule & Holiday Delays

Source-reviewed schedule

Trash pickup is scheduled for this date.

Trash pickup days
Monday & Tuesday & Wednesday & Thursday & FridaySet carts out Set out all carts no later than 6:00 a.m. on your collection day, and no earlier than the day before; collection occurs between 6:00 a.m. and 6:00 p.m.
Next trash pickup
Sep 23Based on the listed schedule
Recycling days
Monday & Tuesday & Wednesday & Thursday & FridaySingle-stream collection
Scheduled holiday update: No observed holidays this week. Collections follow the regular schedule.
Schedule snapshot for Sep 23 · reviewed 2026-09-22 · Zone Residential Automated Collection Routes (Monday through Friday). Check live notices with the service authority ↗

Regular trash pickup & collection details

Regular sanitation services and placement requirements
ServiceCollection daysPlacement or collection rule
TrashMonday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday · WeeklyPlacement cutoff: Set out all carts no later than 6:00 a.m. on your collection day, and no earlier than the day before; collection occurs between 6:00 a.m. and 6:00 p.m.
RecyclingMonday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, FridaySingle-stream recycling
Bulk wasteFree residential Junk Pickup by appointment for single-family homes and multi-family complexes. Scheduled on your regular collection day for up to 12 items.Up to 12 items per pickup
Yard wasteMonday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, FridayYear-round. Weekly collection in green yard trimmings cart or loose in street piles (max 5x5 feet, 1 foot from curb, 5 feet from cars); branches under 5 feet.

Trash container requirements

  • City-issued garbage cart (32-gal: max 100 lbs; 64-gal: max 175 lbs; 96-gal: max 250 lbs)
  • Place carts side-by-side in street 2 feet apart with wheels against curb
  • Keep carts 5 feet away from parked cars, yard trimmings piles, and obstructions; lids fully closed

San Jose recycling overview

Single-stream recycling · Collection days: Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday.

Accepted items

  • Cardboard and paper products (clean corrugated boxes, clean office paper, mail, newspapers, catalogs)
  • Plastic containers #1 through #7 (clean bottles, jugs, jars, tubs, trays; empty and dry)
  • Glass bottles and jars (food and beverage jars; rinsed clean; remove lids)
  • Metal food and beverage cans, clean aluminum foil and trays
  • Cartons (milk, juice, and soup cartons)

Prohibited items

  • Food scraps and organics (use SB 1383 yard/organics collection or composting)
  • Polystyrene foam / Styrofoam containers and packaging
  • Electronics, lithium batteries, and hazardous materials
  • Ceramics, cookware, glassware, mirrors, or window glass
  • Hoses, cords, wires, cables, or building construction debris

San Jose bulk pickup rules

Bulk waste limits and booking rules for San Jose
Collection ruleFree residential Junk Pickup by appointment for single-family homes and multi-family complexes. Scheduled on your regular collection day for up to 12 items.
Limit per pickup12 items
Permitted materialsFurniture, Appliances
Advance noticeRequired before collection.
Dispatch phone408-535-3500

San Jose holiday trash delays

Listed strategy: one day slide. A listed holiday shifts remaining pickups in its Monday-Saturday service week by one day.

Observed holidays: New Year's Day, Thanksgiving Day, Christmas Day. Named holidays recur each year; explicit dates apply only to their listed year.

2026 Holiday Collection Calendar: San Jose, CA

Official schedule adjustments for recognized 2026 holidays. When a holiday falls on or before your collection day, review whether curbside pickups slide forward:

HolidayObserved DateSchedule StatusCurbside Adjustment
New Year's DayThursday, Jan 1, 20261-Day SlideCollections on Thursday and the remainder of the service week are delayed by 1 day.
Martin Luther King Jr. DayMonday, Jan 19, 2026Not ObservedRegular collection schedule. Trash and recycling run as normal.
Presidents' DayMonday, Feb 16, 2026Not ObservedRegular collection schedule. Trash and recycling run as normal.
Memorial DayMonday, May 25, 2026Not ObservedRegular collection schedule. Trash and recycling run as normal.
JuneteenthFriday, Jun 19, 2026Not ObservedRegular collection schedule. Trash and recycling run as normal.
Independence DaySaturday, Jul 4, 2026Not ObservedRegular collection schedule. Trash and recycling run as normal.
Labor DayMonday, Sep 7, 2026Not ObservedRegular collection schedule. Trash and recycling run as normal.
Columbus DayMonday, Oct 12, 2026Not ObservedRegular collection schedule. Trash and recycling run as normal.
Veterans DayWednesday, Nov 11, 2026Not ObservedRegular collection schedule. Trash and recycling run as normal.
Thanksgiving DayThursday, Nov 26, 20261-Day SlideCollections on Thursday and the remainder of the service week are delayed by 1 day.
Christmas DayFriday, Dec 25, 20261-Day SlideCollections on Friday and the remainder of the service week are delayed by 1 day.

DPW & sanitation contact

City of San Jose Environmental Services Department · municipal dpw

Phone: 408-535-3500

200 E. Santa Clara St.
San Jose, CA 95113
Visit Official San Jose Sanitation Portal Official municipality portal at sanjoseca.gov

These collection rules cover Zone Residential Automated Collection Routes (Monday through Friday).

Trash & recycling questions

What days is trash collected in San Jose, CA?

Listed trash collection days are Monday and Tuesday and Wednesday and Thursday and Friday. Set containers out Set out all carts no later than 6:00 a.m. on your collection day, and no earlier than the day before; collection occurs between 6:00 a.m. and 6:00 p.m.. These rules apply to Zone Residential Automated Collection Routes (Monday through Friday).

Is garbage pickup delayed for holidays in San Jose?

As of 2026-09-23: No observed holidays this week. Collections follow the regular schedule. A listed holiday shifts that day and the remaining collection days in its service week by one day. Observed holidays: New Year's Day, Thanksgiving Day, Christmas Day. These rules apply to Zone Residential Automated Collection Routes (Monday through Friday).

How do I schedule bulk trash pickup in San Jose?

Free residential Junk Pickup by appointment for single-family homes and multi-family complexes. Scheduled on your regular collection day for up to 12 items. The listed limit is 12 items per pickup. Advance notice is required. Contact sanitation at 408-535-3500 to confirm eligibility and arrange service. These rules apply to Zone Residential Automated Collection Routes (Monday through Friday).

What items are accepted for recycling in San Jose?

The listed accepted materials are Cardboard and paper products (clean corrugated boxes, clean office paper, mail, newspapers, catalogs), Plastic containers #1 through #7 (clean bottles, jugs, jars, tubs, trays; empty and dry), Glass bottles and jars (food and beverage jars; rinsed clean; remove lids), Metal food and beverage cans, clean aluminum foil and trays, Cartons (milk, juice, and soup cartons). Keep these listed prohibited items out: Food scraps and organics (use SB 1383 yard/organics collection or composting), Polystyrene foam / Styrofoam containers and packaging, Electronics, lithium batteries, and hazardous materials, Ceramics, cookware, glassware, mirrors, or window glass, Hoses, cords, wires, cables, or building construction debris. Confirm item-specific preparation rules with the official sanitation office. These rules apply to Zone Residential Automated Collection Routes (Monday through Friday).