San Francisco trash & recycling schedule
At a glance
| Trash | City franchise — Recology Sunset Scavenger / Golden Gate weekly landfill cart on your collection day. Verified 2026-10-15 · recology.com |
|---|---|
| Curbside | Recology recommends carts out the night before (pickup times vary; some night routes). Bulky: 6:00 p.m. evening before through 6:00 a.m. collection day. Checklist Verified 2026-10-15 · recology.com |
| Recycling | Weekly blue cart — paper, cardboard, glass, metal, hard plastics; loose only (no plastic bag liner). Verified 2026-10-15 · recology.com |
| Bulk | Residential 2 Bulky Item collections/year by appointment — set out only after you schedule with Recology. Bulk page Verified 2026-10-15 · recology.com |
| Hauler | Recology Sunset Scavenger / Recology Golden Gate. |
| Contacts | 415-330-1300 (Sunset Scavenger); 415-626-4000 (Golden Gate); [email protected]. Verified 2026-10-15 · recology.com |
Curbside
Curbside checklist
City rules before collection day. Confirm with the city if anything looks off.
When
Recology recommends carts out the night before (pickup times vary; some night routes). Bulky: 6:00 p.m. evening before through 6:00 a.m. collection day.
Where
Sidewalk at curb; accessible; lids closed; no vehicle/debris box blocking. Extra cardboard next to blue cart; extra yard next to green cart.
Limits
6 in dia / ≤4 ft; extras next to green in compostable bag or string bundle ~2′×3′ (FAQ also cites 2′×2′ max); lid must close.
Not allowed
Recycling bans Styrofoam, plastic bags, food-soiled paper, batteries, e-waste, etc. Compost bans plastic bags (use BPI compostable/paper), pet waste, ceramics, non-compostable “biodegradable” plastics per Recology lists.
Bags
Landfill extras in sealed bag on cart. Recycling loose. Compost: paper or BPI compostable liner OK for kitchen pail; no conventional plastic in green cart.
Verified 2026-10-15 · recology.com
Add curbside reminder to Google CalendarFind your pickup day
Verified 2026-10-15 · recology.com
Holidays
| Holiday | Date | Shift |
|---|---|---|
| New Year's Day 2026 | 2026-01-01 | — |
| Mlk 2026 | 2026-01-19 | — |
| Presidents Day 2026 | 2026-02-16 | — |
| Memorial Day 2026 | 2026-05-25 | — |
| Independence Day 2026 | 2026-07-03 | — |
| Labor Day 2026 | 2026-09-07 | — |
| Indigenous Peoples Day 2026 | 2026-10-12 | — |
| Veterans Day 2026 | 2026-11-11 | — |
| Thanksgiving 2026 | 2026-11-26 | — |
| Christmas 2026 | 2026-12-25 | — |
New Year's Day 2026 (Thu Jan 1): Thu customers → Fri Jan 2; Fri customers → Sat Jan 3.
Verified 2026-10-15 · recology.com
Private junk pickup
Same-week haul for furniture or a cleanout in San Francisco. Not affiliated with Town Rulebook or your city — you book directly.
Opens the vendor site. We do not book or take payment.
Show more
Full details for San Francisco: every rule, with sources
- Trash
- City franchise — Recology Sunset Scavenger / Recology Golden Gate (415-330-1300 Sunset Scavenger; 415-626-4000 Golden Gate; [email protected]). Weekly landfill (black carts phasing to grey), plus recycle and compost — city ordinance requires minimum once per week for all three streams. Day by address via Recology calendar tool / CS. Extra trash: sealed bag on top of landfill cart (extra fee).
- Recycling
- Weekly blue cart — paper, cardboard, glass bottles/jars, aluminum/tin, hard plastics (clean/dry; light rinse). Recyclables loose (no plastic bag liner); shredded paper in sealed paper bag labeled “Shredded Paper.” Extra cardboard ≤2′×2′×2′ bundled/boxed next to blue cart (notify CS ≥1 business day; extra fees may apply).
- Bulk pickup
- Residential 2 Bulky Item collections/calendar year (appointment; Mon–Fri typically on regular day). Multi-family owners/operators 1/year; apartment tenants 1/year via Recology. Unused don't roll. Set bulky curb no earlier than 6:00 p.m. day before and no later than 6:00 a.m. collection day; attach paper marked RECOLOGY. Glass/ceramic/mirrors wrapped. Not for extra bagged trash/recyclables that fit carts. Schedule: [email protected]. Transfer Station drop-off / charities / junk haulers for overflow.
- Curbside: when
- Recology recommends carts out the night before (pickup times vary; some night routes). Bulky: 6:00 p.m. evening before through 6:00 a.m. collection day.
- Curbside: where
- Sidewalk at curb; accessible; lids closed; no vehicle/debris box blocking. Extra cardboard next to blue cart; extra yard next to green cart.
- Curbside: limits
- Weekly min service all three carts. Extra landfill/recycle/compost may incur additional charges. Yard trimmings in green cart: tree trimmings <6 in dia / ≤4 ft; extras next to green in compostable bag or string bundle ~2′×3′ (FAQ also cites 2′×2′ max) — lid must close.
- Curbside: brush
- Extra yard trimmings paper/compostable bag or string-bundled manageable size next to green cart; no loose food scraps outside cart.
- Curbside: not allowed
- Landfill bans organics/recyclables/household hazardous waste/appliances/electronics/needles/paint/motor oil/construction debris/large furniture (use bulky/household hazardous waste). Recycling bans Styrofoam, plastic bags, food-soiled paper, batteries, e-waste, etc. Compost bans plastic bags (use BPI compostable/paper), pet waste, ceramics, non-compostable “biodegradable” plastics per Recology lists. Fluorescents/household hazardous waste → Transfer Station / bulky / drop sites — not trash.
- Curbside: bags
- Landfill extras in sealed bag on cart. Recycling loose. Compost: paper or BPI compostable liner OK for kitchen pail; no conventional plastic in green cart.
- Curbside: fees and fines
- Specific $ set-out fines Ask the city or your hauler.
- Holidays
- New Year's Day 2026 (2026-01-01): shift not yet confirmed
- Mlk 2026 (2026-01-19): shift not yet confirmed
- Presidents Day 2026 (2026-02-16): shift not yet confirmed
- Memorial Day 2026 (2026-05-25): shift not yet confirmed
- Independence Day 2026 (2026-07-03): shift not yet confirmed
- Labor Day 2026 (2026-09-07): shift not yet confirmed
- Indigenous Peoples Day 2026 (2026-10-12): shift not yet confirmed
- Veterans Day 2026 (2026-11-11): shift not yet confirmed
- Thanksgiving 2026 (2026-11-26): shift not yet confirmed
- Christmas 2026 (2026-12-25): shift not yet confirmed
Recology single-family 2026 Holiday Calendar: no regular service Christmas Day & New Year’s Day; other listed holidays normal service. New Year's Day 2026 (Thu Jan 1): Thu customers → Fri Jan 2; Fri customers → Sat Jan 3. Christmas 2026 (Fri Dec 25): TBD on calendar —
- Hauler
- Recology Sunset Scavenger / Recology Golden Gate
- Contacts
- 415-330-1300 (Sunset Scavenger); 415-626-4000 (Golden Gate); [email protected]
- Find your day
- Recology single-family collection day + FAQ
- Sources
- Trash and recycling: recology.com
Bulk: recology.com
Holidays: recology.com
Curbside: recology.com - Verified
- 2026-10-15
Town Rulebook is independent and not affiliated with any city or hauler. Schedules change — always confirm with your city. About & disclaimer