New Garbage Processing & Disposal Services for Palo Alto

Published on December 06, 2021

What is Happening?

Starting January 1, 2022, Palo Alto’s garbage (the material in the black landfill carts and bins) will be taken to GreenWaste Recovery where recyclables and compostables will be recovered.

This processing has historically taken place at the Sunnyvale Materials Recovery and Transfer (SMaRT®) Station, but the contract with the SMaRT Station will end December 31, 2021 and a new contract with GreenWaste Recovery will start January 1, 2022.  

How This Change Affects You

This change will not affect garbage collection services in Palo Alto. However, it will affect Palo Alto’s use of some of the amenities offered at the SMaRT Station such as public self-haul, recycling drop-off, free compost, and document shredding.

Alternatives for these services are available and listed below.

Public Self-Haul Facilities

The following locations accept self-hauled materials ranging from garbage to construction and demolition materials. Please contact them directly for the latest information and fees.

Shoreway Environmental Center
333 Shoreway Road, San Carlos
www.rethinkwaste.org/shoreway-environmental-center
(650) 802-8355

Mission Trail Transfer Station
1313 Memorex Drive, Santa Clara
www.missiontrail.com/TransferStation
(408) 727-5365 x514

Zanker Material Processing Facility
675 Los Esteros Road, San Jose
www.zankerrecycling.com/zanker-recycling
(408) 263-2384

Newby Island Resource Recovery Park
1601 Dixon Landing Road, Milpitas
www.republicservices.com/municipality/newby-island
(408) 262-1401

Bay Area Scavenger and Recycling
11740 Berryessa Road, San Jose
(408) 205-4370

Recycling Drop-Off Locations

The curbside recycling program in Palo Alto accepts most materials. Learn what is accepted in our curbside collection program.

If you wish to drop-off recycling, go to:

Stanford Recycling Center
701 Serra Street, Stanford
(650) 723-0919

CRV Redemption

You can continue to take your aluminum cans and glass bottles for redemption at the SMaRT Station or any of the following locations: 

Mountain View Recycling Center
935 Terra Bella Avenue, Mountain View
(650) 903-3579

SMaRT Station
301 Carl Road, Sunnyvale
(408) 752-8530

Danny Recycling Center
1745 Walsh Avenue, Santa Clara
(408) 492-9033

San Jose Metals Inc
1032 N 10th Street, San Jose
(408) 293-4032

Schnitzer Steel Industries Inc
11665 Berryessa Road, San Jose
(408) 452-0777

Free Compost

Palo Alto residents can pick up free compost at the Compost Giveaway Station.

Eleanor Pardee Community Garden
851 Center Road, Palo Alto

Learn more about the Compost Giveaway Station.

Document Shredding

Several local businesses offer document shredding services for a fee.

The UPS Store #4562
2625 Middlefield Road, Palo Alto
(650) 327-7147

The UPS Store #6105
855 El Camino Real, Ste. 13A, Palo Alto
(650) 391-9842

The UPS Store #969
555 Bryant Street, Palo Alto
(650) 326-5555

The UPS Store #2847
530 Showers Drive, Ste. 7, Mountain View
(650) 948-0111

Fedex Office Print & Ship Center
1935 W El Camino Real, Mountain View
(650) 964-4701

The UPS Store #865
405 El Camino Real, Menlo Park
(650) 326-4415