Recycling & Garbage Collection Services -
Recycling Services
Residential Recycling Works:
Thanks to you! Your individual efforts add up to a big achievement for Milpitas -- a 70% disposal reduction of landfilled materials since 1991! That's great news for our city as we try to offset rising disposal costs.
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And there's more to reducing waste than just recycling. It's simple: waste less, save more. Read here for information about preventing waste first! |
Reusable News & Beyond:
The Utility Engineering Section works with you to help the City of Milpitas maintain disposal reduction goals, monitor quality solid waste services. If you have any questions about your recycling and garbage services please call us at 408-586-3352.
Get Involved:
The Recycling & Source Reduction Advisory Commission advises the Milpitas City Council on recycling and solid waste issues and recommends programs designed to reduce solid waste. Committee members are appointed to three-year terms by the City Council. The Commission meets fourth Tuesdays in January, April, July and October in the City Hall Committee room. Special meetings by public notice.
Public comments and participation welcome!
Single-Use Carry Out Bags Study, April 26, 2011
Single-Use Carry Out Bags Study, Appendices
Expanded Polystyrene Food Service Take-Out Container Study, April 26, 2011
Expanded Polystyrene Food Service Take-Out Container Study, Appendices
City Waste Reduction Planning Documents: HHWE & SRWE
The City of Milpitas maintains planning documents such as the Household Hazardous Waste Element (HHWE) to assist with the proper management of household hazardous waste as well as the Source Reduction and Recycling Element (SRRE) to provide a general outline of how the City meets the state-mandated waste diversion goals.
Residential Recycling:
All Milpitas residences (single family homes, apartments, condominiums, townhouses and mobilehomes) have specific recycling programs. Check out your recycling services and other proper disposal methods here!
Apartment or Condominium Residents
Single Family Home or Duplex/ Duet
Recycling Made Easy!
Some people say they don't recycle because the rules are confusing. Other people think that recycling is too much work. The truth is, recycling is as easy as trashing, but so much more responsible. Here are simplified guidelines for curbside recycling. Simply empty out the excess product from acceptable items and place them in the blue carts or white bins. Accepted Recyclables 
Single Stream Recycling:
Place mixed paper, newspaper, glass bottles and jars, plastic bottles and aluminum and metal cans, into the grey and blue recycle cart and set out on your collection day.
Single-Family Home & Duplex/Duet Residents:
For weekly curbside collection, place flattened cardboard, used motor oil jugs, and your 32-gallon garbage cans at the curb, not in the street. Place the optional rented 96-gallon Republic garbage cart, your single stream recycling cart, and your yard trimmings cart in the street, wheels against the curb, in front of your home by 6 a.m. on collection day. Place your set out so that it does not block the sidewalk.
Please read the important information below about used motor oil collection.
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Call Republic Services at 408-432-0444 if you need a recycling cart, yard trimmings cart, extra yard trimmings stickers, and additional recycling set out tips.
Yard Trimmings:
Place your green cart on the street, wheels against the curb.
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No palm fronds |
| No fruits & vegetables | |
| No pet waste | |
| No sod & dirt | |
| No rocks & concrete |
Got Extra Yard Trims?
Get an extra yard trimmings sticker at the Milpitas Public Library, or call Republic Services at 408-432-0444.
Place the sticker on a clean, 32-gallon "garbage" can.
Use this can when you have more yard trims than will fit into the green cart.
Your green cart must be set out with the labeled can.
Place the extra can at the curb, not on the street, with the sticker facing the street. Then the green cart on the street, wheels against the curb, four feet from parked cars and mailboxes.
Branches tied with twine in three foot lengths are collected at the curb.
Apartment or Condominium Complex:
Look for an interior recycling chute or three blue recycling carts or a large white recycling bin near the blue garbage bin. Then, recycle by separating recyclables from garbage inside your home. Please flatten and stack cardboard between the carts or place in white bins.
If you don't have the blue carts or a white bin, ask your property manager or owner to call Republic Services at 408-432-0444 for free delivery.
Motor Oil:
Sorry motor oil recycling is NOT available from apartment or condominium complexes. Please call Household Hazardous Waste Hotline at 408-299-7300 for additional information on motor oil recycling options in Milpitas.
Get the garbage out of the recyclables.
Get the recyclables out of the garbage.
| Tip 1 | Store recyclables separate from garbage in your home. | |
| Tip 2 | "Presort" recyclables before going to the carts, white bin or chutes. | |
| Tip 3 | Store newspaper and mixed paper in separate brown paper grocery bags. | |
| Tip 4 | Recycle white plastic grocery bags or reuse them. | |
| Tip 5 |
Use a garbage pail or plastic crate for food and beverage containers. Then, take the recyclables you've saved to the recycling carts, chutes or bins on your next trip to the garbage bin. |
Place the optional rented 96-gallon Republic garbage cart, and your single stream-recycling cart, in front of your home by 6 a.m. on collection day.
If you don't have recycling carts call Republic Services at 408-432-0444 for carts.
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Motor Oil:
If you have curbside recycling collection, use ONLY one-gallon jugs available at Milpitas Fire Stations. Place jugs next to your recycling bins. Please do not mix other auto fluids or water with used motor oil.
Yard Trimmings:
You do NOT receive the Yard Trimmings Recycling Program. Contact your HOA for questions regarding yard trims.
Single Stream Recycling:
Place mixed paper, newspaper, glass bottles and jars, plastic bottles and aluminum and metal cans, into the grey and blue recycle cart and set out on your collection day.
| Engineering Department | Hours: |
| 455 East Calaveras Boulevard | Monday-Friday: 8:00 am-5:00 pm |
| Phone: (408) 586-3300 |
The documents above are in PDF format. The files requires an Adobe Acrobat Reader, which may be downloaded for free by clicking on the icon below.
