Clean Up Day Service
Clean Up Day Reuse Guidelines
**Find out how to label and set out household items for reuse.**
Postcards containing specific Clean Up Day guidelines and a friendly reminder your Clean Up Day is approaching are mailed to each single family household, twice per year. Residents can use the search function below to find their scheduled Clean Up Days.
Find Your Clean Up Day
To find out your next Clean Up Day, enter your utility account number and street address (e.g., “123 Alma”) below.
Clean Up Day Guidelines
Please review the guidelines below on how to set out your items prior to your Clean Up Day. All items must be placed at the curb next to your carts by 6am on your scheduled Clean Up Day, no earlier than 24 hours prior to collection.
Interested in learning about what material can go in your recycle, compost, and landfill carts? Visit www.cityofpaloalto.org/wgwtools for helpful tools and tips.
Bulky Items
Up to three (3) bulky items. Each item must weigh 200 pounds or less.
Examples include sofas, large chairs, tables, cabinets, mattresses, box springs, stoves, washing machines, and barbecues.
Reusable items must be labeled with the word “reuse”. Find out how to label and set out household items for reuse with our Clean Up Day Reuse Guidelines.
Individual Items
Up to three (3) individual items. Each item must weigh less than 60 pounds and be no larger than 3’x3’x3’.
Examples include sinks, toilets, small chairs, microwaves, suitcases, and printers.
Books, CDs, and commercial DVDs may be set out in a box in place of an individual item. Boxes will not be returned.
Reusable items must be labeled with the word “reuse”. Find out how to label and set out household items for reuse with our Clean Up Day Reuse Guidelines.
Clothing & Textiles
Up to three (3) 32-gallon bags or boxes of clean and dry textiles. Each box or bundle must weigh less than 60 pounds.
Textiles must be placed in clear plastic bags or cardboard boxes labeled with the word “clothing”. Boxes will not be returned.
Examples include clothing, towels, sheets, and fabric.
Textiles should be bagged in rainy conditions.
Recyclables
Unlimited boxes or bundles of recyclables. Each full box or bundle must weigh less than 60 pounds. Each bundle must be 2’x3’ or smaller.
Boxes must be labeled with the word “recycle”. Boxes will not be returned.
Examples include flattened cardboard in bundles, paper, plastic containers and bottles, glass containers and bottles, and metal.
Empty recyclable containers only, no food or liquid.
Yard Trimmings
Up to six (6) boxes, bags, or bundles of yard trimmings. Yard trimmings may be in paper bags or cardboard boxes. Each full box, bag, or bundle must weigh less than 60 pounds. Each bundle must be 2’x4’ or smaller.
Tree trimmings and branches cannot exceed 6” in diameter or be longer than 4’.
Boxes and bags must be labeled with the words “yard trimmings”. Boxes will not be returned.
Garbage
Up to three (3) 32-gallon bags or boxes of garbage. Each full box or bag must weigh less than 60 pounds.
Boxes and bags must be labeled with the word “garbage”. Boxes will not be returned.
Examples include expanded polystyrene (aka Styrofoam), ceramics, pillows, hoses, and padded envelopes
Construction Material
Up to six (6) boxes or bundles of construction related material. Each full box or bundle must weigh less than 60 pounds. Each bundle must be 2’x3’ or smaller.
Boxes must be labeled with the word “construction”. Boxes will not be returned.
Examples include brick, dirt, concrete, fencing, sheetrock, and plywood.
Treated wood waste (TWW) is not accepted. Learn more about how to handle TWW HERE.
Household Batteries
Batteries must be in a sealed, clear, and tear resistant bag and placed on top of your blue recycle cart or other Clean Up Day items. Batteries should not be left on the ground.
Acceptable batteries: AA, AAA, AAAA, C, D, nickel-cadmium (Ni-Cd or NiCad), Cadmium, and 9V.
No lithium or lithium-ion batteries allowed, e.g. cell phone batteries, car batteries, laptop batteries, or rechargeable batteries. Please take these to the Household Hazardous Waste (HHW) Station.
Batteries are no longer taken with weekly curbside recycling collection. They must be set out during a Clean Up Day or taken to the Household Hazardous Waste (HHW) Station.
Motor Oil
Up to three (3) spill proof one-gallon containers of motor oil and oil filters placed in a sealed, clear, and tear resistant bag.
Motor oil will no longer be taken with weekly curbside recycling collection. It must be set out during a Clean Up Day or taken to the Household Hazardous Waste (HHW) Station.
