Commercial
Commercial customers are businesses, offices, schools, churches and more that receive collection and processing service of materials collected from carts or bins. Service is provided up to six (6) days per week on a Monday through Saturday schedule.
Holiday Schedule
Collection does NOT occur on New Year’s Day (Jan. 1), Thanksgiving Day (4th Thursday in Nov.) or Christmas Day (December 25). If an observed holiday falls on a regular collection day, collection for the remainder of the week will be delayed by one day.
Sorting Guidance
Use the RE:Source search tool to find out where to reuse, recycle, and properly dispose of just about everything.
Commercial customers in Palo Alto receive collection services for landfill, recycle, and compost. All materials must fit completely inside the container with the lid closed and must be ready for collection no later than 4:00AM.
GARBAGE/LANDFILL: Garbage is collected in BLACK or GRAY containers provided by GreenWaste. Service is available in volumes of 32, 64, or 96 gallon carts or 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 or 8 cubic yard bins.
RECYCLE: Recyclable materials are collected in BLUE containers provided by GreenWaste. Service is available in volumes of 32, 64, or 96 gallon carts or 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 or 8 cubic yard bins.
COMPOST: Compostable materials are collected in GREEN containers provided by GreenWaste. Service is available in volumes of 32, 64, or 96 gallon carts or 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, or 6 cubic yard bins.
Extra Services
CLEAN UP DAY PROGRAM: Commercial customers may schedule a free Clean Up Day for the collection of bulky items once per calendar year. Up to four bulky items (e.g. furniture, mattresses, appliances) with a weight limit of 200 pounds each may be collected as part of the program. Schedule a Clean Up Day by calling Customer Service at least one week in advance.
BULKY ITEM COLLECTION: Commercial customers may request the collection of bulky items (beyond those included in the Clean Up Day program) on their regular service day for a fee. Schedule this service by calling Customer Service at least one week in advance.
Billing & Rates
Commercial customers are billed for waste collection services by City of Palo Alto Utilities on a monthly basis. To pay your City Utility bill online, visit My Utilities Account.
What Goes Where & More
Program and Sorting Guidance
Regulatory Requirements
RECYCLING AND COMPOSTING ORDINANCE: Recycling and composting are required in Palo Alto. Everyone in Palo Alto is required to comply by:
- Subscribing to recycle, compost, and garbage service.
- Setting up color-coded and labeled internal containers.
- Training and educating tenants, residents, employees, contractors and janitors.
- Sorting waste into the proper containers.
- Color Coded Bags: If bags are used to line refuse containers, then transparent blue tinted bags are required for recycling containers, transparent green compostable bags are required for compost containers, and clear bags are required for landfill containers.
- Compostable Bags for the Compost Container: Compostable bags must be certified compostable by the Biodegradable Products Institute (BPI) or meet ASTM D6400 or D66868 standards of composability.
GreenWaste of Palo Alto offers free technical assistance to commercial customers. This assistance includes right-sizing containers, help implementing Zero Waste best practices, support for contamination issues, provision of educational materials (e.g., signage, labels, sample articles and emails, presentations), on-site trainings, and more!
For hands-on technical assistance from one of our Environmental Outreach Coordinators (EOCs) please complete the online outreach request form below.
Many of our resources are available for download here:
GreenWaste of Palo Alto greatly values the importance of youth and schools in our zero waste efforts. GreenWaste is a member of the PAUSD Sustainable Schools Committee and participates in the Zero Waste Champion Program. GreenWaste also offers presentations and truck showings specifically designed to educate students. If you would like GreenWaste to visit your classroom, school, or youth organization, please contact Customer Service.
Activities and Resources
Activities
Printable Signs and Posters
How-to Guides:
- Lunch Monitors: How-to
- School Waste Audits: How-to
- Sustainable School Events: How-to
- Zero Waste Lunch: How-to
- Zero Waste Party Packs: How-to
Videos:
Businesses and non-profit organizations located in the communities of Palo Alto, East Palo Alto, Mountain View, Stanford, Los Altos and Los Altos Hills that generate less than 220 pounds of hazardous waste per month can participate in Palo Alto’s Conditionally Exempt Small Quantity Generator Program.
Address: 2501 Embarcadero Way, Palo Alto, CA 94303
Please visit the Palo Alto Hazardous Waste Program website or contact Zero Waste Palo Alto at (650) 496-5910 for more information.