Multi-Family Residential

Multi-family dwellings are housing complexes with three (3) or more residential units 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. Property managers and/or owners pay for waste collection services and all requests must be made through the property manager.

Customer Service

Phone:
(650) 493-4894

Email:
pacustomerservice@greenwaste.com

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 

RE:Source Logo

Use the RE:Source search tool to find out where to reuse, recycle, and properly dispose of just about everything.

Residents of multi-family complexes in Palo Alto receive collection services for garbage, recycle, and compost. All materials must fit completely inside the container with the lid closed and must be ready for collection no later than 6:00AM.

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

BULKY ITEM COLLECTION: Property managers may request the collection of bulky items (beyond those included in the multi-family Clean Up Day program) on their regular service day for a fee. To schedule this service, please have your property manager call Customer Service.

E-WASTE COLLECTION: Small electronic waste can be placed in your recyclables container(s). Televisions and computer monitors are not accepted. Large or bulky electronic waste can be collected as part of the Clean Up Day program or on a regular service day for a fee. To schedule this service, please have your property manager call Customer Service at least one week in advance.

HOLIDAY TREE COLLECTION: For the four weeks following Christmas day, property managers may request the collection of holiday trees from their complex. Trees must be undecorated, unflocked, cut to four-foot lengths with stands removed, and placed next to the green compost container.

Billing & Rates

Property managers pay for waste collection services at multi-family complexes on a monthly billing cycle. Waste services are billed by City of Palo Alto Utilities. To pay your City Utility bill online, visit My Utilities Account.

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Commercial-Rates-Image-Recycle

 

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:

  1. Subscribing to recycle, compost, and garbage service.
  2. Setting up color-coded and labeled internal containers.
  3. Training and educating tenants, residents, employees, contractors and janitors.
  4. Sorting waste into the proper containers.

STATE OF CALIFORNIA REQUIREMENTS: 

  1. AB 341: Mandatory Commercial Recycling
  2. AB 1826: Mandatory Commercial Organics Recycling
  3. SB 1383: Short-Lived Climate Pollutants (SLCP): Organic Waste Methane Emissions Reductions

Property managers can order debris boxes twice per year to collect bulky items for reuse, recycling, or disposal. To schedule this service, please contact Customer Service.

  • Complexes with 10-100 units qualify for one (1) 20 cubic yard debris box for up to four days.
  • Complexes with over 100 units qualify for up to two (2) 40 cubic yard debris boxes for up to four days.

Acceptable Items:*

  • Furniture (e.g. sofas, chairs, tables, cabinets, mattresses, box springs)
  • Appliances (e.g. microwaves, stoves, washing machines, dryers, water heaters)
  • Bicycles
  • Sinks
  • Toilets
  • Barbeques

*No single item can weigh more than 200lbs

Unacceptable Items:

  • Hazardous waste (e.g. paint, chemicals, pesticides, batteries, oil, propane tanks, etc.)
  • Compostable materials
  • Garbage
  • Liquids

 

All unwanted or unused toxic household items such as paint, chemicals, pesticides, batteries, oil, propane tanks, etc. can be disposed of at the Household Hazardous Waste (HHW) Station in Palo Alto.

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.