Compost, Recycle, & Landfill - Recology South Valley: Gilroy

Organics, Recycle, Garbage Curbside Collection

Recology South Valley provides materials collection services to residents and businesses in Gilroy – services and rates are based on the size of your garbage cart (contact us for rates). Organics, recycle and garbage carts are collected weekly.

GrayBin

ORGANICS
Food scraps, food-soiled paper (ex. greasy pizza box, napkins, or uncoated paper plates), and yard trimmings, such as leaves, grass clippings, and branches go in your 96-gallon green organics cart. We recommend using newspaper or paper bags to collect food scraps indoors and then transfer them to your curbside cart. Please do not use plastic bags to collect or transfer food waste or organics!

brownBin

RECYCLE
Paper, bottles, cans, aluminum, glass bottles and jars, and plastic containers (#1-7) belong in your 64-gallon blue recycling cart. These items are then sorted by material type and recycled. Plastic bags and film are not accepted in the recycle program. Place recyclable items loose in your cart- do not use plastic bags.

To learn more about what is recyclable, please download our educational guides.

LandfillBin

GARBAGE
Non-recyclable plastics (single-use plastic bags, saran wrap, and pet food bags), cat litter, ceramics, Styrofoam^TM, diapers, and other non-recyclables or non-compostables can be tossed in your gray garbage cart. Residential customers choose the size of the cart they need; 32-gallon, 64-gallon, or 96-gallon. If you periodically have extra garbage, use your extra bag tag. Contact our Customer Service team to manage extra garbage.

Set up or change service

Cart Placement

Recycling is collected with a fully automated truck that uses a mechanical arm to retrieve the cart and place it back on your curb. Using the fully automated system makes the placement of the carts more important than ever – the mechanical arm needs to be able to grab a cart without touching the other carts.

Place your carts against the curb with about 24 inches between carts and other obstacles, such as vehicles, no later than 6:00 AM on your scheduled collection day.
Place wheels against the curb and close cart lids.
Loose garbage should be bagged and secured to help reduce litter.
For easy reference, print the Curbside Placement Reference Guide.

Americans with Disabilities Act
Disabled residents (pursuant to Americans with Disabilities Act) who are unable to place their containers at the curb have the option of placing their containers beside their home, visible from curbside. Contact Customer Service for more information.

Cart Sizes

Garbage

32-gallon
64-gallon
96-gallon

Recycling

64-gallon

Compost

96-gallon

Where Does it Go?

After garbage is dropped off at the San Martin Transfer Station, it is transported to a landfill. Recyclables such as paper, cardboard, cans, bottles, and metal are sent to a Material Recovery Facility (MRF). This facility sorts, bales, and then sells the material so it can be recycled and made into new products. Clean yard waste is transported to South Valley Organics, a compost facility located at the Pacheco Pass Landfill in Gilroy. This facility processes yard waste into compost.