Single Family Setout Tips and FAQs
Welcome to the City of Milpitas! A form is required in order to start/stop service.
Service is mandatory in Milpitas, but if you’re moving out, we are happy to close your account. A form is required.
Rates are subject to change at any time but adjustments most often occur on July 1 of each year. The rate review process is outlined in our Franchise Agreement with the City of Milpitas
The items that can be put in a residential or commercial dumpster may vary depending on the specific dumpster rental company and local regulations. However, in general, the following items are typically allowed in dumpsters:
- Make sure you know your collection day. Log in to your account or contact us to find out when we service your area.
- On your collection day, be sure your carts are at the curb by 6am.
- Leave the carts at the curb until we’ve emptied them. Our trucks can arrive at different times each week.
- Place your carts facing the street with wheels against the curb (if possible).
- Leave 3 feet between each cart (if possible).
- Do not place carts too close to parked cars, fire hydrants, low-hanging branches, and other obstacles.
- Do not overload your carts. The lid should close completely.
- Do not wedge or compact materials into your carts.
- If you have extra waste, please contact us to arrange for additional service.
Yes. Milpitas Sanitation offers on-premise (backyard or sideyard) service for a fee.
Click here for current rates. The fee can be waived for a resident with a documented disability (a form is required). Contact us for details.
Here are some tips to keep those loose ends from escaping.
- Put your papers inside a paper bag or box and seal with a staple or piece of tape before placing in the paper/fibers side of your blue split recyclables cart.
- Bag all Styrofoam packing peanuts before putting in the garbage.
- Place breakable items in the middle or bottom of the appropriate cart.
Please leave cart/carts out at the curb. If your neighbors’ carts were all emptied or it’s after 6pm, then it’s likely we accidentally missed your cart. Contact us immediately and we will send a truck back around as soon as possible.
Yes. Please contact us or login to your account to request an exchange. We offer 64 and 96-gallon carts. Garbage capacity is determined by an insert. Exchanges are done within a few weeks of request on your regular service day. Review the list of acceptable items in our Residential Recycling Guide to make the most of the curbside recycling program.
Every twelve months, we will do one exchange for no charge.
The 64-gallon recycling cart has a similar footprint to the 96-gallon cart. Consider creating a larger storage space.
You don’t have to give your organic waste away. In fact, many gardeners transform their kitchen scraps and lawn clippings into their own high quality compost. We invite you to do the same. Click here for information on how to start your own compost program.
You have several options. Assuming the unwanted item is still in reasonable shape, you can do the following:
- List it for free on freecycle.org.
- Sell it on CraigsList.org or a similar site.
- Donate it to a local charity.
If you just need it taken away, schedule an On-Call Clean Up.
Absolutely. Please contact us at your convenience. We want you to understand how our invoicing works; and we want to correct any mistakes as quickly as possible.
Visit our Household Hazardous & E-Waste Program Info web page for info.
The items that can be put in a residential or commercial dumpster may vary depending on the Look into scheduling an On-Call Clean Up or ordering a special bin or debris box. Whether you’re cleaning out your garage, re-landscaping your yard, remodeling your kitchen, or deep cleaning, we have just the right size bin to suit your needs. Contact us or check out the service menu for complete information.
Visit www.stopjunkmail.org. To cut back on unsolicited catalogs, visit www.catalogchoice.org.
Post reusable boxes on www.freecycle.org and/or try your local uhaul moving center.
Reuse, Recycle or Donate First Before throwing items away, consider reusing, donating or recycling them first. Here are some places to start:
- City of Milpitas Reuse Line – 408-586-2680
- Goodwill Industries – www.goodwillsv.org
- Salvation Army – www.salvationarmyusa.org or 1-800-95-TRUCK
- Santa Clara County’s Center for Development of Recycling – www.recyclestuff.org or 800-533-8414
- Freecycle.org –www.freecycle.org
Good for you. There’s too much need to throw away food. Visit the Second Harvest Food Bank to pass on your bounty. www.shfb.org or the Milpitas Food Pantry: www.milpitasfoodpantry.org
Sure! Try: Santa Clara County’s Center for Development of Recycling – www.recyclestuff.org or 800-533-8414
They can be placed in the Glass/Metal/Plastic side of your blue split recyclables cart (along with other recyclable containers) for convenient curbside collection; Milpitas Sanitation will make sure they’re recycled. Or, you can take them to a buy-back center where your deposit will be returned to you. For a list of locations and more information contact the California State Department of Conservation, call 1-800-RECYCLE or visit www.bottlesandcans.com.
Review our Resource List for Teachers.
Are you still uncertain about sizing, pricing, or other details? Contact one of our professionals to get more information regarding which option is the best for you.