Recycling & Garbage

The city contracts with Recology South Valley for solid waste, recycling, and street sweeping services. Please use the following link to find more information, including garbage collection schedules:

Recology South Valley 

City of Gilroy/Recology Franchise Agreement

  1. Organic Waste Disposal Reduction 
  2. Household Hazardous Waste
  3. E-Waste &  Universal Waste
  4. Composting Information

One of California’s recent initiatives focuses on keeping organic materials out of landfills and using them in beneficial ways, such as using them to create compost, fertilizers, and biofuels. According to CalRecycle, “About half of California’s waste stream is organic material like yard trimmings, food waste, and lumber.” State law now requires residents and businesses to compost organic materials. This can be done in a variety of ways, including using the green compost bin provided by Recology to collect organic waste for composting.

For more information on composting and recycling organic materials, visit https://calrecycle.ca.gov/organics/. Or call 408-842-3358 to speak with a Waste Zero Specialist about Recology’s programs, educational materials, and staff training.

Mandatory Organic Waste Disposal Reduction Ordinance for Businesses

California law, including SB 1383 and AB 1826, requires all businesses to separate organic waste from the trash and to participate in organic waste recycling programs. Your business must comply with organic waste recycling laws.

California disposed approximately 39 million tons of waste in landfills in 2018, of which approximately one-third was compostable organic materials (e.g., food waste, landscape waste, etc.). Landfilled organic waste emits methane gas which is a super pollutant that contributes to climate change. In order to address this significant waste stream and reduce methane gas in the atmosphere, state law requires businesses to work with their local waste hauler (Recology) to arrange for the separate collection of organic materials like food scraps, food-contaminated paper, and yard trimmings. All commercial businesses, including Multi-Family Residential Dwellings with five (5) units or more, are required to subscribe to organic waste collection services for all organic waste generated.  

 Mandatory Organic Waste Disposal Reduction Ordinance

Overview of Ordinances [English] - PowerPoint Presentation

Over of Ordinances [Spanish] - PowerPoint Presentation

For questions regarding the Mandatory Organic Waste Disposal Reduction Ordinance, please contact Tanya Carothers at tanya.carothers@cityofgilroy.org.