Residential Recycling & Garbage

The City of Milpitas and Milpitas Sanitation are dedicated to providing quality recycling and garbage services and achieving state mandated disposal reduction goals.

Learn what materials are recyclable and compostable and about other residential service options with this Residential Recycling and Waste Services Guide (PDF). Please call Milpitas Sanitation Customer Service at 408-988-4500 from Monday through Friday, 8 am to 6 pm, and via email can answer all of your recycling and garbage service questions. If you have any further questions, please leave a message for City of Milpitas Staff at the Reuse Line, 408-586-2600. Calls to this recorded line are answered within 48 business hours.

To learn more about your neighborhood's street sweeping schedule, view City of Milpitas Street Sweeping (PDF) or call Milpitas Sanitation Customer Service at 408-988-4500.

To view garbage and recycling collection rates, view:

Senior Low-Volume Rate & on-Premise / Backyard Service

The City of Milpitas values our seniors. There is a 50% cost reduction of the quarterly solid waste rate for residents 62 years and older.

The Senior Low-Volume Rate applies to 26-gallon and 19-gallon garbage/food scraps carts only. The quarterly rate includes a 96-gallon split cart for recyclables and a 96-gallon yard trimmings cart at no additional charge. (A 64-gallon split cart for recyclables is available upon request.) For Senior Low-Volume Garbage/Food Scraps cart sizes and rates, and to receive the application, visit the Milpitas Sanitation website for more information.

Milpitas Recycles Right!

Collective efforts to "Recycle Right" by Milpitas residents and businesses add up to a 70% disposal reduction of landfilled materials since 1991. There are state mandated disposal reduction goals on the horizon that set new goals to divert organics (food scraps and yard trimmings) and increase recycling.

Please call Milpitas Sanitation Customer Service at 408-988-4500 from Monday through Friday, between 8 am to 6 pm, or via email, with all of your recycling and garbage service questions. If you have any further questions, please leave a message for City of Milpitas Public Works staff at the Reuse Line 408-586-2600. Calls to this recorded line are answered within 48 business hours.

For detailed information about volume-based garbage rates, recycling and other solid waste services, please visit the Milpitas Sanitation website.

Bulky Item Pick-up & Cleanups

Do you have large or bulky items that you can't dispose in your trash container? Several options are available to Milpitas residents to dispose of bulky items. For more information, visit the Large Item Pick-up and Cleanups page.

Report Illegal Scavenging & Dumping

Stealing glass, plastic bottles or aluminum cans out of recycling containers is illegal in the City of Milpitas. Scavenging is dangerous and increases the cost of recycling services. Report scavenging immediately! Call the Milpitas Police Department at 408-586-2400 when you witness scavenging with the following information:

  • Time and location the scavenging occurs or usually occurs
  • Description of scavenger (height, clothing, etc.)
  • Direction scavenger is traveling
  • License plate number, if this can be safely obtained

To report suspicious discharges into the storm drain, call 911 immediately. The City of Milpitas Fire Department responds to reports about illegal dumping into storm drains. Remember: Anything other than rain water is an illegal discharge to our storm water conveyance system, our creeks and South San Francisco Bay.

If hazardous waste has been dumped on your property, please email the County of Santa Clara Household Hazardous Waste Program to ask for suggestions pertaining to illegal dumping prevention and tips.