Los Altos Hills

Los Altos Hills’ sorting program is already SB 1383 compliant!

Only yard trimmings are accepted in your green cart. Food scraps must remain in the gray mixed compostables cart and GreenWaste will sort and process the organic material.

GreenWaste has been providing service to Los Altos Hills since 2008. Los Altos Hills customers receive Mixed Compostables, Recyclable Materials and Yard Trimmings service.  All materials are then sorted and processed at the GreenWaste Material Recovery Facility, Northern California’s premier solid waste and recyclables processing facility.

Here, more than 80% of materials are diverted from the landfill.  Organics material is sorted and transformed into nutrient rich compost at the GreenWaste Composting Facility and recyclable materials are sorted, bailed, and sent for further processing. Learn more about our state-of-the-art facilities.  

Omar Lopez, General Manager

Customer Service

Phone:
650.947.4994

Email:
customerservice@greenwaste.com

Single-family residents in Los Altos Hills receive weekly collection service of Mixed Compostables, Recyclable Materials and Yard Trimmings (if applicable). All materials must be ready for collection no later than 8:00AM on your normal collection day. Contents cannot exceed the weight limits listed on the cart or 150 lbs. (whichever is less).

MIXED COMPOSTABLES: Residents may choose subscription volumes of 20-, 32-, 64- or 96-gallons for weekly collection in Gray carts provided by GreenWaste.

RECYCLABLE MATERIALS: Residents are provided one (1) Blue 96-gallon cart for Recyclable Material collection at no additional charge.

YARD TRIMMINGS: Residents are provided up to two (2) Green 96-gallon carts for Yard Trimmings collection at no additional charge. Green carts must be placed Curbside* for Collection.

*CURBSIDE: The “Curbside Service Area” is where the cart set-out location is accessible by a standard, larger collection vehicle and where all carts are within 10’ of the accessible roadway.

  • Review the Curbside vs. Small Truck Only Map HERE.

Extra Services

ON-PREMISE SERVICE: Residents may request that GreenWaste perform Drive-on and/or Walk-on Service to collect carts on-property for an additional fee.

GRAY CART SWAP: On-Premise and Small Truck Only customers may trade their two (2) Green carts for one (1) 96-gallon Gray cart for no additional charge. Stipulations apply. See video for details.

ON-CALL CLEAN-UPS: Residents may request up to two (2) On-Call Clean-ups per year at no additional charge. Call Customer Service at least 48-hours in advance to schedule collection of either two (2) bulky items OR three (3) cans of Yard Trimmings. Material must be placed Curbside.

BULKY ITEM: Residents may request the collection of bulky items (beyond those included in the On-Call Clean Up) for a fee. Call Customer Service at least 48-hours in advance.

CURBSIDE HHW: Residents may place household batteries (in a sealed plastic bag) on top of the Blue cart, and may place motor oil (in plastic containers with a screw-on lid) and filters (in sealed plastic bags) next to the Blue cart, for collection at no additional cost on the standard service day.

EXTRA MATERIAL: Residents may place extra material in labeled 32-gal cans or bags for collection at an additional charge. Further charges apply for collection of extra material on a day other than your regularly scheduled service day.

If using bags: Recyclables must be in a clear or translucent bag, and Yard Trimmings must be in a paper bag.

EXTRA PICK-UP: Residents may request collection on a day other than the regularly scheduled service day for an additional fee.

YARD TRIMMINGS VOUCHER: Residents may utilize four (4) vouchers (provided in the mail annually) to periodically set out up to 96-gal of extra yard trimmings at no additional charge. Note: Gray Cart Swap customers receive two (2) Mixed Compostables vouchers in place of four (4) Yard Trimmings Vouchers.
(Note: GRAY CART SWAP customers will receive two (2) Mixed Compostables in place of the four (4) Yard Trimmings vouchers).

HOLIDAY TREES: On your standard service day, residents may place unornamented holiday trees (cut to five (5) foot lengths) next to the Green Cart (or other Curbside location) for collection at no additional charge. Trees will be collected in the first twenty-eight (28) calendar days following December 26.

Billing & Rates

Los Altos Hills residents are on a quarterly billing cycle. This means you can expect to receive your GreenWaste invoice in February, May, August and November. If you have any questions about your billing, please contact Customer Service.

What Goes Where & More

Sorting Resources & Newsletters

Newsletters

Frequently Asked Questions

WHERE DO I SET OUT MY CARTS?

Cart set-out locations varies based on the accessibility of your property, the size of the truck servicing your carts, and whether you have requested On-Premise collection (Drive-on and/or Walk-on).

  • Standard collection for all services is Curbside, and all GREEN Carts MUST be placed Curbside.
  • If you are a customer in a Small-Truck-Only Area, your BLUE and GRAY Carts can be placed On-Street for no additional charge – however, your GREEN Carts MUST be placed Curbside. On-Street collection locations are those locations where carts are set-out on a shared road or driveway that provides access to three (3) or more customers.
  • On-Premise Service is not included in Base Services and incurs additional charges. If GreenWaste travels onto your private property, via a driveway that services two or fewer residences, you will incur Drive-on and/or Walk-on charges (as applicable).

Please view the Curbside vs. Small-Truck-Only Area map for more details.

WHAT DOES “CURBSIDE” MEAN?

The “Curbside Service Area” is where the cart set-out location is accessible by a standard, larger (24 yd3 +) collection vehicle and where all carts (BLUE, GRAY and GREEN) are within 10’ of the accessible roadway. At this Curbside location,  all the material can be collected without the driver needing to walk or drive more than 10’ beyond the accessible roadway.

WHAT IS DRIVE-ON SERVICE?

Drive-on Service applies anytime a GreenWaste collection vehicle travels more than 10’ onto a private driveway or road that is shared by no more than two (2) customers. Drive-on Services are available in both in Curbside and Small-Truck-Only collection areas. There are tiers for the applicable Drive-on Service rate based on number of feet from the collection vehicle. The tiers are 11’ – 100’ and then additional charges are incurred for each additional 100’ increment. Drive-on Service is not available for GREEN Carts.

WHAT IS A WALK-ON SERVICE?

Walk-on Service applies when carts are set-out for collection at a location that is greater than 10’ from where a collection vehicle can reasonably access, or where the service is requested by the customer. There are tiers for the applicable Walk-on Service rate based on number of feet from the collection vehicle and also the number of carts beyond Base Services. The tiers are 11’ – 25’, 26′ – 100’ and then additional charges are incurred for each additional 100’ increment. Walk-on Service is not available for GREEN Carts.

WHAT IS THE “GRAY CART SWAP” PROGRAM?

In response to feedback from customers and discussions with the Town, GreenWaste is now offering a program whereby all SMALL-TRUCK-ONLY Area customers and ON-PREMISE customers in CURBSIDE Areas may trade in their two (2) 96-gallon GREEN carts for one (1) 96-gallon GRAY cart for no additional charge. The swapped GREEN for GRAY cart will be processed and all compostable materials will be recovered and turned into compost.

The “GRAY Cart Swap” Program will allow:

  • SMALL-TRUCK-ONLY customers to set-out BLUE and GRAY carts at the closest ON-STREET location rather than wheeling the GREEN carts to a CURBSIDE Area, and
  • ON-PREMISE customers in SMALL-TRUCK-ONLY Areas and CURBSIDE Areas to continue to receive (or subscribe to) ON-PREMISE services for BLUE and GRAY carts without having to also wheel their GREEN carts to a CURBSIDE or ON-STREET location for collection.

Eligible customers that take advantage of this “GRAY Cart Swap” Program will be subject to the following condition for as long as the Swap is active:

Base Service GRAY cart subscription levels will be frozen at the highest level over the prior six (6) month period. This freeze will only prohibit downsizing of the customer’s Base Service level, but upsizing is permitted.

WHO IS ELIGIBLE FOR THE “GRAY CART SWAP” PROGRAM?

The “GRAY Cart Swap” Program is available for all customers that receive On-Premise services, as well as all customers in SMALL-TRUCK-ONLY Areas. Customers in CURBSIDE Areas that are not receiving ON-PREMISE services are not eligible to participate in the Swap program.

IF I PARTICIPATE IN THE “GRAY CART SWAP” PROGRAM, WHY CAN’T I DOWNSIZE MY GRAY CART BASE SUBSCRIPTION LEVEL?

If GreenWaste were to offer the “GRAY Cart Swap” Program without a freeze requirement, customers could downsize their Base Service level because they would now have a 96-gallon GRAY cart for no additional charge. If customers downsized service, the Base Service revenue (that includes the cost of the no-charge BLUE and GREEN carts) would erode, making this program unsustainable.

IF I PARTICIPATE IN THE “GRAY CART SWAP” PROGRAM, CAN I ORDER EXTRA GREEN CARTS?

Additional GREEN carts will not be available for participating Swap customers, even for an additional charge. The issue of GREEN cart collection locations is a primary driver of why the “Gray Cart Swap” program is offered, and therefore customers may not participate in both services.

IF I PARTICIPATE IN THE “GRAY CART SWAP” PROGRAM, CAN I GET ADDITIONAL GRAY CARTS COLLECTED ON-PREMISE?

Yes, any eligible customer that participates in the “GRAY Cart Swap” Program may order additional GRAY Carts for an additional charge. Additionally, all customers that receive ON-PREMISE service and participate in the “GRAY Cart Swap” will be offered a 25% discount on Additional GRAY carts from GreenWaste. The purpose of this discount is to incentivize customers that are not receiving ON-PREMISE services to utilize these services that further keep carts off the streets and help to offset the cost of additional GRAY carts that are required as part of this service.

During the implementation of the Swap Program, Town Staff and GreenWaste received several inquiries from Small-Truck-Only customers who require more than the one “swapped” 96-gallon GRAY cart. These customers expressed concerns about the cost of the additional GRAY cart/s and asked Town Staff to evaluate potential rate relief.  Staff received approval from Council to provide a 50% subsidy on the price of a second 96-gallon GRAY cart.  The Town Subsidy Program will allow:

Customers in Small-Truck-Only areas who are also participating in the Swap Program to receive a 50% discount, with the full subsidy provided by the Town.

ON-PREMISE Swap Program customers, already receiving a 25% discount on a second GRAY cart from GreenWaste, to receive a supplemental 25%  discount provided by the Town, bringing their full discount to 50%.

I HAVE EXTRA YARD TRIMMINGS, WHAT CAN I DO?

You have several options.

  • Take advantage of monthly Fire Prevention yard waste drop off events hosted by the Los Altos County Fire District that occur on the 3rd Saturday of each month (unless otherwise notified).
  • Take advantage of the Town-wide Clean-up Events that occur three (3) times each year (dates are determined annually, and are included in newsletters and posted online). 
  • Take advantage of the two (2) on-call clean up events provided each year at no additional charge. These are scheduled at your convenience and include up to three (3) personal containers (up to 96-gallon) and/or bundles of clean yard trimmings (bundles must not exceed three (3) feet, by three (3) feet, by three (3) feet.
  • Utilize your four (4) yard trimmings vouchers provided annually at no additional charge. These vouchers are mailed to customers with the February invoice.

WHAT IS THE PROPER WAY TO RECYCLE CARDBOARD?

  • INSIDE CARTS: All materials must be placed in carts loosely enough that when carts are flipped over, the contents are able to fall out, not wedged so tight that the cart doesn’t empty when serviced (this goes for all materials in all carts). This is always important, but ESPECIALLY important now with COVID-19 and directives for GreenWaste drivers to minimize touching materials to protect their safety.
  • BESIDE CARTS: Cardboard can be placed in secured bundles (tied, taped, boxed, etc.) that are no larger than 3’x3’x3’. The size requirement is in place so drivers can pick up the bundles and lift them over the sill of the hopper.

Regulatory Requirements

SHORT-LIVED CLIMATE POLLUTANT REDUCTION STRATEGY: California Senate Bill 1383, effective January 1, 2022, requires all Californians to subscribe to their jurisdiction’s organics curbside collection service. Residents are required to properly sort their organic waste into the correct containers.

For Los Altos Hills residents, GreenWaste provides both a mixed organics stream (Gray Cart) and a source separated organics stream (Green Cart). Food scraps, food soiled paper, and other organics are recovered from the Gray Cart at the GreenWaste MRF, which serves as a high diversion organic waste processing facility.

Businesses in Los Altos Hills are offered weekly collection service of Mixed Compostables, Recyclable Materials and Yard Trimmings. Service is provided up to six (6) days per week on a Monday through Saturday schedule. All materials must fit completely inside the container with the lid closed. Containers must be ready for collection no later than 8:00AM and should be returned to their service location promptly after service.

MIXED COMPOSTABLES: Businesses can select from cart or bin service. Carts or bins are available for collection Monday through Saturday. Choose the appropriate size for your business.

RECYCLABLE MATERIALS: Businesses can select from cart or bin service. Commingle all recyclables into either your recycling cart or bin.

YARD TRIMMINGS: Source-separated Yard Trimmings collection is available to businesses. GreenWaste offers 64- and 96-gallon Carts for the collection of Yard Trimmings.

Billing & Rates

Los Altos Hills commercial customers are on a monthly billing cycle. If you have any questions about your billing, please contact Customer Service.

What Goes Where & More

Program and Sorting Guidance

 

Regulatory Requirements

MANDATORY RECYCLING: California Assembly Bill 341 (AB 341) became effective July 1, 2012. AB 341 mandates recycling for all businesses producing 4 cubic yards or more of garbage per week. Subscribing to recyclable materials collection services through GreenWaste will help ensure compliance with AB 341.

MANDATORY ORGANICS RECYCLING: California Assembly Bill 1826 (AB1826) was signed into law in 2014, mandating organics recycling for businesses in California. All businesses in California producing 2 cubic yards or more of total generated material per week are required to subscribe to organic material collection services. Since GreenWaste processes the Mixed Compostables, all businesses are automatically compliant with this regulation.

SHORT-LIVED CLIMATE POLLUTANT REDUCTION STRATEGY: California Senate Bill 1383, effective January 1, 2022, requires all Californians to subscribe to their jurisdiction’s organics curbside collection service.

For Los Altos Hills businesses, GreenWaste provides both a mixed organics stream (Gray Cart) and a source separated organics stream (Green Cart). Food scraps, food soiled paper, and other organics are recovered from the Gray Cart at the GreenWaste MRF, which serves as a high diversion organic waste processing facility.

Businesses are required to provide properly labeled and/or color-coded containers in all areas where disposal containers are provided, except in restrooms. Annually, businesses must educate employees, contractors, customers, and tenants on how to properly sort organic waste, and all of these users are required to properly sort these materials into the correct containers.

GreenWaste Recovery provides street sweeping services to the Town of Los Altos Hills to reduce the accumulation of leaves, debris and dirt, and remove incidental litter.

Street sweeping services are provided twice per month for the six months from October 1 to March 31, and four times total for the six months from April 1 through September 30. 

Property owners can help the effectiveness of street sweepers by moving parked cars from the street on the scheduled sweep day. To check on your sweep day, refer to this map (for the October 1 through March 31 sweeping season).

Processing & Disposal Summary

GreenWaste vehicles deliver all material collected in Los Altos Hills to the GreenWaste Materials Recovery Facility (MRF) in San Jose for processing.  Learn what happens to this material via this virtual tour!

GreenWaste Grey Cart

 

MIXED COMPOSTABLES are delivered to the GreenWaste MSW MRF for processing. The compostable fraction is then transported to Z-Best in Gilroy for Post Consumer Organics Composting.

GreenWaste Blue Cart RECYCLABLE MATERIALS are delivered to the GreenWaste Single-Stream Recyclables MRF for processing.
GreenWaste Green Cart YARD TRIMMINGS are delivered to the GreenWaste Yard Trimmings MRF for initial processing. The compostable fraction is then transported to Z-Best in Gilroy for Yard Trimmings Composting.

 

Local Community Contacts

GreenWaste Recovery |
Local Office

610 E. Gish Rd.
San Jose, CA 95112

The Town of Los Altos Hills

26379 Fremont Road
Los Altos Hills, CA 94022

Phone: 650.941.7222
https://www.losaltoshills.ca.gov/

 

Santa Clara County |
Office of Sustainability

2310 N. 1st Street, Suite 106
San Jose, CA 95131

Office Phone: (408) 993-4760​

County of Santa Clara Office of Sustainability