Palo Alto - Businesses and Schools

New and Expanded Services

Services available to businesses and schools include recyclables, compostables and garbage collection in wheeled carts or bins. Expanded services include: recycling of all rigid plastics (e.g., broken toys, shelving), film plastics (e.g., shrink wrap, bubble wrap, plastic bags), scrap metal, hardback books and electronics all of which can be placed in your blue recyclables container. Businesses and schools may also participate in GreenWaste's compostables program. The compostables program accepts food scraps, food soiled paper and yard trimmings. Participation in this program promotes increased diversion, helping the Palo Alto community reach its goal of zero waste.

If you need assistance starting a compostables program or keeping one going, a GreenWaste Environmental Outreach Coordinator (EOC) can assist you, at no additional cost. Assistance includes:

Establishing service levels, conducting site visits and waste audits
Planning for special events
Education: on-site training and meetings; posters and stickers; tours of our processing facilities

Contact Customer Service to reach an EOC at (650) 493-4894.

Education & Outreach Materials

Commercial Services Booklet
English Spanish Russian Simple Mandarin Japanese

Recyclable Materials Guide
English

Recyclables Poster
English/Spanish Russian Simple Mandarin Japanese

Compostables Poster
English/Spanish Russian Simple Mandarin Japanese

Compostables FAQs
English

Office Earth Day Resources

Household Hazardous Waste Collection and Disposal

The City of Palo Alto has a drop-off program for businesses to properly dispose of Universal (e.g., fluorescent lamps) and Hazardous Wastes (e.g., paint). These common items used every day contain substances such as: antimony, arsenic, beryllium, butane, cadmium, copper, lead, nickel, mercury, propane, and zinc which can pose a risk to people and the environment if not managed properly. Per State law, neither Universal nor Hazardous Waste may be placed in the garbage. In addition, there are drop-off, pick-up and mail back programs operated by private companies for managing Universal Waste. For more information, please visit the Palo Alto Hazardous Waste Program website or conatact the City's Hazardous Waste Program at (650) 496-6980.

Debris Box Services & Rates

GreenWaste of Palo Alto offers debris boxes in multiple sizes for source separated and mixed materials. Debris Boxes can be ordered on an on-call basis or as a scheduled weekly service. Please contact Customer Service at (650) 493-4894 to schedule delivery of a debris box that will meet your needs for capacity, type of material and collection frequency.

Please note: to ensure compliance with the City's Construction and Debris (C&D) ordinance, C&D boxes will be charged an additional fee that will refunded if the C&D debris placed in the box does not exceed 25% unacceptable materials. For more information on rates or to scehdule a delivery, please refer to the Debris Box Rate Schedule (R-3) or call Customer Service at (650) 493-4894.

a brighter shade of green

Palo Alto - Businesses and Schools

New and Expanded Services

Education & Outreach Materials

Household Hazardous Waste Collection and Disposal

Debris Box Services & Rates

Other Useful Links