Business Recycling

The Los Altos Garbage Company provides free recycling for local businesses.

Recycling is not mandatory, however, a successful recycling program at an office, a restaurant, or a retail complex may help to reduce garbage costs by either reducing the frequency of garbage pickup, the size of the garbage dumpster, or both.

Office Recycling Suggestions

Restaurant Recycling Suggestions

Retail Recycling Suggestions

Construction & Demolition Recycling

To Order Recycling Service: Call the garbage company at 408-725-4020.

Recycling Carts and Cardboard Bins

What We Recycle, and How

  • Cans and Bottles: cans, glass and plastic bottles and food containers, foil, milk and juice cartons, styrofoam blocks, plastic bags, plastic wrap, scrap metal
  • Mixed Paper
  • Cardboard


    To Request Help From City Recycling Staff: Call 408-777-3354. We can visit your facility and help you get started. Staff can provide:
    Internal collection containers (free, as long as funds are available)
    Literature to educate your staff, janitorial contractor, tenants, and customers about recycling

    Contamination
    Recycling services are free, as long as the recycled materials are not contaminated by garbage.

    City Policy on Using Other Recycling Haulers

    For information on recycling other materials, visit the County Recycling Hotline website: www.recyclestuff.org

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    Office Recycling Suggestions

    Paper Recycling
    Offices primarily should be interested in recycling paper.
    We recommend that each desk and workstation have a paper-recycling box right next to its trashcan. The city can provide two sizes of paper-recycling boxes. We can also offer you larger bins to be positioned at the copier or in a mailroom, to capture the higher volumes of paper waste.
    Each office manager will need to figure out how the recycled paper in the individual boxes will ultimately be emptied into the paper recycling cart. Some options that seem to work:

  • Use a "consolidation" bin - a large, centrally-located bin, that employees empty their paper recycling box into when their recycling box is full. The janitors then empty the full consolidation bin into the Mixed Paper recycling cart.
    Useful factsheet for employees: Paper factsheet for offices with consolidation bin
  • Ask janitors to remove paper directly from each of the recycling boxes at each desk, at the same time that they empty the trash at each desk. Then the janitors transport the paper to the paper recycling cart. (See the photo of a janitorial cart set up to collect recyclable paper in a lined 32-gal bin and "real" trash in the hanging yellow trash bag. Such an efficient set-up can allow janitors, who become responsible to collect the recyclable paper at deskside, to do a "single pass" by each desk.)
    Useful factsheet for employees: Office Paper, no consolidation bin
  • Ask each employee to empty their own full box into the outside recycling cart, themselves.

    Telling your employees about the new recycling program is critical. We've provided a sample announcement of paper recycling to distribute to your staff or tenants.

    Spanish factsheets: Useful factsheet for Spanish-speaking janitors

    Chinese factsheets: Chinese office with two toters, A and B pages

    Can and Bottle Recycling:
    Some offices have kitchens or break rooms. You may wish to set up a container in that room-next to the trash bin-to collect lunchtime recyclables. The city can provide you with a can & bottle recycling container. We recommend that these containers be lined with clear plastic trash bags to capture any liquid residue from drinks and avoid a mess in the bottom of the recycle bin.

    We don't recommend that an office allow cans and bottles to be collected at desks and workstations because of the potential for insect problems from food residue. Ideally, cans and bottles are collected only in kitchens or break rooms.

    Each office manager will need to figure out how the cans and bottles from the lunchroom will ultimately be emptied into the "Can and Bottles" recycling cart outside. Please empty the cans and bottles directly into the recycling cart. Don't leave them in a plastic bag.

    Useful factsheet for employees: English Can & Bottle Sheet

    Useful factsheet for Spanish-speaking janitors: Spanish Can & Bottle Sheet

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    Restaurant Recycling Suggestions

    Can and Bottle Recycling:
    Restaurants typically are interested in recycling the cans and bottles generated by their customers (can & bottle recycling container) and also the cans, bottles, containers, clean foil, plastic bags, etc., that are generated in their kitchens (recycle bin in restaurant kitchen). These different types of recyclable materials can be mixed together. No sorting necessary. The city can provide containers to help collect materials in your restaurant and kitchen.

    Useful factsheet for employees: English Can & Bottle Sheet and Spanish Can & Bottle Sheet

    Cardboard Recycling:
    Cardboard recycling is important for restaurants. Cardboard boxes can take up a large percentage of the space in a garbage dumpster — if they are not flattened and recycled.

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    Retail Recycling Suggestions

    Cardboard Recycling:
    Cardboard recycling is typically very important for retailers. Cardboard boxes that are not recycled can take up a large percentage of the space in a garbage dumpster (especially if they are not flattened). Please call 408-725-4020 if you need a cardboard recycling bin delivered to your site. Recycling is provided at no charge.

    Useful factsheet: English

    Useful factsheet: Spanish

    Paper Recycling:
    Paper waste from packaging and office paperwork may also be a large percentage of your retail trash stream. You may want to have a Mixed Paper cart delivered to your site for free paper recycling. The city can provide two sizes of paper-recycling boxes.

    Useful factsheet for employees: Office Paper, no consolidation bin

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    Construction & Demolition Recycling

    While the Los Altos Garbage Company does have an exclusive franchise to haul all garbage and "mixed recyclables" (types of recyclable materials that are mixed together) generated in the city, other haulers may pick up recycled materials from businesses in the city, as long as the recyclable materials are, both:
    1) separated by type, into separate containers, and
    2) not contaminated by garbage.

    "Separated" recyclable materials are materials that are separated into individual containers, each containing just one type of recyclable material. Typical examples of discrete types of recyclable materials include:

  • paper
  • cardboard
  • aluminum cans
  • plastic bottles
  • glass bottles
  • metal
  • wood
  • tree trimmings
  • concrete
  • steel-reinforced concrete
  • asphalt
  • toilets
  • white goods (appliances)
  • rocks
  • clean fill dirt

    Separated recyclables must ultimately be recycled or otherwise reused, and not disposed of in a landfill.
    Contractor should be prepared to provide the name and phone number of any recycling companies being used on the project.

    Lists of local recycling companies:

  • http://www.recyclestuff.org/Guides/CommercialGuide.htm or call the Santa Clara County Recycling Hotline at 408-924-5453
  • Builder's Reuse and Recycling Guide. A printed copy is available in the literature display rack in the downstairs Planning/Building Department lobby at Cupertino City Hall.


    See Debris Boxes for disposal of construction and demolition waste.

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    To Order Recycling Service:

    Operations Manager should contact the Los Altos Garbage Company at 408-725-4020 to start a recycling program. Recycling pickup schedule is arranged with the business's operations manager, with the approval of the property manager. Recycling pickup weekly, at a minimum.

    Missed pickups: Should be reported immediately to the Los Altos Garbage Co.: 408-725-4020.

    Extra pickups: Operations and Property managers can order occasional extra pickups of recyclables, when necessary, at no charge. Call 408-725-4020.

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    Recycling Carts and Cardboard Bins

    The Los Altos Garbage Company can provide a business (that has a garbage account) with the following recycling containers. These containers are stored in the garbage dumpster area, and are emptied on a regular schedule by the garbage company.

  • Can & Bottle recycling carts-labeled 96-gal carts with lids (64-gal carts also available)
  • Mixed Paper recycling carts-labeled 96-gal carts with lids (64-gal carts also available)
  • Cardboard bins-white, labeled, locked bins, with access slots cut across the front-sized as needed.

    Missing or damaged recycling containers
    If recycling carts or bins are missing or damaged, contact the garbage company for help: 408-725-4020.

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    What We Recycle, and How
    Cans & Bottles:
    We accept the following types of waste in the cart labeled "Cans & Bottles":
  • Cans (metal food and beverage cans-aluminum, steel and bi-metal)
  • Glass bottles and jars (Remove lids and put into the cart separately.)
  • Plastics: containers with a 1 through 7 indicated on the bottom of the container-within a triangle of chasing arrows. Clear, opaque or colored is OK.
  • Milk cartons and juice boxes
  • Scrap metal (clean foil, metal pots and pans, metal objects that fit in the recycling cart)
  • Styrofoam packing blocks (tied inside a clear plastic bag)
  • Plastic bags (bundled inside a tied plastic bag)
  • Plastic wrap (must be stuffed into large, clear, plastic bags-and tied; no food or garbage residue)

    We don't accept these for recycling:

  • Unmarked plastics (without a "1" - "7" code)
  • Styrofoam packing peanuts (donate to mailing houses)
  • Bubble wrap
  • Single plastic bags
  • Plastic utensils
  • Garden hoses
  • Plastic toys
  • Plastic pipe
  • Light bulbs
  • Window glass
  • Ceramics
  • Dishware
  • Clothes hangers
  • Wire
  • Rope
  • Auto parts
  • Hazardous waste *
  • Fuel tanks*
  • Syringes and other medical waste *

    • * These types of hazardous waste cannot be disposed of as garbage, or accepted for recycling through our city's business recycling program. Businesses should directly contact the Santa Clara County Hazardous Waste Recycling and Disposal Program at 408-299-7300. Businesses that typically generate less than 27 gallons or 220 lbs. of hazardous waste per month may qualify to use this program.

    Mixed Paper:
    We accept the following types of paper in the recycling cart labeled "Mixed Paper":

  • White paper
  • Colored paper
  • Junk mail
  • Magazines
  • Catalogs
  • Newspapers
  • Envelopes (plastic windows are OK)
  • Writing pad backings
  • Phone books
  • Paper grocery bags
  • Paper towel rolls
  • Wrapping paper (no foil)
  • Adhesive notes
  • Carbonless (NCR) paper
  • Paperback books
  • Cartons made of paperboard (such as cereal boxes, cracker boxes, shoes boxes)
  • Cardboard (must fit into the cart)
  • Shredded paper (must be contained in a tied clear, plastic bag, and placed in the paper recycling cart)

    We don't accept:

  • Food-contaminated paper (coffee cups, pizza boxes, paper plates and utensils)
  • Used paper towels, napkins, and facial tissues
  • Blueprint paper
  • Hardback books
  • Carbon paper
  • Milk cartons (should be recycled in the Cans & Bottles recycling cart)

    If you occasionally have more clean recyclable paper than you can fit into the "Mixed Paper" cart, you can request an extra pickup, at no charge. If you routinely have extra recyclable paper, order another paper recycling cart, or re-schedule for more frequent pickup. Call 408-725-4020.

    Note that shredded paper is recyclable. However, it must be contained in a tied, clear, plastic bag, and placed in the paper recycling cart.

    If you discover that you have a lot of cardboard to recycle, you may wish to get a cardboard recycling bin from the garbage company. No charge.

    Corrugated cardboard:
    Corrugated cardboard is collected for recycling in white, labeled bins (the size of dumpsters).
  • Boxes should be flattened, and placed into the cardboard recycling bins.
  • Please don't put any plastic wrap or styrofoam in the Cardboard bin. (See "Cans and Bottles" for direction on recycling these.)

    Remember that corrugated cardboard has a wavy line running through it. Paperboard, like cereal boxes and shoe boxes, should be recycled in your Mixed Paper cart-not with the corrugated cardboard.

    Use the slot
    Flattened cardboard can be placed into the bins through the long slot across the front of the bin.

    Lock the bin
    Ideally, cardboard bins are kept locked to prevent contamination. Property managers and janitorial managers can request free copies of the cardboard bin key from the Los Altos Garbage Co. 408-725-4020

    Cardboard can be recycled in your Mixed Paper recycling cart
    If you don't have enough room for a 7 ft. wide cardboard recycling bin, cardboard can be recycled in your Mixed Paper recycling cart, since cardboard is paper. Cardboard pieces must be cut up small enough so that they are not jammed in the recycling cart to the point that the cart can't be emptied mechanically by the recycling driver.

    If your company occasionally has large amounts of cardboard, consider the following options:

  • Cut up cardboard into pieces that can fit into a recycling cart and save them either, for the next scheduled paper recycling pickup, or order an extra pickup.
  • Have your staff deliver the cardboard to a recycling center in Sunnyvale: The SMaRT station at the north end of Borregas Ave. at Caribbean Dr., 408-752-8530 (open 8-5 daily); no fee.
  • Ask a neighboring business, that has a cardboard recycling bin, if they have enough extra room to accommodate your cardboard.


    Loose cardboard will not be picked up by our recycling drivers.
    Cardboard must be placed in either a paper recycling cart or a garbage company recycling bin to be collected for recycling in this program.

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    To Request Help From City Recycling Staff
    Internal collection containers
    The City of Cupertino can provide local businesses with a variety of recycling containers to be used by employees and customers. Contact city staff at 408-777-3354 for details.

    For paper collection in offices:

  • Cardboard deskside paper recycling boxes. Two sizes available:

  • Plastic "consolidation" bin for offices where employees empty their own full boxes into centralized "consolidation" bins.

    For cans and bottles collection in lunchrooms:
    Plastic collection bin, with a labeled lid that has two 4.5" access holes (brown Rubbermaid "Slim Jim")

    For cans and bottles collection in restaurants:
    Plastic collection can with lid, labeled; recycle bin in restaurant kitchen either a 20-gal or 32-gal can. "Under-can," 5-wheel dolly also available.

    Literature to Educate Your Employees, Business Tenants, and Customers
    Custom-designed factsheets and decals are available to businesses for distribution to employees and business tenants. Contact city staff for information: 408-777-3354. Down-loadable factsheets:

    Paper recycling:
    Sample announcement for paper
    Office paper no consolidation bin.doc
    Paper factsheet for offices with consolidation bin
    Extra paper sheet for mgr (with no cdbd bin)
    Extra paper sheet for mgr (with cdbd bin)
    Spanish office paper

    Cans & Bottles recycling:
    English cans& bottles sheet
    Spanish cans & bottles sheet

    Chinese offices:
    Chinese office with 2 recycling carts A
    Chinese office with 2 recycling carts B

    Cardboard recycling:
    Cardboard flyer for mgr
    Cardboard - Spanish

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    Contamination
    If a business's recycling containers are rejected by the recycling driver because they are contaminated with garbage, the business has the choice of either:
    1) removing the contamination themselves, or
    2) requesting that the garbage company empty the container as garbage (the business customer will be billed for the extra garbage disposal)

    City Policy on Using Other Recycling Haulers

    While the Los Altos Garbage Company does have an exclusive franchise to haul all garbage and "mixed recyclables" (types of recyclable materials that are mixed together) generated in the city, other haulers may pick up recycled materialsfrom businesses in the city, as long as the recyclable materials are, both:
    1. separated by type, into separate containers, and
    2. not contaminated by garbage.

    "Separated" recyclable materials are materials that are separated into individual containers, each containing just one type of recyclable material. Typical examples of discrete types of recyclable materials include:

  • paper
  • cardboard
  • aluminum cans
  • plastic bottles
  • glass bottles
  • metal
  • wood
  • tree trimmings
  • concrete
  • steel-reinforced concrete
  • asphalt
  • toilets
  • white goods (appliances)
  • rocks
  • clean fill dirt

    Separated recyclables must ultimately be recycled or otherwise reused, and not disposed of in a landfill. A business should be prepared to provide the name and phone number of any recycling companies being used. A list of some local recycling companies that can accept separated recyclable materials:
    http://www.recyclestuff.org/Guides/CommercialGuide.htm or call the Santa Clara County Recycling Hotline at 408-924-5453

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