Residential Food Scraps Program

A new Food Scraps Collection Program has been implemented for residents in single-family homes in Sunnyvale. The program was expanded citywide after a successful pilot in 2015 in which residents received a split cart (a cart with two compartments) for separating food scraps from garbage.

What's Happening Now

The City of Sunnyvale's new food recycling program, FoodCycle, is a service to collect food scraps separately from the garbage. Forming a new habit - like separating food scraps from your garbage - takes time and patience, and we're committed to helping you make this transition as smoothly as possible. FoodCycling is easier than you might think.

Program Details

Each single-family household receives a split cart for food scraps and garbage collection, a countertop food scraps pail to make separation more convenient, and outreach materials to explain the program. Households will also receive a roll of compostable plastic bags to line the countertop pail with (any type of clear plastic bags are also acceptable for use such as bread or produce bags).

Things You Can Do Now

• Read the Frequently Asked Questions
• Attend a FoodCycle workshop on July 12 or August 9, from 6:30 to 8:00 p.m. in the Sunnyvale Library Program Room

Cart Sizes Include:

• 65 gallon with insert (27 gallons for garbage) 25"w x 42"h x 28"d
• 65 gallon (43 gallons for garbage) 25"w x 42"h x 28"d
• 95 gallon (64 gallons for garbage) 27"w x 46"h x 34"d

What Can Be FoodCycled?

• Fruits and vegetables trimmings including peels, pits and cores
• Dairy products
• Eggs and shells
• Meat, bones, shellfish and shells
• Tea bags, coffee filters and coffee grounds
• Uneaten food scraps and leftovers
• Spoiled food
• Frozen and freezer-burned food (without the packaging)

Unacceptable Items Include:

Items you should place in the garbage side of the cart (black side) include:

• Paper products include plates, cups and containers
• Compostable paper ware
• To-go containers
• Pizza boxes
• Paper towels
• Tissues
• Sanitary wipes

Please place these items in the garbage.

Have questions about FoodCycle?

Call 408-730-7262.

Need to switch to a different cart size?

The cart choosing period is currently closed. Once the roll out of the new carts is completed in the fall (around November 1), you will be able to switch to a different cart size by contacting Utilities Customer Service at 408-730-7400.