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Palo Alto landfill to close July 28
Recycling Center and Hazardous Waste Program to remain open

by Aaron Guggenheim

The Palo Alto Landfill and Composting Facility will close permanently July 28, changing — in some ways — how residents and businesses discard their trash.

The landfill closure has been planned since 1965, though it remained open for more years than expected, according to Phil Bobel, the city's environmental compliance manager.

"We are throwing away less and recycling more," Bobel said, referring to how changing habits extended the life of the landfill.

After the landfill closure, excess garbage will be accepted at the Sunnyvale SMaRT Station located at 301 Carl Road. The fee schedule varies on the objects that are thrown away. It can be found at sunnyvale.ca.gov by searching for "SMaRT Station."

But, "nothing changes in terms of household hazardous waste and nothing changes at the Recycling Center," Bobel said.

Household hazardous-waste collection days are still held at the Regional Water Quality Control Plant at 2501 Embarcadero Way in Palo Alto on the first Saturday of each month. Additional information can be found by phone at 650-496-6980 or at www.cityofpaloalto.org by searching for "hazardous waste."

The Recycling Center at 2380 Embarcadero Road in Palo Alto will remain open from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., seven days a week, and accept all manner of recycling that does not fit in residential recycling bins as well as additional recyclable material that isn't picked up. More information on what is accepted can be found at www.cityofpaloalto.org by searching for "Recycling Center."

Residents may still call GreenWaste at 650-493-4894 and request an annual pickup of excess (or oversized) trash.

Editorial Intern Aaron Guggenheim can be emailed at aguggenheim@paweekly.com.