Santa Clara adapts annual cleanup for COVID era

City officials in Santa Clara have had to adapt their annual cleanup campaign for the new COVID-19 reality.

The effort kicks off Monday, August 10 running through September 4. Each year, it offers residents a chance to dispose of bulky items not put into the weekly garbage collection.

Crews will be following new physical distancing requirements and will disinfect some items before handling. The new procedures could lead to delays in the pickup of refuse, given the popularity of the program.

Organizers also ask that residents separate appliances and electronic waste from their other goods.

The city has been broken into four zones, each with a designated week for pickup. To see your specific week for pickup, click here.

A map of pickup zones and weeks. Image courtesy of the City of Santa Clara website.

Residents can put the items out for pickup starting the Saturday before collection up to 7 a.m. on the Monday of the designated week. Materials put at the curb must be at least three feet from fire hydrants and other obstructions.

Accepted materials include furniture, appliances, electronics, and some building materials. The latter must be in heavy bulk bags for pickup. Recyclable materials, hazardous waste, medication, ammunition, and remodeling debris are not accepted.

For a full list of what you can and cannot put out, click here.