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6-Pack Rings
Cut loops to protect wildlife from getting tangled.
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Air Mattress
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Arts and Crafts Supplies & Materials
Consider reusing or donating.
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Aseptic Packs
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Auto Glass
Must fit in cart with lid closed. If too big for cart, contact hauler for details and to schedule a bulky item pickup.
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Auto Upholstery - Non-working
Must fit in cart with lid closed. If too big for cart, contact hauler for details and to schedule a bulky item pickup.
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Baby Furniture & Equipment - Non-working
Must fit in cart with lid closed. If too big for cart, contact hauler for details and to schedule a bulky item pickup.
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Balloons
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Barbeque Grill
Must fit in cart with lid closed. If too big for cart, contact hauler for details and to schedule a bulky item pickup.
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Bathroom Fixtures
Consider reuse first. Contact hauler for details and to schedule a pickup.
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Berry Baskets - Woven Plastic
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Bicycle - Scrap & Parts
Must fit in cart with lid closed. If too big for cart, contact hauler for details and to schedule a bulky item pickup.
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Blueprint Paper
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Bricks - Broken
Small amounts that fit in cart with lid closed are ok in curbside garbage. (Check with your curbside hauler for weight limits.) Request a C&D Debris box if too heavy or too much for the garbage cart.
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Bubble Envelopes - Paper or Mylar
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Bubble Wrap
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Burlap
Consider reuse or repair before disposal.
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Cables & Wires - Non-working
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Camera Film & Slides
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Cardboard - Foil-lined
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Cardboard - Wet
If wet from rain, dry out and then it may go in recycling. If food-soiled, place in garbage cart.
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Carpet
Small amounts that fit in cart with lid closed are ok in curbside garbage. (Check with your curbside hauler for weight limits.) Request a C&D Debris box if too heavy or too much for the garbage cart.
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Carpet Padding
Small amounts that fit in cart with lid closed are ok in curbside garbage. (Check with your curbside hauler for weight limits.) Request a C&D Debris box if too heavy or too much for the garbage cart.
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Cassette & VHS Tapes - Commercially Made - Working
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Cassette & VHS Tapes - Non-working
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CD/DVD - Non-working/Non-commercial
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CD/DVD Jewel Cases
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Ceiling Tile
Small amounts that fit in cart with lid closed are ok in curbside garbage. (Check with your curbside hauler for weight limits.) Request a C&D Debris box if too heavy or too much for the garbage cart.
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Ceramics & Pottery - Broken
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Child Car Seats - Non-working/Expired/Accident
Must fit in cart with lid closed. If too large to fit in cart, contact hauler for details and to schedule a bulky item pickup. Retailers such as Target and Walmart usually hold an annual car seat recycling event during the month of September. If possible, please hold, and contact the retailers for confirmation and event dates.
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Christmas Lights - Non-working
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Christmas Trees
Contact hauler for holiday tree pick up schedule, alternatively cut unflocked trees to fit in organics cart and remove tree stands, all ornamentation, tinsel, and nails. Flocked trees belong in the garbage.
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Christmas Trees - Artificial
Consider repair or donation for reuse if in good condition before disposal. Must fit in cart with lid closed. If too large to fit in cart, contact hauler for details and to schedule a bulky item pickup.
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Cigarette Waste
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Cinder Blocks - Broken
Small amounts that fit in cart with lid closed are ok in curbside garbage. (Check with your curbside hauler for weight limits.) Request a C&D Debris box if too heavy or too much for the garbage cart.
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Cleaning Wipes - Used
Do not flush. Wipes are made from plastic resins, do not degrade in compost, and clog pipes.
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Clocks & Watches - Non-working
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Cloth Diapers & Accessories
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Clothes Hangers - Broken
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Clothing - Poor Condition
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Clothing - Undergarments - Poor Condition
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Coffee Pods - Compostable
Empty coffee or tea grounds in the compost first. Consider investing in reusable pods.
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Coffee Pods - Metal/Plastic
Empty coffee or tea grounds in the compost first. Consider investing in reusable pods.
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Concrete
Small amounts that fit in cart with lid closed are ok in curbside garbage. (Check with your curbside hauler for weight limits.) Request a C&D Debris box if too heavy or too much for the garbage cart.
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Cooking Oil/Grease/Fats
Oil and grease can be placed in your garbage cart, but make sure material has hardened. Large amounts should be taken to the HHW Station.
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Corks - Plastic/Synthetic
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Dead Animals
For information on reporting a deceased animal on public property, visit: https://www.contracosta.ca.gov/7398/Report-a-Deceased-Animal
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Disposable Diapers & Wipes - Used
All used single-use diapers & wipes, including compostable ones, belong in the trash. Wipes clog pipes! Do not flush. Compostable diapers are only compostable when picked up by a service that provides special conditions and the resulting compost is not used for food growing.
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Dryer & Vacuum Lint
This is landfill due to plastic micro-fibers from textiles and carpets.
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Drywall
Small amounts that fit in cart with lid closed are ok in curbside garbage. (Check with your curbside hauler for weight limits.) Request a C&D Debris box if too heavy or too much for the garbage cart.
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Egg Cartons - Paper - Soiled
Food or cracked-egg soiled cartons.
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Egg Cartons - Plastic
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Espresso Machines
Must fit in cart with lid closed.
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Eyeglasses
If eyeglasses are broken, put in the garbage cart. If not broken, consider reuse.
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Facial Tissues - Used
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Fire Hoses
Must fit in cart with lid closed.
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Flooring - Non-working
Small amounts that fit in cart with lid closed are ok in curbside garbage. (Check with your curbside hauler for weight limits.) Request a C&D Debris box if too heavy or too much for the garbage cart.
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Foam Padding
Must fit in cart with lid closed.
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Food Scraps
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Food Service Ware - Compostable Plastic - BPI Certified Products
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Food Service Ware - Condiment Packets & Cups
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Food Service Ware - Paper Products - Poly-coated
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Food Service Ware - Paper Products - Uncoated
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Food Service Ware - Plastic Utensils
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Food Service Ware - Styrofoam Products
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Food Service Ware - To-Go Cup Lids
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Food Service Ware - Wood/Bamboo Products
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Game Cartridges - Non-working
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Gel Ice Packs
Dispose intact, don't put down drain.
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Glassware - Decorative & Kitchen - Non-working
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Grandma's Fruitcake
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Hair and Fur Trimmings
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Hardware & Fasteners
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Hearing Aids
Remove batteries prior to disposal.
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Hoses - Garden/Rubber - Non-working
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Houseware - Non-working
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Insulation - Used
Small amounts that fit in cart with lid closed are ok in curbside garbage. (Check with your curbside hauler for weight limits.) Request a C&D Debris box if too heavy or too much for the garbage cart.
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Jewelry
Consider donating first if reusable.
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Jewelry - Non-working
Consider reuse or repair before disposal. Metal jewelry can be taken to special recyclers.
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Keys
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Kitchen Fixtures
Consider reuse first. Contact hauler for details and to schedule a pickup.
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Knives & Shears
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Lab Glassware - Poor Condition
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Lava Rock
Consider reuse first. Small amounts that fit in cart with lid closed are ok in curbside garbage. (Check with your curbside hauler for weight limits.) Request a C&D Debris box if too heavy or too much for the garbage cart.
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Lead Paint Chips
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Lead-Painted Materials
Must fit in cart with lid closed.
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Leather Remnants & Scraps
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Light Bulbs - Incandescent/Halogen
These do not contain mercury and are not recyclable.
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Lighting Fixtures - Non-working
Must fit in cart with lid closed.
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Linens/Blankets/Towels - Poor Condition
Consider donating blankets and towels to animal shelters.
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Luggage - Non-working
Must fit in cart with lid closed.
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Mannequins
Consider donating first. Must fit in cart with lid closed.
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Manure
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Medals/Trophies/Ribbons
Try donating if possible.
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Metal Bottle Caps
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Milk & Ice Cream Paper Cartons
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Mirror
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Mixed Debris
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Moving Boxes & Packing Materials
Consider reusing and donating whenever possible. Remove all packing material, flatten and place in your recycle cart. Recycle paper packing material. Plastic packing material goes in garbage cart. Large amounts of moving boxes and paper packing materials can be recycled using on-call recycle clean-up. Contact hauler for instructions and to schedule.
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Multi-layer Plastic Packaging
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Musical Instruments & Gear - Non-working
Consider repair before disposal.
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Nail polish - Empty
Use up nail polish, trade with friends, or bring to your local HHW facility as most nail polishes contain toxic chemicals.
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Packaged Food - Expired/Non-working
Check to see if packaging is recyclable.
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Packaged Foodgrade Liquids
Strain clear liquid down drain.
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Packing Peanuts - Starch-based
Collect for future reuse, packaging or art projects. May be dissolved in hot water and poured in garden.
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Packing Peanuts - Styrofoam
Bag to prevent spilling during hauler pick-up. Collect for future reuse, packaging or art projects.
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Paper - Carbon
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Paper - Plastic Laminated
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Paper Bags - Polycoated
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Paper Receipts - Thermal
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Paper Straws
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Paper Towels & Napkins
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Personal Care & Beauty Product Packaging
Only empty bottles and boxes go in recycling cart. Tubes (e.g., toothpaste, ointment, lotions) go in your garbage cart.
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Personal Care & Beauty Products - Used
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Pet Waste
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Photographs & Photo Paper
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Pillows - Poor Condition
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Pizza Box - Greasy
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Plant Pots - Broken Ceramic/Terra Cotta
Consider reuse before disposal. Broken pieces can be used at the bottom of other plant pots to increase drainage.
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Plant Pots - Ceramic
Consider reuse before disposal. Broken pieces can be used at the bottom of other plant pots to increase drainage.
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Plastic Bubble Envelopes
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Plastic Corrugated Signs
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Plastic Packaging - Blisterpak
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Plastic Shower Curtain Liners
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Plastic Strapping
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Plastic Straws
Single-use, disposable straws or damaged silicone straws. Consider switching to reusable straws to protect wildlife.
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Plastic Tarps
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Plate Glass
Consider reuse before disposal. Must fit in cart with lid closed.
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Plexiglass
Consider reuse before disposal. Must fit in garbage cart with lid closed.
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Plumbing Fixtures & Supplies
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Polyester Batting/Filling
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Purses & Backpacks - Non-working
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PVC
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Radios - Non-working
Remove batteries prior to disposal. Must fit in cart with lid closed.
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Records
Broken, damaged condition.
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Reusable Bags
Ripped or torn fabric bags.
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Roofing - Asphalt Composition Shingles
Small amounts that fit in cart with lid closed are ok in curbside garbage. (Check with your curbside hauler for weight limits.) Request a C&D Debris box if too heavy or too much for the garbage cart.
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Roofing - Clay Tile
Small amounts that fit in cart with lid closed are ok in curbside garbage. (Check with your curbside hauler for weight limits.) Request a C&D Debris box if too heavy or too much for the garbage cart.
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Roofing - Concrete Tile
Small amounts that fit in cart with lid closed are ok in curbside garbage. (Check with your curbside hauler for weight limits.) Request a C&D Debris box if too heavy or too much for the garbage cart.
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Roofing - Tar & Gravel
Small amounts that fit in cart with lid closed are ok in curbside garbage. (Check with your curbside hauler for weight limits.) Request a C&D Debris box if too heavy or too much for the garbage cart.
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Roofing - Wood Shingles
Small amounts that fit in cart with lid closed are ok in curbside garbage. (Check with your curbside hauler for weight limits.) Request a C&D Debris box if too heavy or too much for the garbage cart.
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Rubber Bands
Consider collecting for reuse.
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Rubber Items
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Rugs & Mats - Non-working
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Sawdust - Composite Wood/Painted Wood
Any wood waste from wood with paint, stains, glues and/or adhesives belongs in the trash.
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Sewing Machines - Non-working
Must fit in cart with lid closed.
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Shoes - Poor Condition
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Single-use Personal Protective Equipment
Cut loops when disposing of masks, as wildlife are getting tangled, similar to 6-pack rings.
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Small Household Appliances - Non-working
Must fit in cart with lid closed.
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Soil - Clean
Small amounts are ok in curbside garbage. (Check with your curbside hauler for weight limits.) Request a C&D Debris box if too heavy or too much for the garbage cart.
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Sponges - Synthetic
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Sporting Goods - Non-working
Must fit in cart with lid closed.
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Stuffed Animals
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Styrofoam Blocks
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Styrofoam Sheets
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Tape
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Tea Bags
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Telephones
Phones that don't use batteries and don't have displays may be put in the garbage.
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Tennis Balls
Teachers may accept balls with no bounce to cut and place on the bottom of their chairs.
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Tents and Outdoor Gear
Consider repair and reuse before disposal.
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Tile
Small amounts that fit in cart with lid closed are ok in curbside garbage. (Check with your curbside hauler for weight limits.) Request a C&D Debris box if too heavy or too much for the garbage cart.
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Tire/Rubber Scraps
Must fit in cart with lid closed.
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Tires - Bicycle
Must fit in cart with lid closed.
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Toner Cartridges
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Tools & Accessories - Garden - Non-working
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Tools & Accessories - Hand - Non-working
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Tools & Accessories - Power - Non-working
Remove battery prior to disposal. Must fit in cart with lid closed.
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Toys & Games - Non-working
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Toys & Games - Plastic Parts Only
Must fit in cart with lid closed.
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Transparency Film Plastic
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Typewriters - Non-working
Must fit in cart with lid closed.
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Tyvek
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Vacuum Cleaner Bags & Filters
Used condition. Donate new/unused vacuum cleaner bags and filters.
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Vacuum Cleaners - Non-working
Must fit in cart with lid closed.
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Water Filters
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Wax & Parchment Paper
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Wigs
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Window Screens
Consider repair and reuse before disposal. Metal frame and metal screens can go in recycle cart. Plastic frames and screens go in garbage cart.
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Window Treatments - Non-working
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Wood - Engineered/Composite
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Wood - Painted
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Wrapping Paper - Metallic
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X-Ray Film
