-
6-Pack Rings
Cut loops to protect wildlife from getting tangled.
-
ABS Plastic
-
Agricultural Plastics & Film
-
Air Mattress
-
Arts and Crafts Supplies & Materials
Consider reusing or donating.
-
Aseptic Cartons
-
Ashes - Grill/Fireplace
Cold ashes only. Put in tied plastic bag prior to placing in Garbage cart.
-
Auto Glass
Small amounts that fit in cart with lid closed are ok in curbside garbage. (Check with your curbside hauler for weight limits.)
-
Auto Upholstery - Non-working
Small amounts that fit in cart with lid closed are ok in curbside garbage.
-
Balloons
-
Bathroom Fixtures
-
Berry Baskets - Woven Plastic
-
Beverage Containers - Mixed
Bottles and cans are ok for recycling if empty, clean and dry, but pouch and shelf stable (aseptic) cartons go in garbage cart.
-
Bicycle - Scrap & Parts
Small amounts that fit in cart with lid closed are ok in curbside garbage.
-
Blueprint Paper
-
Books - Hard Cover - Non-working
Only recycle the paper pages. Bindings and covers should go in the garbage due to the adhesives on them.
-
Books - Soft Cover - Non-working
Only recycle the paper pages. Bindings and covers should go in the garbage due to the adhesives on them.
-
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.
-
Bubble Envelopes - Paper or Mylar
-
Bubble Wrap
-
Burlap
-
Cables & Wires - Non-working
-
Camera Film & Slides
-
Cardboard - Foil-lined
-
Cardboard - Waxed
-
Cassette & VHS Tapes - Commercially Made - Working
-
Cassette & VHS Tapes - Non-working
-
CD/DVD - Non-working/Non-commercial
-
CD/DVD Jewel Cases
-
Ceiling Tile
Small amounts can be placed in the garbage cart.
-
Christmas Lights - Non-working
-
Cigarette Waste
-
Cleaning Wipes - Used
Do not flush. Wipes are made from plastic resins, do not degrade in compost, and clog pipes.
-
Clocks & Watches - Non-working
-
Cloth Diapers & Accessories
Place in garbage when no longer in usable condition.
-
Clothes Hangers - Broken
-
Clothes Hangers - Metal - Working
Some local dry cleaners will accept metal hangers for reuse.
-
Clothing - Poor Condition
-
Clothing - Undergarments - Poor Condition
-
Coffee Pods - Metal/Plastic
Empty contents into compost, dispose of metal and plastic pods in garbage.
-
Compostable Plastic Bags - BPI Certified Products
-
Corks - Plastic/Synthetic
-
Dead Animals
For information on reporting a deceased animal on public property, visit: https://www.contracosta.ca.gov/7398/Report-a-Deceased-Animal
-
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.
-
Dryer & Vacuum Lint
This is landfill due to plastic micro-fibers from textiles and carpets.
-
Espresso Machines
-
Eyeglasses
If eyeglasses are broken, put in the garbage cart. If not broken, consider reuse.
-
Facial Tissues - Used
-
Fire Hoses
-
Flooring - Non-working
Small amounts can be placed in garbage.
-
Foam Padding
Must fit in garbage cart with lid closed.
-
Food Service Ware - Compostable Plastic - BPI Certified Products
-
Food Service Ware - Condiment Packets & Cups
-
Food Service Ware - Paper Products - Plastic-coated
-
Food Service Ware - Paper Products - Uncoated
-
Food Service Ware - Plastic Utensils
-
Food Service Ware - Styrofoam Products
-
Food Service Ware - Wood/Bamboo Products
-
Game Cartridges - Non-working
-
Gel Ice Packs
Dispose intact, don't put down drain.
-
Gift Tissue Paper
-
Glassware - Decorative & Kitchen - Non-working
-
Greeting Cards - Musical/Electronic Piece
Remove battery and electronic element, which is hazardous and should be taken to an HHW facility. Recycle the paper card if free of plastic and/or metallic decoration (trash).
-
Hair and Fur Trimmings
-
Hardware & Fasteners
-
Hearing Aids
Remove batteries before putting in garbage.
-
Hoses - Garden/Rubber - Non-working
-
Houseware - Non-working
-
Insulation - Used
Small amounts can be placed in the garbage.
-
Jewelry
Consider donating first if reusable.
-
Jewelry - Non-working
Consider reuse or repair before disposal. Metal jewelry can be taken to special recyclers.
-
Keys
-
Kitchen Fixtures
-
Knives & Shears
-
Lab Glassware - Poor Condition
-
Lab Plastics - Used
-
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.)
-
Lead Paint Chips
-
Lead-Painted Materials
Must fit in garbage cart with lid closed. If too big for cart, request a bulky item pickup. When you call to schedule one of your curbside pick-ups, you can now schedule ONE bulky item which may include either an appliance, large furniture, or an electronic. Item cannot weigh more than 200 pounds and must be set out curbside on the scheduled pick-up day.
-
Leather Remnants & Scraps
-
Light Bulbs - Incandescent/Halogen
-
Lighting Fixtures - Non-working
-
Linens/Blankets/Towels - Poor Condition
Consider donating blankets and towels to animal shelters.
-
Luggage - Non-working
Must fit in garbage cart with lid closed.
-
Magazines
-
Manure
-
Medals/Trophies/Ribbons
-
Microscopes & Accessories - Non-working
-
Milk & Ice Cream Paper Cartons
-
Mirror
-
Mixed Debris
-
Moving Boxes & Packing Materials
Consider reusing and donating whenever possible. Remove all packing material, flatten boxes and place in your recycle cart. Recycle paper packing material. Dispose plastic packing material in garbage.
-
Multi-layer Plastic Packaging
-
Musical Instruments & Gear - Non-working
Consider repair before disposal.
-
Nail polish - Empty
Use up nail polish, trade with friends, or bring to your local HHW facility as most nail polishes contain toxic chemicals.
-
Packaged Food - Expired/Non-working
Remove packaging and place in garbage cart. Food goes in the organics cart.
-
Packaged Foodgrade Liquids
Remove packaging and place in garbage cart. Strain clear liquid down drain. Solids can go in the organics cart.
-
Packing Peanuts - Starch-based
Place foam peanuts in a tied plastic bag prior to placing in garbage cart. Collect for future reuse, packaging or art projects. May be dissolved in hot water and poured in garden.
-
Packing Peanuts - Styrofoam
Place foam peanuts in a tied plastic bag prior to placing in garbage cart.
-
Paint Cans & Buckets - Empty & Dry
-
Paper - Carbon
-
Paper - Plastic Laminated
-
Paper Bags - Polycoated
-
Paper Receipts - Thermal
-
Personal Care & Beauty Product Packaging
-
Personal Care & Beauty Products - Used
-
Pet Waste
-
Photographs & Photo Paper
-
Pillows - Poor Condition
-
Plant Pots - Broken Ceramic/Terra Cotta
-
Plastic Bubble Envelopes
-
Plastic Corrugated Signs
-
Plastic Film & Wrap
These go in the garbage or take to a Drop-off retailer: https://how2recycle.info/about-the-how2recycle-label/store-drop-off-us-only/
-
Plastic Lids & Caps - Bottles and Jars
Caps reattached to empty plastic bottles may be recycled. Small loose caps and lids will not be captured for recycling, so they should be placed in the garbage cart.
-
Plastic Packaging - Blisterpak
-
Plastic Shower Curtain Liners
-
Plastic Strapping
-
Plastic Straws
-
Plastic Tarps
-
Plate Glass
Must fit in garbage cart with lid closed.
-
Plumbing Fixtures & Supplies
-
Polyester Batting/Filling
-
Pool Cover - Non-working
Must fit in garbage cart with lid closed.
-
Pots & Pans - Non-working
-
Purses & Backpacks - Non-working
-
PVC
-
Radios - Non-working
Remove batteries prior to disposal.
-
Records
-
Reusable Bags
Ripped or torn fabric bags.
-
Rubber Bands
-
Rubber Items
-
Rugs & Mats - Non-working
-
Sawdust - Composite Wood/Painted Wood
Put sawdust in a tied plastic bag prior to placing in garbage cart.
-
Sawdust - Untreated Wood
Put sawdust in a tied plastic bag prior to placing in garbage cart.
-
Shoes - Poor Condition
-
Single-use Personal Protective Equipment
Cut loops when disposing of masks, as wildlife are getting tangled, similar to 6-pack rings.
-
Small Household Appliances - Non-working
-
Sponges - Natural
-
Sponges - Synthetic
-
Sporting Goods - Non-working
Must fit in garbage cart with lid closed.
-
Stuffed Animals
-
Styrofoam Blocks
-
Styrofoam Sheets
-
Tape
-
Tea Bags
Synthetic or plastic tea bags go in the garbage cart. If the tea bag is made of filter paper, remove the metal or plastic before placing it in the organics cart.
-
Telephones
Phones that don't use batteries and don't have displays may be put in the garbage.
-
Tennis Balls
-
Tents and Outdoor Gear
Must fit in garbage cart with lid closed.
-
Tile
-
Tire/Rubber Scraps
Small amounts are ok in garbage.
-
Tools & Accessories - Garden - Non-working
Must fit in garbage cart with lid closed.
-
Tools & Accessories - Hand - Non-working
-
Tools & Accessories - Power - Non-working
Remove battery prior to disposal. Must fit in garbage cart with lid closed.
-
Toys & Games - Non-working
-
Toys & Games - Plastic Parts Only
-
Toys & Games - With Electronics - Non-working
Remove battery prior to disposal.
-
Transparency Film Plastic
-
Typewriters - Non-working
-
Tyvek
-
Vacuum Cleaner Bags & Filters
Used condition. Donate new/unused vacuum cleaner bags and filters.
-
Water Filters
-
Wax & Parchment Paper
-
Wigs
-
Window Treatments - Non-working
-
Wood - Engineered/Composite
Pieces of wood need to be cut 3' or shorter in order to fit in the trucks. Must fit in garbage cart with lid closed.
-
Wood - Painted
Pieces of wood need to be cut 3' or shorter in order to fit in the trucks. Must fit in garbage cart with lid closed.
-
Wrapping Paper - Metallic