Item Index

Consider reuse or donation for toys and musical instruments.

Use up toxic materials, find someone who can use it, or bring it to a hazardous waste facility.

Consider reuse or repair before disposal, or DIY repair through iFixit.

Consider repair through patching/patch kits before disposal, including self repair through iFixit.

Free of food and grease/oil for recycling. Paper-lined foil belongs in trash.

Asbestos is not accepted by the HHW Facilities. Visit http://www.baaqmd.gov/permits/asbestos or call (415) 749-4762. Also: https://dtsc.ca.gov/managing-asbestos-hazardous-waste/

Cold ashes should be placed in paper bags to avoid dust going into the air during transfer from carts.

Consider repair before disposal, or DIY repair through iFixit.

Safety glass and car windshields contaminate curbside accepted food and beverage container glass.

Consider repair as possible.

Consider reuse or repair.

Consider reuse or repair before disposal, or DIY repair through iFixit.

Contact the dealer or manufacturer for take-back collection for future end-of-life processing. 

The lifespan of the batteries in those vehicles is estimated to be between 10-20 years. All batteries contain metals and other toxic or corrosive materials. They are also potentially valuable as a source of recyclable metal. When the lithium-ion batteries that power electric cars reach their end-of-life, they will need to be managed in a way that is safe for the public and the environment. Recycling of EV batteries has many challanges.

CalEPA release of the final AB 2832 Policy Recommendations Report, which was transmitted to the California Legislature in April 2022. The Lithium-ion Car Battery Recycling Advisory Group was formed in 2019 in response to Assembly Bill 2832 (Dahle, 2018), with the purpose of advising the Legislature on policies pertaining to the recovery and recycling of lithium-ion vehicle batteries sold with motor vehicles in the state. The Advisory Group was led by the California Environmental Protection Agency (CalEPA), the Department of Toxic Substances Control (DTSC), and the Department for Resources Recycling and Recovery (CalRecycle). Additional members came from the environmental community, auto dismantlers, public and private representatives involved in the manufacturing, collection, processing and recycling of electric vehicle batteries, and other interested parties.

Do not put batteries in curbside recycling or trash containers.

Tape the ends of batteries to prevent igniting or combusting. Store tape next to your old battery collection bag or container. Accepted by the Household Hazardous Waste Facilities and some community partners.

Electric Bicycle (e-bike) batteries are now collected at Call2Recycle locations.

Contact the installer, manufacturer, or maintenance company for take back and most current protocols. For systems with lead acid batteries that are similar to auto batteries, please contact an auto battery recycler.

Consider reuse and repair, or DIY repair through iFixit or other online repair resources.

Consider reuse and donation to local community members.

Empty and drip-free.

Donate to keep books in circulation. Find a Little Library location near you to add or borrow books.

Donate to keep books in circulation. Find a Little Library location near you to add or borrow books.

Recycle damaged, torn, out of dates book and removed hard covers. Consider online resale of good condition recent editions, or donation of good condition recent editions to community organizations like prisons.

Consider reuse before disposal.

Plastic mailers are not recyclable curbside, so should be put in the landfill bin. Some stores still offer plastic film recycling drop-off bins, but in many cases, the material is too contaminated to be processed and thus landfilled. When you can, try to avoid the packaging in the first place by shopping locally or buying secondhand.

Consider posting good condition or unused materials locally for reuse or donation.

Does salvage mean savings? Read about deconstruction, reuse and embedded carbon.

Consider posting for reuse or donation.

Bundle, label and bag for reuse or donation to organizations that refurbish and redistribute electronics.

Flatten cardboard before recycling to gain space in your recycling container. Offer moving boxes to other for reuse before recycling. Large cardboard boxes make sheet mulching easier (www.LawntoGarden.org) and may be wanted by neighbors, especially bike and furniture boxes through social media (ex. NextDoor, FreeCycle, Craigslist).

Consider reuse as possible.

Check this list for facilities that collect carpet or carpet pad.  See CalRecycle's resources on best practices for carpet removal (from Kings Co., WA), how to prepare and load a trailer of waste carpet, as well as CARE's interactive map of national certified carpet collectors and processors.

Many local non-profits partner to receive a donation as part or your vehicle or boat donation. Inquire if the non-profit's that you support have this type of program.

Due to there being no markets for the hard plastics in tapes, there are very limited recycling options for these items.

There are very limited recycling options for this material. Consider reuse before disposal. Many local and online stores sell inexpensive manual and mechanical refurbishing kits for CDs and DVDs.

Consider reselling, reuse or donation before recycling as electronic waste.

Consider donation or post online for reuse.

Consider posting locally for reuse once cleaned.

Consider reuse, repair, or donation.

Reuse, repair, or donate good condition artificial trees, holiday and seasonal items, string lights (working/non-working), gift wrap (paper gift wrap, metallic gift wrap) and tissue paper. 

Consider posting for reuse.

Wipes clog pipes! Do not flush. Chemically treated wipes are not recyclable or compostable.

Consider donation or post online for reuse.

Return good condition hangers to your dry cleaner.

Consider donation or post online for reuse.

Consider reuse - post locally on listservs, with friends, family, neighbors, local groups, or on FreeCycle, Craigslist, NextDoor, etc., or other local charity organizations to reduce your climate impact. 

Click here to learn more about clothing repair, stain removal for clothing and linens, donation/recycling programs, and customizing & cleaning furniture.

Consider repair, stain removal and reuse before donation to an organization that has reuse and/or rag and textile shredding capactity.

Click here to learn more about clothing repair, stain removal for clothing and linens, donation/recycling programs, and customizing & cleaning furniture.

Consider reuse and donation of clean, good condition- post locally on listservs, with local families, neighborhood schools, or on FreeCycle, Craigslist, NextDoor, etc., or local charity organizations to reduce your climate impact.

Consider reusable coffee pods to fill with your favorite local roast.
Compost the used coffee grounds, and note the plastic and foil packaging is unlikely to be captured for recycling as it is under 4 inches even if accepted in a curbside recycling program.

Consider lining your indoor green or compost bin with paper material you may already have - shredded documents, newspaper, food-soiled paper, or do a quick wipe or rinse with a reusable cloth after transferring material curbside.

Find BPI Certified products & information here.

Businesses in Alameda County: Use the Bin Liner by City Tool to determine what kind of indoor bin liner your trash, organics, or recycling bin can have.

Single-use compressed gas cylinders are commonly used for camp stoves, welding, filled with flammable propane or butane.

Bring home empty single-use gas containers from camping or tailgating for proper disposal. Consider switching to refillable camping gas 1lb cylinders. Go to RefuelYourFun.org for details and locations. Old, rusty or unknown cylinders may be taken to a scrap metal company once they have been completely emptied with the valves safely removed. Companies that specialize in gas cylinders may offer this service or have additional disposal suggestions. As possible, take it back to where you got it or have the supplier come pick it up. For situations other than common fuels, contact a hazardous waste pick-up hauler.

Consider donation for reuse and redistribution to local community members.

Consider donation for reuse and redistribution to local community members.

Consider donation for reuse and redistribution to local community members.

Visit the Recycling Certification Institute's website for third-party verified diversion rates for recycling facilities. RecyclerFinder is an online and mobile application for quickly locating facilities nationwide that handle C&D and other recycled materials.

Click here for Alameda County Codes & Standards, deconstruction, reuse, and built environment information. Waste Tracking is a web-based construction waste management tool that StopWaste was involved with developing. 

Consider refurbishing or repair before recycling, or DIY repair through iFixit.

Consider repurposing before recycling or composting. Did you know cork comes from the bark of the cork oak, native to the Mediterranean, and does well in the Bay Area? Bark stripping is carried out manually, and the tree regenerates the bark. Cork oaks can live to 200 years of age. 

Donate natural corks at ReCORK collection sites. 

If known to be poisoned (ex. rats), place in trash. Contact your vet for pets, cats and dogs or animal control. Contact local animal control (e.g. deer, neighbors pet, injured or entrapped/tangled animal) or large livestock.

Consider repair and donation.

Consider donation.

Wipes clog pipes! Do not flush, put in the trash. All used diapers, even those called "compostable" must be thrown in the trash or picked up by a "compostable diaper" service.

Did you know drywall scraps can be placed in the interior wall cavities during new construction? This will eliminate the disposal and transportation costs.

Non-working electronics (aka ewaste) are defective or broken items with one or more circuit boards, computer chips, and/or a video display.

Consider refurbishing or repair before recycling. Find repair information, manuals and videos through the manufacturer, YouTube, iFixit, and repair specialists.

Consider reuse before recycling.

Consider reuse or repair before disposal. DIY repair resources through iFixit.

Permanent warning label will mention tritium, 3H or H-3, display the three-bladed radiation warning symbol, and state "Caution-Radioactive Materials." Tritium exit signs are not accepted at the Household Hazardous Waste Facilities.

Consider donation for eyeglasses and prescription sunglasses in good condition. Bring broken glasses into your optician for repair or reframing your lenses with a replacement frame. Many DIY options exist for reuse of lenses and repairing frames. Consider finding vintage frames for your current prescription.

Consider reuse or repair before disposal. DIY repair resources through iFixit.

Accepted at Household Hazardous Waste Facilities.

Consider donation or post online for reuse.

Did you know that reducing food waste is one of the leading solutions to climate change? Go to StopFoodWaste.org for Food Saving Tips and Tricks. 

As of January 1, 2022, a new California law states businesses who currently throw away edible food must now recover and donate it. Click here for rules, resources, and lists in Alameda County, and here for Contra Costa County.

Consider using reusables instead of single-use items.

Find PFAS-free compostable food ware products: BPI-certified list ; CMA-Approved list; and CEH’s foodware database.

Learn about BPI Certification here. The Center for Environmental Health's Green Screen Certified FoodWare database which was developed by CEH and Clean Production Action (also a national environmental non-profit organization), to avoid regrettable substitutes and address concerns with toxic chemicals in the entire product. The most basic level (silver) ensures that products do not contain PFAS, other chemicals of high concern or known regrettable substitutes. If you want to know more details about it, you can either refer directly to the standard or watch a recording of the webinar.

Consider replacing disposables with reusables.

Consider washing for reuse for picnics, parties, kid-friendly events, STEAM projects, and plant starts (cups).

Reuse beats single-use on GHG emissions, water consumption, resource extraction, waste generation, litter generation, and plastic pollution (-UpstreamSolutions.org)

Bringing your own and using eatery reusables for dining in-house, take-out, to-go, and leftovers is safe.  Click here for Alameda County information on Reusable Food Ware. Find locations with: BYO reusable cup or container, shop bulk bins & refill, reusables for on-site dining, and take out service partnerships

Bring your own cup or mug. Plastic lids and straws are not recyclable.

Consider repair before disposal. DIY repair resources through iFixit.

Consider repair, reupholstery, or reuse before disposal.

Consider repair, reupholstery, or reuse.

Consider reuse through donation or resale.

Consider reuse through donation or resale.

Consider reusable, refillable ice packs. Do not empty gel packs down the drain or toilet. Reuse as possible before disposal.

Must be empty and drip-free before recycling.

Materials that should not be mixed into curbside recycling: drinking or wine glasses and plates, ceramics, Pyrex or other heat resistant glass, light bulbs, computer monitors, phone screens, plate glass: windows, sliding doors (can be recycled separately), safety glass, car windshields, art glass and leaded crystal, mirrors

Consider reuse or repair before disposal. DIY repair resources through iFixit.

Materials that should not be mixed into curbside recycling: drinking or wine glasses and plates, ceramics, Pyrex or other heat resistant glass, light bulbs, computer monitors, phone screens, plate glass: windows, sliding doors (can be recycled separately), safety glass, car windshields, art glass and leaded crystal, mirrors

Consider reuse or donation of cards in good condition.

Consider organizing for reuse and creative reuse. Adding these to your curbside recycling bin loose, they most likely will end up with the crushed glass and may likely end up being landfilled. Donating to a place that will sort for reuse and resale is the highest and best use, besides doing this for your own use. Taking these to a scrap metal bin to place in directly will have the highest recycling possibility.

Use up contents as possible before dropping-off at an Household Hazardous Waste Facility.

Old hoses will jam recycling machinery and are not accepted in curbside recycling.

Consider donating unused or little-used items in good condition to those transitioning into new housing or women's and family shelters.

Consider donation or resale for items in good condition.

Clean, like-new bagged insulation may be donated to a building reuse center or offered online for reuse.

Consider donation or resale.

Junk mail is unwanted advertisements, catalogues, and other paper documents received through the mail.

Click on each company and read the notes associated with it. Contact each relevant company and follow the steps they provide to opt-out of the mail services they provide. Start saving address labels (or taking photos) to ensure you opt-out of each iteration of your mailing address name and spelling.

Consider donation, reuse, or offering online items in working condition.

Consdider donation and repair before disposal.

Clean, good/new condition materials may be accepted by school, college, or university science labs.

Contact TerraCycle about their lab materials recycling programs.

Consider reuse or donation.

Consider resale or donation for reuse.

EPA's Lead Renovation, Repair, and Painting Rule requires common renovation activities like sanding, cutting, and demolition, which can create hazardous lead dust, are conducted properly by trained and certified contractors or individuals. For more information, please visit the EPA.  Here are resources for lead painted items in Alameda County Healthy Homes Program.

Do not throw fluorescent or other mercury-containing lights in the trash or recycling bins. High intensity discharge, metal halide, sodium and neon lights all contain mercury as well. It’s illegal and mercury exposure can harm the brain, heart, and immune and nervous systems. Mercury products contaminate California’s drinking water, fish, soil, and air when they are not managed properly. The mercury limit in drinking water is 2 parts per billion in California, since even low quantities are extremely hazardous.

The following lamps are considered hazardous in California: fluorescent lamps, compact fluorescent lamps, HID lamps, High intensity discharge lamps, metal halide lamps, sodium vapor lamps, grow lamps, Zenon lamps, headlights - auto, mercury vapor lamps, video projector lamps, ultraviolet lamps, UV lamps, water treatment lamps, sun lamps, tanning lamps, mercury containing lamps, LED lamps. The following ballasts are considered hazardous in California: light fixture ballasts, lamp ballasts, electronic ballasts, fluorescent light ballasts, HID light ballasts, PCB containing ballasts, no-PCB ballasts.

Be sure to transport in a way that prevents breakage. If a light breaks, refer to epa.gov/cfl. If a bulb breaks, open a window to disperse mercury vapor, collect the shards with tape, and place in a closed and sealed container—do not vacuum!

How are lights recycled? Lights must be recycled at EPA-approved sites. Glass is recycled or landfilled, recovered metal is recycled, and mercury is stored, disposed, or reused.

Consider reuse or repair before disposal. DIY repair resources through iFixit.

Consider repair, stain removal and reuse before donation to an organization that has reuse and/or rag and textile shredding capactity.

Click here to learn more about clothing repair, stain removal for clothing and linens, donation/recycling programs, and customizing & cleaning furniture.

Swap plants, seeds, cuttings, grafts, and accessories with neighbors, friends, family, and community members to spread joy and keep them out of the landfill. Post online or set up a free plant stand or swap.

Visit the Lawn to Garden Marketplace for a complete directory of Bay Area sources for bulk recycled compost, mulch, and sheet mulch materials and visit the FAQ section for tips for buying bulk compost.

Use StopWaste's Gardening at Home resources to make worm or home compost for your house or garden plants.

Are you looking to start a veggie garden or plant some herbs on your windowsill? Check out these seed libraries where new and experienced gardeners alike can find a variety of common and heirloom seeds! This is a great way to keep resources local and help develop seed varieties that are adapted to local micro-climates. Alameda County Seed Libraries and Catalogs

Consider donation for reuse.

Consider reuse or repair before disposal. DIY repair resources through iFixit.

Consider reuse or donation before disposal.

Consider posting online for repair, donation or resale.

Donate or offer up your mattress for reuse to your community. Once it's outlived it's life, recycle it. Wet, moldy and bed bug mattresses are unable to be recycled and not accepted by ByeByeMattress and may need to be landfilled.

Organizations are most able to accept reusable working equipment in good condition that can be cleaned and new/unused single-use materials in packaging.

Prepare your drugs for disposal before arriving at a Medication Takeback kiosk site.  Accepted items include all prescription drugs in any dosage form (e.g. pills, liquids, creams, aerosols). Protect your privacy by removing or obscuring any labels showing your personal information on drug containers or vials. You can pour all your pills into a Zip-lock bag no larger than 1 gallon in size, and recycle the vials and other containers in your home recycling. Liquids and creams should remain in their original containers and tightly closed to prevent leakage. Aerosols should have their protective caps affixed to prevent accidental discharge. Remove inhaler vials from the inhaler mechanism. Kiosks are located near the pharmacy area, or for hospitals and police departments, in the lobby.

Pre-filled syringes and auto-injectors with an integral or attached needle is considered a "sharp." 

Old vitamins and supplements may be composted along with the cotton & the packaging recycled (ex. clean, dry plastic bottle) or put in the garbage (ex. blister packs) as they are not considered medications/hazardous. Silica gel packs can be reused (e.g. edible dry goods) or landfilled.

At the kiosk: Take care at the kiosk not to introduce too many materials into the kiosk drop-chute at one time. Check the kiosk chute after closing to ensure the drugs dropped into the kiosk. Federal law prevents anyone from reviewing or examining the drugs you wish to dispose, so place them in the kiosk yourself – do not accept any unsolicited assistance to do so.

If there are problems with the information or services provided by MedProject.org, please contact safedrugdisposal@acgov.org.

Per CalRecycle, please do not put unmedicated lotions, cosmetics, fragrances, sunscreen agents, and similar products down the drain or into the toilet; the best "somewhere else" to throw these items is your household trash. Landfills are the best place at present to dispose of personal care products when they are no longer being used.

Mercury-containing items include thermostats, thermometers, barometers, and other types of medical and measuring equipment which contain liquid mercury (fluorescent tubes and bulbs, level and float type switches, and mercuric oxide household batteries).

For details about mercury-containing items, click here.

Cans must be empty and drip-free before recycling.

Consider reuse or repair before disposal. DIY repair resources through iFixit.

Consider donation or resale.

Contact your contractor for proper C&D recycling and disposal services if you are doing home remodeling, construction, or demolition projects.

Businesses in Alameda County: Use the Bin Liner by City Tool to determine what kind of indoor bin liner your trash, organics, or recycling bin can have.

Post online for reuse.

Consider donation or posting online for reuse.

Consider exchanging nail polish with friends to use it up. Bottles with any remaining liquid nail polish or nail polish remover inside cannot go into the trash. Nail polish remover, acetone, is also accepted at the Haz Waste facilities.

Donate or post online good condition items.

Consider reuse or repair before disposal. DIY repair resources through iFixit.

Put your filter in a plastic bag or sealed container. Pour your used oil into a reusable container with a tight-fitting lid. Well-drained motor oil containers can go in the recycling cart.

Find the label on the cannister and contact the medical supply company that the oxygen was rented from.

For commercial volumes, consider offering to businesses who could use the product for non-human consumption applications. Depackage and recycle empty, dry rigid plastics, glass, and metals.
For very large quantities where pH is an issue, contact your local sanitary district or water treatment facility (ex. EBMUD has a winery waste program).

Store and save in a large garbage bag (clear is desirable). Post online for reuse - to use for moving or packing delicate items, along with any air pillows and bubble wrap. Packing and shipping stores that reuse these may or may not have space - consider contacting them before you go.

Use up wet leftover paint, offer it to neighbors, or drop it off for recycling. Empty, dried out paint cans and buckets may be accpeted for recycling. Rags, stirrers, pans and brushes with dried paint may go into the garbage.

Consider contacting the manufacturer or distributor for take back or reuse. Post for reuse with dimensions, condition, brand, and age.

Post for reuse - so many repurposing projects on the internet - or find a recycler.

Store and save in a labeled paper bag in preparation for composting or recycling (hauler acceptance dependant). Staple or fold at top to prevent shreds from flying out when cart is lifted.

Consider reusing as trash bin liners/bags or collection bags for used batteries, bulbs, or e-waste.

Consider posting for reuse or donation.

Per CalRecycle, please do not put unmedicated lotions, cosmetics, fragrances, sunscreen agents, and similar products down the drain or into the toilet; the best "somewhere else" to throw these items is your household trash. Landfills are the best place at present to dispose of personal care products when they are no longer being used. Click here for medicated lotions, creams and shampoos, and here for nail polish.

Consider donating or post online for reuse of good condition items, or what list what needs to be repaired.

Click here to opt-out of the Yellow Pages Phonebook.

Repaired and refurbished pianos, delivered locally, are more apt to find a new home. Broken pianos are very difficult to rehome.

Consider reuse before recycling. For what to do with old medications, click here.

Old vitamins and supplements may be composted along with the cotton & the packaging recycled (ex. clean, dry plastic bottle) or put in the garbage (ex. blister packs) as they are not considered medications/hazardous. Silica gel packs can be reused (e.g. edible dry goods, camera equipment) or landfilled.

Offer empty, dry stacked plastic plant containers for reuse to other gardeners, nurseries, and school gardens through social media groups, listservs or other online offerings. If you have space, store for use for seasonal seed starts.

Here are Bay Area gardening resources for tools, seeds, right plant - right place, composting, sheet mulching, and Bay Friendly nurseries.

Empty and drip-free.

California Refund Value (CRV) is the amount paid by consumers at the checkout stand and paid back to consumers when they recycle eligible aluminum, plastic, glass and bi-metal beverage containers at certified recycling centers. Most beverages packaged in aluminum, glass, plastic and bi-metal containers are eligible for CRV. Notable exceptions are milk, wine and distilled spirits, which are not included in the CRV program. The minimum refund value established for each type of eligible beverage container is 5 cents for each container under 24 ounces and 10 cents for each container 24 ounces or greater. Click here to find a bottle & can redemption center near you.

Some grocery stores still offer plastic film recycling drop-off bins for clean, dry plastic bags, but in many cases, the material is too contaminated to be processed and thus landfilled. When you can, try to avoid the packaging in the first place by shopping locally or buying secondhand.

Consider reusing polyester stuffing for other projects, or offering up for others to use for their projects through online community groups, or Craigslist, FreeCycle, Buy Nothing, Next Door or such. Thrifts will accept new in package filling.

Consider donation or posting online for reuse.

Consider donation or posting online for reuse.

Choose reusable 1lb propane cylinders to save money and reduce waste. Single-use 1lb cyclinders need to be brought to the HHW Facilities to be processed. Find local retailers and refillers at RefuelYourFun.org.

Consider donation or posting online for reuse.

Consider reuse or repair before disposal. DIY repair resources through iFixit or local Fixit clinics.

Consider reuse or repair before disposal. DIY repair resources through iFixit.

Dehumidifiers with refrigerants are treated like "refrigerators" when they need to be replaced, repaired, or recycled.

When shopping or dining out, bring your reusable bags, reuse plastic and paper bags, or refuse a bag.

Consider donation or posting online for reuse.

Separate the larger metal piece as scrap metal for curbside recycling and the plastic pieces go into the trash. The separated electronic waste (circuit board) is accepted at the HHW Facilities. Read Earth911's in-depth article for detailed information.

Sawdust and scraps from wood that is made with glues, like plywood or engineered lumber, belongs in the trash.

Consider reuse or repair before disposal, or DIY repair through iFixit or FixIt Clinics.

Poor condition looks different to different folks. Tie or rubber band pairs of shoes so they stay together and donate them for possible reuse or recycling.

Use it up, offer it up for reuse, or put product in trash, reuse the container or see if your brand offers a take back for recycling program for the container/packaging.

Do not put unmedicated lotions, cosmetics, fragrances, sunscreen agents, and similar products down the drain or into the toilet; the best "somewhere else" to throw these items is your household trash. Landfills are the best place at present to dispose of personal care products when they are no longer being used. Click here for medicated lotions, creams and shampoos, and here for nail polish.

Consider reuse or repair before disposal. DIY repair resources through iFixit.

Consider donation or posting online for reuse.

Read about Lead in Your Soil from Edible East Bay.

As of 1/1/2021, some solar panels may be managed as Universal Waste in California per DTSC (see details).  The California Product Stewardship Council (CPSC - choose Solar under Products) holds the most current links to policy, studies, and articles on Solar Panels recycling in California, the US, and globally.

Solar panel design makes disassembly and recovery of the various components — from glass to the various precious metals in them such as cadmium, gallium, germanium, indium, selenium and tellurium — a complicated process. Most wind up at shredders or landfills, because the case for selling the glass and aluminum in them doesn’t make economic sense. A project at Arizona State University hopes to create a solar recycling process that makes it simpler to recover materials such as silicon and silver from photovoltaic technology in a way that makes the economics pencil out.

Invest in panels that are durable, warrantied, non-hazardous, and recyclable. If there is a problem, contact your installer or service provider for repair options. If the panels need to be replaced but still operate, donate for reuse or contact a reseller (ex. Habitat for Humanity). Use new brackets to install reused PVs. If the panels have broken glass or are damaged, consider refurbishing or recycling, contact installer and service provider, then a possible hazardous waste facility or company.

The California Energy Commission maintains a list of PV modules available for purchase, by manufacturer, model number, and includes hazardous content.

Consider donation or posting online for reuse.

Consider reuse or repair before recycling, or DIY repair through iFixit.

Styrofoam recycling drop-off may be a good choice if you have a lot and you combine it with another trip to that area. Avoid or minimize purchases that you know will be packed in Styrofoam. Reach out to the company that you received the Styrofoam from and ask them to use another material, or a convenient means of recycling it. Support extended producer responsibility. Choose products that contain post-consumer recycled plastic.

Due to the light-weight nature of Styrofoam, food waste makes up most of the weight (30%) in our landfills. While it may feel bad to throw large volumes of Styrofoam in the garbage, eating food too-good-to-waste and composting food scraps has a bigger environmental impact by decreasing GHG emissions of food in the landfill. Source link.

Consider donation or reuse if in good condition.

Consider donation or posting online for reuse.

Consider reuse or repair before disposal, or DIY repair through iFixit.

In the old style of thermostats, not the newer electronic kind, there is mercury inside the sealed glass tilt switch. Properly recycling mercury thermostats is the law.

Residents, contractors, and businesses all qualify for rebates of up to $5 per mercury thermostat. There are 350+  collection sites in CA. Find the nearest one and claim rebates here.

Contact a local tire store for acceptance.

Contact a local tire or bicycle store about collection for recycling.

Consider reuse or repair before disposal, or DIY repair through iFixit.

Consider reuse or repair before disposal, or DIY repair through iFixit.

Consider reuse or repair before disposal, or DIY repair through iFixit.

Consider reuse, donation, or repair before disposal, or DIY repair through iFixit. Consider posting as replacement parts for others with the same toy or game.

Consider donating to local families, friends, child care facilities, and organizations.

Consider donating to local families, friends, child care facilities, and organizations. During the holidays, many local organizations redistribute new toys and games.

Small toys gathered over time are fun for piñatas, trick-or-treating, or reading, homework, chore or school carnival prizes - consider swapping with friends.

Offer to good condition to similar or other businesses with similar operations or supply chains. Contact the manufacturer about recycling options.

Consider reuse or repair before disposal, or DIY repair through iFixit.

Consider reuse or repair before disposal, or DIY repair through iFixit.

Vaproizer devices may have a removabe or rechargable battery, a chamber for tobacco or cannabis vape liquid, and possible circuitry and LED display panel and are ewaste.

The HHW Facilities only accept tobacco vaporizers and tobacco liquid waste product. Batteries in vape devices are very difficult to remove and may contribute to fires in recycling and garbage waste streams and facilities.

Contact local dispenseries for recycling collection options of cannabis vape pens.

Go to CalRecycle for cannabis waste regulation information.

Consider donation or posting online for reuse.

Consider reuse or repair before recycling or DIY repair through iFixit.

Consider donating clean, dry, good considtion water bottles to local communities and organizations. Consider refusing to give or accept poorly made water bottles as incentives or give-aways.

Consider donation or resale.

Consider reuse or repair before recycling, or DIY repair through iFixit.

Consider reuse or repair before disposal.

Consider creative reuse or repair before disposal, or DIY repair through iFixit.

Consider reuse or donation.

Offer specimen trees for donation to mill and be reused. Consider offering to the community for reuse projects. Arbortists or tree trimmers may offer mulching services.

Painted wood may not be composted or recycled.

Consider reuse before mulching or composting.

Wood that is made with glues, like plywood or engineered lumber, belongs in the trash.

Consider reuse before recycling, such as wadding for packaging or storing ornaments. Consider repurposing other items for wrapping, like maps, newspaper, blueprints, wallpaper samples, or fabric.