Empty aerosol cans (ex. paint, hairspray, cooking spray) may be safely placed in the recycling bin separate from plastic lid.

Not empty yet? Use it up, find someone else who can use it, or if toxic, like paint or chemicals, bring it to a hazardous waste facility.

Offer good condition drip irrigation parts & film for reuse. Farm quantity drip tubing and film plastic may have recycling options. Place broken or sun damaged materials in the trash.

Many agricultural plastics (ex. mulch film, drip tape, pesticide containers) are recyclable. However, due to the high level of contamination (dirt, rocks, plant material, etc.), most of this material is not currently recycled. There are several recycling operations in the state (Revolution Plastics) that recycle various types of agricultural plastics. EPR has begun with ag plastics in Canada.

For ag plastic chemical containers (HDPE jugs & drums), follow Agricultural Container Recycling Council's triple-rinse rules and contact the regional contractor for pick up schedules in your area. Pesticide container recycling in California is under the purview of the California Department of Pesticide Regulation.

Consider donation of working models.

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.

Call your local police or sheriff's department for turn-in instructions.

Consider grouping and accumulating like items and then offer to child care or art providers you know or on public forums like FreeCycle, FaceBook Buy Nothing Group, Craigslist, NextDoor, or such.

Empty and drip free.
Drink box? Put straws and wrappers in the garbage.

Consider donation or post online for reuse.

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

Mylar balloons may be refilled/reused. Consider sharing bouquets of balloons with the community when you are done with them to be used for an additional celebration. Protect local animals from accidental ingestion by insuring they don't fly away and pick up pieces of water balloons after enjoyment.

Turn in your old battery where you buy a replacement at auto and marine parts & supply stores and repair shops. In addition, they accept old car batteries that are not being replaced for recycling collection.

Find more information on our Battery Fact Sheet.

Find more information on our Battery Fact Sheet.

Contact commercial hazardous waste companies for very large industrial batteries.

Empty and drip-free.

Consider offering high quality older bikes to community bicycle repair and redistribution organizations.

DIY repair through iFixit or other online repair resources such as The Culture of Repair & The Crucible's Bike Repair Manual & Bike Maintenance Manual, or Bikeride's repair video tutorials by bike part.

Drop-off electric bicycle batteries for recycling at Call2Recycle e-bike collection sites- which are often bike shops.

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.

Consider creative reuse and offering to local art or childcare providers through FreeCycle, NextDoor, etc. with any personal information removed.

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, completely highlighted/written in, and the removed hard covers. Small amounts of hard cover books should be placed in a recycling bin at a time (<20). The binding on hard cover books is a major issue for hard cover book recycling as it is very challenging for the recycling machinery to process.

Consider posting these locally for reuse.

Envelopes or sleeves made of bubble sheet that are entirely plastic are accepted for recycling at BagandFilmRecycling.org locations. Bubble envelopes made of Mylar and those that are lined with paper are not recyclable curbside. Reuse is best.

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. If in broken condition, consider bulky pick up or a debris box for residents.

Bundle, label as working and bag to donate for reuse to organizations that refurbish and redistribute electronics. Find a place to send non-working cords here.

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.

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.

Need to get rid of boat waste before donation or recyling? See these resources: Boating Clean & Green, Pumpout Nav App, SF Bay Clean Boating Map, Bilge Care & Preventing Oil Spills, Fishing Line, Abandoned Vessels, Oil, Chemical & Hazardous Waste Spills

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 though FreeCycle, Craigslist, Facebook Buy Nothing in your city group, or such if the car seat has not been in an accident and has not expired. (See expiration date on sticker on the frame).

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.

Do not place in recycling carts or bins as hangers jam the recycling machinery.

Reuse is best! Share locally online or donate to thrift stores.

Reuse is best! Share 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 (DIY & non-toxic cleaners), and donation/recycling programs.

Consider repair, stain removal and creative reuse before donation to an organization for reuse or recycling (rag and textile shredding).

Click here to learn more about clothing repair, stain removal for clothing and linens (DIY & non-toxic cleaners), and donation/recycling programs.

Consider repairing or repurposing old garments before donating your clean (stained, ripped, holes okay) textiles to large charity thrifts - like GoodWill and Salvation Army - whose infrastructure gets textiles to the rags market, and/or shredded for carpet padding & upholstery stuffing. Textiles that are wet, soiled (bodily fluids), moldy, or have bed-bugs belong in the trash.

Click here to learn more about clothing repair, stain removal for clothing and linens (DIY & non-toxic cleaners), and donation/recycling programs.

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.

While BPI Certified Compostable Plastic Bags may be accepted in some curbside programs, many large-scale, municipal composting facilities across California are screening out and landfill all plastics (not just petroleum-based) as contaminants during the process.

Consider skipping the single-use compostable plastic bag and stuffing food scraps into unlined paper boxes (think cereal, crackers, or such), lining your compost bin with paper material you may already have - like shredded documents, newspaper, food-soiled paper, and do a quick wipe or rinse as needed.

Businesses in Alameda County: Use the Bin Liner by City Tool to determine what kind of indoor bin liner your trash, organics, or recycling bins can have based on what city your business is in.*This information may differ from the RE:Source City listings geared at residents.

Single-use compressed gas cylinders are commonly used for camp stoves, welding, filled with flammable propane or butane. Damaged or empty gas cylinders are hazardous waste and should never be put in the garbage or recycling. They could become punctured during the collection process and cause a fire or injury.

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.

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.

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.

Cooking oil and grease poured down drains can build up in pipes causing backups at home, into streets and the storm drain system. Wipe pots, pans and cookware “clean” with a disposable towel prior to washing and place in green bin. Save used cooking oil in a resealable container and bring it to a cooking oil and grease drop-off location. Commercial kitchens should contact a grease hauler for service.

Consider donation.

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

Consider donation of new and partially-used packages of diapers and new wipes to local families and community organizations. Posting on NextDoor, Craigslist, FreeCycle, etc.

Consider reuse or donation to a building supply store or post online for DIY.

Many clothing and linen fabrics are now composed of synthetic fibers that must be disposed of in the trash. Lint from 100% cotton or other confirmed natural fibers can be composted.

Designate a box to accumulate old or unwanted electronics over time for donation to local community members or organizations.

Consider repair before disposal with service providers who fix on-site or contact the manufacturer for repair/refurbishing (ex. JURA, Cuisinart).

Consider donation or post online for reuse.

Unwanted unused fireworks? Bring them to a local HHW facility if it is safe to transport them as they contain heavy metals that are not allowed in the garbage. If not deemed safe to transport your unused and/or unwanted fireworks, please contact your local fire department or your Sheriff's Department Bomb Squad.

If used for chemicals place in the trash.

Consider extending the life of your fire extinguisher through refurbishing, repair, and/or recharging with a company specializing in servicing fire extinguishers. Information on fire extinguishers, California code for busineses, on boats.

After using an extinguisher, it must be recharged.

Marine flares are explosives. Residents should contact their Household Hazardous Waste Facility about marine flares (hand-held, aeriel, and smoke) & signal kit collection events for recreational boaters. For military type, damaged, decayed, very old, or very large items also contact the staff at your HHW Facility directly before bringing it in.

Alameda County Recreational Boaters: Annual free one-day collection event in November www.StopWaste.org/marineflares.

Boat Waste resources: Boating Clean & Green, Pumpout Nav App, SF Bay Clean Boating Map, Bilge Care & Preventing Oil Spills

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

Consider posting good condition for reuse.

Remove all produce stickers, packaging, and twist ties before composting.

Did you know that reducing food waste is one of the leading solutions to climate change? Click here Food Saving Tips.

Here are resources to learn how turn your food scraps into compost at home, or source compost (and mulch) to apply on your garden, houseplants, or landscape.

BioCycle's FindAComposter.com, a publicly searchable database of composting facilities in the U.S. and Canada.

Refuse these items when you do not need them. Take them with you on road trips and camping, or use them up. Consider sharing large quantities for reuse by the community. Compost solids, or pour liquids down the drain before disposing of packaging.

Say no thank you to unwanted sauces, utensils, & straws. Did you know California has a new law that requires all retail food facilities and food delivery platforms to provide single-use foodware accessories (ex. forks, knives, spoons, chopsticks, condiments, straws & stirrers) upon request only? Find our more here.

Consider replacing disposables with reusables.

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

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. Reuse beats single-use on GHG emissions, water consumption, resource extraction, waste generation, litter generation, and plastic pollution (UpstreamSolutions.org). Find out why reusables beat "compostables" and "bioplastics."

• See Plastic Free Futures retail & eatery locations that encourage BYO reusable cup or container, shop bulk bins & refill, reusables for on-site dining, and take-out service partnerships. EcoRate is a similar tool.
• Discover local Reusable Foodware System & Service Providers in the Bay Area, or globally with the Circular Startup Index: Plastics & Packaging (Ellen Macarthur Foundation).

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

Consider repair before disposal. DIY repair resources through iFixit.

Not so broken? See our Furniture Repair fact sheet for tips on wood, leather, and fabric repair, reupholstery, and stain removal, or Textiles Repair fact sheet for fixing zippers and tears or offer it up for other to fix up or use creatively.

Need to purchase new? See Center for Environmental Health's guide to Choosing Healthier Furniture.

Even our favorite furniture pieces may need some TLC. See our Furniture Repair fact sheet for tips on wood, leather, and fabric repair, reupholstery, and stain removal, or Textiles Repair fact sheet for fixing zippers and tears.

Have lots of good pieces that deserve a good home? Consider donating to a furniture bank. Furniture banks are registered charities, not-for-profit organizations or social enterprises designed to provide gently used household furnishings to individuals and families in need, at little or no cost.

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

It's okay, we won't tell.

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 veggies, herbs or flowers? Check out free seeds from seed libraries or find a farmer's market to find starts. See Alameda County's list of 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.

Boat Waste resources: Boating Clean & Green, Pumpout Nav App, SF Bay Clean Boating Map, Bilge Care & Preventing Oil Spills, Fishing Line, Abandoned Vessels, Oil, Chemical & Hazardous Waste Spills

Donate or offer up your mattress, box spring, and futon for reuse to your community before recycling. Find a collection site at ByeByeMattress for no cost or a small incentive payment. Wet, moldy, and/or bed bug items must be landfilled and will not be accepted for recycling.

New mattress being delivered? California law requires retailers to offer to take back your old one at no cost.

Clean and dry pillows, mattress toppers, bed frames and bedlinens to be donated separately.

Organizations are most able to accept reusable working equipment in good condition that can be cleaned and new/unused single-use materials in packaging. Corporate donations can find an accredited Medical Surplus Recovery Organization here and donate products to them.

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 filler. Packaging can be recycled (ex. clean, dry plastic bottle) or put in the garbage (ex. blister packs). Silica gel packs can be reused (e.g. edible dry goods) or landfilled.

Unmedicated lotions, cosmetics, fragrances, sunscreen agents, and similar products belong in your household trash. Do not put these products down the drain or into the toilet.

Prepare your medicines for disposal before arriving at a 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 housing. Kiosks are located near the pharmacy area, or for hospitals and police departments, in the lobby.

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.

In the old style of thermostats with a lever or switch - not the newer electronic kind - there is mercury inside the sealed glass tilt switch.

Properly recycling mercury thermostats is the law. Use the Thermostat Recycling Location Finder to find free drop-off sites near you. Residents, contractors, and businesses all qualify for rebates of up to $30 per mercury thermostat.

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

Milk Cartons and Ice Cream Containers are made from paperboard coated with a waterproof plastic, generally polyethylene (plastic). There are drink cartons lined with "renewable and plant-based" resin, however the resin behaves like conventional plastic and does not break down in municipal composting systems. Renewable materials are generally understood to be made from matter that can be regenerated or regrown in a human lifetime vs non-renewable conventional plastics made from petroleum. Ice cream container lids with thick plastic around the edges belong in the garbage.

The Ecology Center has written more about milk cartons here.

Contact your contractor for proper C&D recycling and disposal services if you are doing home remodeling, construction, or demolition projects to order a debris box for C&D to be sorted for recyclables.

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

It is illegal for needles and other sharps to be placed into trash or recycling containers. People hand sort at the start of the recycling process; keep them safe by not placing used needles in plastic containers and putting them in your recycling bin.

Sharps, syringes, needles, auto injectors, prefilled syringes with needle, and lancets should be in a sealed FDA cleared Sharps container. Sharps containers are available in most drug stores and from mail order & internet ecommerce sources. Kiosks in pharmacies, Hospitals and Police Departments can accept Sharps containers up to 1 gallon in size. HHW Facilities accept larger sharps containers.

Sharps containers are available in most drug stores and from mail order & internet e-commerce sources.

Free Mail-back containers mailed directly to your home are available by calling 1-844-633-7765 or visiting med-project.org, choose "Mail Back" to fill out an on-line order form. Novo Nordisk also has a free Mail-back container service for their customers: 1-877-438-0564.

Consider donation through posting online, non-profits, schools, community organizations, or companies that specialize in office furniture (i.e. cubicles) redistribution. Most small thrifts do not accept large volumes of or office furniture in general, unless it's very good condition that can be used in a home.

Consider reuse, repair, reupholstering, and remanufacturing. Find out how they are good for people, the planet, and the business from Center for Environmental Health. If you need to purchase new furniture, use their guide to Choosing Healthier Furniture.

This is a notoriously tricky item to dispose of. If it works, please pass it along for reuse at a community thrift, NextDoor, Facebook Buy Nothing Group in your city, or such.

Consider repair before disposal. The internet has many DIY video tutorials on fixing for the common reasons these stop working. Your oil-filled heater brand's website will have repair how-to information and can be contacted regarding issues (ex. DeLonghi). Alternately, contact a local heater repair company regarding repair or refurbishing.

Oil-filled heaters are considered a major appliance under the Public Resources Code. Click here for DTSC's list of Certified Appliance Recyclers. Appliance recyclers have contractors to remove the mineral oil. Most bulky and curbside programs accept appliances. This metal appliance is not accepted by Household Hazardous Waste facilities, however, the drained mineral oil from the heaters is accepted in a resealable, labeled bottle. Contact a metal recycler, appliance recycler, and/or your bulky pick-up service provider for recycling of broken oil-filled heaters.

Consider if the food is still edible by people: Deciphering Dates on Products or StillTasty. Then consider feeding animals - high quantity or volume - like pig farmers. Then feed the soil.

Depackage by hand, recycle empty, dry rigid plastics and metals, and compost edible materials. Contact your hauler if you need additional service. Commercial depackaging services are becoming more available for pallets, cases, and containers. Consider paying staff to depackage by hand to meet state regulations of keeping organics out of the landfill.

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.

Offer it up for community members and organizations to use, before taking it for recycling.

Drop-off paint for recycling at no cost to a local PaintCare site. Accepted items include house paint as well as primers, stains, sealers, and clear coatings such as shellac and varnish.

If paint is dry, tap paint chunks into trash. Place dry, empty can or bucked into recycling bin with lid separated - if accepted for recycling in your curbside program. Use up wet leftover paint, offer it to neighbors, or drop it off for recycling at a PaintCare partner paint store.

Rags, stirrers, pans and brushes with dried paint may go into the garbage. Empty spray paint belongs in the recycing bin (cap off); click here for partially uses cans of spray paint.

Post for reuse - 100's of repurposing projects on the internet - or find a recycler.

Fold for reuse. Soiled from food or beverages? Compost it. Lots of them good, clean condition? Post for free to local groups, like food pantries, for reuse on sites like FreeCycle, Craigslist, NextDoor, FB Buy Nothing, etc..

For information on Alameda County's Bag Law, click here, or on the California State Bag Law, click here. The City of Berkeley has a separate rule.

Empty, dry cardboard, paperboard, food and beverage glass, aluminum, steel, and plastics #1 & #2s should be recycled when empty of product.

Contact brand for their take-back or packaging recycling policy. Consider reuse of cleaned packaging before disposal. Plastic sprayers, pumps, and droppers may be cleaned & reused, but are generally considered contamination in the recycling bin. Empty tubes for lotion, lip and eye products, and such belong in the trash, along with sachets or packets made of multiple materials like plastic, paper &/or foil/metal. Find a shop to bring your own packaging to refill.

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. Old vitamins and supplements may be composted.

Non-medicated products: use up, donate or place in trash. Reuse the container, and check if your brand offers a take back for recycling program for the container/packaging.

Find a shop to bring your own packaging to refill with personal care products..

Never flush wipes, menstrual products, or dental floss - these clog pipes. Keep lotions, cosmetics, fragrances, sunscreen agents, and similar products out of the drain and toilet; the best "somewhere else" to throw these items is your household trash. Medicines, medicated lotions, creams and shampoos go to a Meds Drop-box (here); nail polish and acetone goes to a Household Hazardous Waste facility. Vitamins & supplements go in the organics bin.

Pet waste and litter from pets who eat meat (such as carnivores cats or omnivores dogs) belongs in the trash. Cat waste does not belong in the toilet as it causes toxoplasmosis in sea otters (drains to bay/ocean). Litter and waste from vegetarian pets (such as rodents and birds), may go into the green bin unless pets take medication.

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

Consider washing, replacing the cover, and reusing or donating as possible. Tips for washing different pillow types.

Consider washing, replacing the cover, and reusing or donating as possible. Tips for washing different pillow types. FYI Pillow stuffing (and stuffed animals) make great pet bed inserts.

Consider reuse, donation, and repair.

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

When shopping or dining out, bring your reusables, reuse plastic and paper bags, or refuse a bag and hand carry items when possible.

Donate neatly folded reusable plastic bag of bags to a local animal shelter or rescue group or food pantry, or stuff newspaper bags to dispensers at local dog parks,or to the community for use by small businesses and residents.

Businesses in Alameda County can use the Bin Liner by City Tool to determine what kind of indoor bin liner your trash, organics, or recycling bin can have. For information on Alameda County's Bag Law, click here, or on the California State Bag Law, click here. The City of Berkeley has a separate rule.

Bottles and jugs must be empty and drip-free with lid reattached before recycling.

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.

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.

Consider reuse or repair before disposal. Non-stick pans can be recoated if they start sticking.

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

Damaged or empty propane tanks and cylinders are hazardous waste and should never be put in the garbage or recycling. They could become punctured during the collection process and cause a fire or injury. Because of the danger involved, they cost millions of dollars to recycle and dispose of properly.

Reusables can last up to 10 years and can be refilled hundreds of times. Buy refillable 1lb propane cylinders to Refuel Your Fun, reduce the impact on the environment, and save money because you only pay for the gas and filling service, not the container.

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

FYI - Water used to clean paint brushes with acrylic paint (water-based) can be poured down the drain. Paint thinner used to clean paint brushes used with oil-based paint is considered hazardous waste for residents and businesses to bring into a hazardous waste facility.

Consider donation or posting online for reuse.

Container/material must be empty, drip-free, at least 4" (inches) tall and fit in the cart/bin with the lid closed.

Gather in small containers or bags to donate for reuse for student arts and crafts projects and the like.

Consider cleaning it and repurposing your rugs and mats before disposal. Find a carpet/rug cleaner to rent or borrow, or have a specialist work on it at their shop or bring their tools to your site. A clean but stained, work rug or mat may be perfect in an another area of your home, or may be just the thing for another site.

Do not put sand in curbside carts as it is likely to exceed weight capacity of carts and break them. Request a C&D Debris Box (fee) for clean sand to be recycled. Clean sand is accepted at transfer stations.Sandbags that have been in contact with floodwaters and may be contaminated with sewage or septic waste, animal waste, oil and gasoline residue, lawn chemicals such as fertilizers, pesticides and herbicides, or other hazardous chemicals must be taken to a landfill. Find a nearby transfer station or landfill.

Clean sand and sandbags can be stored for reuse. Re-bag as needed and keep out them of the sun/covered. Transfer sand from deteriorated bags to a bucket then refill in burlap or sandbag for storm prep or erosion control. Share clean sand with the community through local listservs, to neighbors, Facebook Buy Nothing in your city group, NextDoor, Craigslist, or such for reuse, including for leveling pavers, tilled into soil areas to loosen packed soils to facilitate water absorption, landscape projects, or umbrella/canopy and basketball weighted bases.

Ready to pass on your kid's play sand from their sandbox? Sift out plant debris and offer it up to the community for reuse.

This is not accepted in composting or greenwaste.

Consider donation or posting online for reuse.
Broken supplies beyond repair may go in landfill if they are not electronic, contain a battery, or contain other hazardous waste.

Consider donation or posting online for reuse.

Shoes for donation should be in good condition for reuse. Consider bringing shoes to a local cobbler to transform your shoes through stretching, cleaning, resoling, polish, and strap/buckle repair/replacement to bring you joy once more. Tie or rubber band pairs of shoes so they stay together.

Consider offering up unused packages of gloves, masks, ear plugs, etc. for reuse to organizations that could use them through Craigslist, NextDoor, Facebook Buy Nothing Groups, Freecycle and such.

Find DIY repair resources through iFixit or local Fixit Clinics. Is it electric or electronic? Electric items have a cord and no computer parts. Mostly metal small appliances may be recyclable through scrap metal recyclers.

Post working parts/pieces for reuse and the item if you know what is not working for those willing or able to make the repairs, or make their item work again with the parts and pieces from your item.

Accepted at the Household Hazardous Waste Facilities.

Read about Lead in Your Soil from Edible East Bay. Find a list of local testing service providers for lead in soil and paint here.

Problem with your solar panels? 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). In California, DTSC lists approved Solar Panel Recyclers. Most recyclers only accept from large private companies or government contracts - not from consumers. Solar Panel Handlers consolidate and then send them to recyclers. Many panels don't make it to recyclers due to the cost to recycle per panel; panels are most often transported to other states for recycling.

The California Product Stewardship Council (CPSC - choose Solar under Products) holds the most current links to policy, studies, and articles on solar panels. Considering solar? PG&E's Residential Guide to Solar Installation. Solar Permitting Guidebook (4th Edition). The California Energy Commission maintains a list of PV modules available by manufacturer and model number, and includes the 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.

Remove tape from paper and cardboard as possible to ensure the fiber product is recycled. Share good condition used rolls of tape with the community for reuse (ex. duct, masking, clear, washi, electrical) through online listservs and groups.

Consider donation or reuse if in good condition. Older, vintage landline telephones without "electronics" though electrical, may go into the garbage. Modern telephone systems with electronic components - think digital screen and having a computer chip - would be considered an electronic device and when broken or beyond repair, considered e-waste.

Consider donation or posting online for reuse.

Consider reuse or repair before disposal. Check with an alteration specialist to see if their machines can handle sewing repairs. Local sporting goods and outdoor stores may have a repair program.
Posting broken gear on NextDoor, Craigslist, or Buy Nothing with the issues your gear is in may get rehomed by people who are willing to repair it, buy replacement parts, or have alternate use cases.

Consider posting leftover boxes for reuse or donation to a building supply store.

Contact a local tire dealer about recycling. Use CalRecycle to search for a tire recycler.

Contact your Brand or manufacturer about take-back/recycling programs.

Consider loaning or donating tools to your community.

Excited to start a DIY project but need to borrow a saw? Do you need a pair of loppers to trim your fruit trees? Several cities have tool lending libraries where residents can rent a variety of tools for 1-3 weeks at a time while participating in a circular and sharing economy. Alameda County Tool Libraries

Consider loaning or donating tools to your community.

Excited to start a DIY project but need to borrow a saw? Do you need a pair of loppers to trim your fruit trees? Several cities have tool lending libraries where residents can rent a variety of tools for 1-3 weeks at a time while participating in a circular and sharing economy. Alameda County Tool Libraries

Consider loaning or donating tools to your community.

Excited to start a DIY project but need to borrow a sander or drill? Do you need a pair of loppers to trim your fruit trees? Several cities have tool lending libraries where residents can rent a variety of tools for 1-3 weeks at a time while participating in a circular and sharing economy. Alameda County Tool Libraries

Consider posting these as replacement parts for other families, reusing them for art projects, future pinatas or prizes for school fairs.

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

Consider posting for reuse before disposal.

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

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

Some vacuum bags may allow you to empty and reuse as possible, and filters can be cleaned and reused. Lint may go in organics if mostly pet hair/dried food bits from hard flooring, or in the trash if carpets and/or walk off mats due to the plastic fibers.
Have unwanted unused bags and filters from an old model? Offer or donate these to your community for reuse.

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

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

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

Consider repair, resale, or donation before recycling.

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

Contact your water filter brand to determine if they have a take-back program for recycling.

Consider donation or resale before recycling.

Gift the gift of reuse by donating, reselling, or recrafting pieces that made your celebration meaningful.

Consider reuse or donation.

This is not accepted for composting.

Consider partnering with arborists and cities to transform specimen trees.

Pressure treated, preserved wood, or treated wood waste (including the sawdust), referred to as TWW, has preserving chemicals like arsenic, creosote, and copper. When outdoor structures built with preservative treated wood – such as decks, gazebos, fences and retaining walls – are demolished and discarded, the wood is considered TWW.

DTSC lists the current Transfer Facilities that accept TWW across the state. The CA Water Board lists Landfills that accept TWW.

TWWDisposal.org has fact sheets and outreach materials on the appropriate handing, disposal (landfills that accept TWW), and other management of treated wood waste for residents and for facilities that may receive or handle treated wood waste. Spanish translation is enabled on their website.

Painted, engineered, stained, lacquered, plywood/composite, and wood painted with "copper green" may go in the garbage.

Sheet mulching with cardboard, compost and mulch (chipped clean wood) can be done right on top of your lawn to save time, money, and water and build healthy soil. Go to www.lawntogarden.org to learn more and use the Marketplace tool to find supplies locally.

Metallic gift wrap cannot be recycled. Consider reuse, such as wadding for packaging or storing ornaments. Consider repurposing other items for wrapping, like maps, newspaper, blueprints, wallpaper samples, or fabric.

X-ray recycling services including the chemical removal and recycling of silver from imaging films which is mostly polyester.