6-Pack Rings |
Please cut up traditional 6-pack rings before placing in trash to ensure safety of wildlife. Rigid plastic can carriers or handles, are reusable and snap on to place by hand. Ask your local brewery to collect them for reuse and/or recycling. Find a drop-off collection site. |
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ABS Plastic |
Consider reuse or donation for toys and musical instruments. |
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Aerosol Can - Empty |
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. |
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Aerosol Can - Non-empty |
Use up toxic materials, find someone who can use it, or bring it to a hazardous waste facility. Empty aerosol cans (ex. spray paint, hairspray, cooking spray) may be safely placed in the recycling bin separate from plastic lid. |
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Agricultural Plastics & Film |
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. |
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Air Conditioner - Non-working |
Consider reuse or repair before disposal, or DIY repair through iFixit. |
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Air Conditioner - Working |
Consider donation of working models. |
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Air Mattress |
Consider repair through patching/patch kits before disposal, including self repair through iFixit. Donate good condition & working air mattresses to local second-hand shops or online reuse communities. |
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Aluminum Cans - CRV |
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. |
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Aluminum Foil & Pans - Clean |
Free of food and grease/oil for recycling. Paper-lined foil belongs in trash. |
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Ammunition |
Call your local police or sheriff's department for turn-in instructions. |
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Antifreeze | |||
Arts and Crafts Supplies & Materials |
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. |
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Asbestos |
If you have suspected asbestos in a building, hire a certifed contractor to ensure personal safety, for regulatory compliance, real estate disclosures, and long term liability for exposing others due to it being an airborne hazard. Go to the Bay Area Air District for information on asbestos compliance and enforcement. Learn about asbestos packaging, transportation, and disposal requirements through the DTSC. For asbestos health related questions, contact the CCC Health Services in Contra Costa County and the Healthy Homes Department in Alameda County. A landfill must be authorized to accept asbestos wastes by its Regional Water Quality Control Board. Before you take asbestos to a landfill, call it to determine whether you need an appointment or whether they have any special requirements. Asbestos is not accepted by the Alameda County HHW Facilities. |
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Aseptic Packs |
Empty and drip free. |
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Ashes - Grill/Fireplace |
Make sure to place fireplace, stove and barbecue ashes in a metal container with a tight fitting lid. Put the container outside,10 feet or more away from your home and combustibles, and wet the ashes down. Once cold, bag ashes so they do not blow away during collection (paper bag okay). For more information, go to: Cal Fire, FEMA, &/or NFPA |
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Asphalt | |||
Audio & Visual Equipment - Non-working |
Consider repair before disposal, or DIY repair through iFixit. |
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Audio & Visual Equipment - Working |
Consider donation or post online for reuse. |
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Auto Glass |
Safety glass and car windshields contaminate curbside accepted food and beverage container glass. |
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Auto Parts & Scrap | |||
Auto Upholstery - Non-working |
Consider repair as possible. |
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Baby Furniture & Equipment - Non-working |
Consider reuse or repair before disposal, or DIY repair through iFixit. |
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Baby Furniture & Equipment - Working |
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. |
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Balloons |
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. |
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Barbeque Grill |
Consider reuse or repair before disposal, or DIY repair through iFixit. |
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Bath Tub | |||
Bathroom Fixtures | |||
Batteries - Automotive or Boat |
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. |
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Batteries - Electric Vehicle & Bicycle |
Electric Vehicle (EV) Battery:Contact the dealer or manufacturer for take-back collection for future end-of-life collection for processing. Find more information on our Battery Fact Sheet. |
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Batteries - Household - Rechargeable (up to 5 lbs) |
Find more information on our Battery Fact Sheet. |
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Batteries - Household - Single-Use |
Find more information on our Battery Fact Sheet. |
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Batteries - Industrial |
Contact commercial hazardous waste companies for very large industrial batteries. |
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Batteries - Solar Power Storage |
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. |
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Beverage Containers - Mixed |
Empty and drip-free. |
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Bicycle - Non-working |
Consider reuse and repair, or 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. |
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Bicycle - Scrap & Parts |
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. |
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Bicycle - Working |
Consider reuse and donation to local community members. Keep your bike working with DIY Information from 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. |
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Bimetal Cans - CRV |
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. |
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Bimetal Cans - Non-CRV |
Empty and drip-free. |
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Blueprint Paper |
Consider creative reuse and offering to local art or childcare providers through FreeCycle, NextDoor, etc. with any personal information removed. |
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Boat Upholstery - Non-working | |||
Books - Children's |
Donate to keep books in circulation. Find a Little Library location near you to add or borrow books. |
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Books - Hard Cover |
Donate to keep books in circulation. Find a Little Library location near you to add or borrow books. |
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Books - Hard Cover - Non-working |
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. |
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Books - Soft Cover |
Donate to keep books in circulation. Find a Little Library location near you to add or borrow books. |
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Books - Soft Cover - Non-working | |||
Books - Textbooks |
Consider online resale of good condition recent editions, or donation of good condition recent editions to community organizations like prisons. Recycle damaged, torn, out of dates book, completely highlighted/written in, and the removed hard covers. Small amounts of textbooks should be placed in a recycling bin at a time (<20). The binding on hard cover books is a major issue for textbook recycling as it is very challenging for the recycling machinery to process. |
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Bricks |
Consider posting these locally for reuse. |
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Bricks - Broken | |||
Bubble Envelopes - Paper or Mylar |
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. |
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Bubble Wrap |
Consider reuse before recycling with clean, dry film in front of grocery store collection bins. |
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Building Materials - Reclaimed/Reusable |
Consider posting good condition or unused materials locally for reuse or donation. Does salvage mean savings? Read about deconstruction, reuse and embedded carbon. |
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Burlap |
Consider reuse or posting for reuse on FreeCycle, Craigslist, or such. Compost hubs may be interested in high volume donations. |
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Cabinets |
Consider posting for reuse or donation. If in broken condition, consider bulky pick up or a debris box for residents. |
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Cables & Wires - Non-working |
Do not put loose in recycling as these break recycling machines. Gather for ewaste recycling. |
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Cables & Wires - Working |
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. |
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Camera Film & Slides | |||
Cameras & Camcorders - Non-working | |||
Cameras & Camcorders - Working |
Consider donation or post online for reuse. |
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Cardboard |
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). |
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Cardboard - Foil-lined | |||
Cardboard - Waxed |
Consider reuse as possible. |
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Cardboard - Wet |
Dried out from rain or such, may be recycled. Food-soiled cardboard belongs in Organics/Compost. |
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Carpet |
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. |
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Carpet Padding |
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. |
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Cars & Boats |
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 |
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Cassette & VHS Tapes - Commercially Made - Working |
Few thrift organizations accept these materials unless they are in new-like condition. Consider posting to FreeCycle, Craigslist, NextDoor, or such for reuse. |
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Cassette & VHS Tapes - Non-working |
Due to there being no markets for the hard plastics in tapes, there are very limited recycling options for these items. |
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CD/DVD - Commercially Made - Working |
Few thrift organizations accept these materials unless they are in new-like condition. Consider posting to FreeCycle, Craigslist, NextDoor, or such for reuse. There are very limited recycling options for this material. Consider reuse before disposal. |
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CD/DVD - Non-working/Non-commercial |
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. |
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CD/DVD Jewel Cases |
There are very limited recycling options for this material. Consider reuse before disposal. |
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Ceiling Tile | |||
Cell Phones - Non-working |
Consider repair and reuse options before recycling as electronic waste. |
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Cell Phones - Working |
Consider reselling, reuse or donation before recycling as electronic waste. |
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Ceramics & Pottery - Broken |
Consider reuse or repair before disposal. 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 |
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Ceramics & Pottery - Working |
Consider donation or post online for reuse. |
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Child Car Seats - Non-working/Expired/Accident |
Once stripped of covers, strapping and styrofoam, the plastic base may be recyclable. Consider posting recent, good condition car seat covers as spares with brand/model information. Target Annual Car Seat Trade-in (2022 Sept/2021 April) |
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Child Car Seats - Working/Non-Expired/Accident Free |
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). |
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Christmas Lights - Non-working |
Collect for electronic waste recycling. |
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Christmas Lights - Working |
Consider reuse, repair, or donation. |
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Christmas Trees |
Consider renting a living tree for the season, or planting it in your yard after the holidays to avoid waste. Cut, live Christmas trees (conifers) must be stripped of all decorations, lights, stand, tinsel, and un-bagged to be mulched and composted. Some cities need the tree cut to fit into the Green/Organics Bin. Flocked trees are covered in chemicals and are not accepted for composting and must be cut to fit in your Garbage Cart. Check with your curbside service provider for details and dates for pick-up for residents and businesses. Reuse or donate good condition holiday and seasonal items, artificial Christmas trees, string lights (working/non-working), gift wrap (paper gift wrap, metallic gift wrap) and tissue paper. |
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Christmas Trees - Artificial |
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. |
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Cigarette Waste |
Cigarettes and Cigarette Filters was the number one item found by count in Coastal Cleanup Days from 1988-2017. Most marine debris starts as urban litter. |
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Cinder Blocks |
Consider posting for reuse. |
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Cinder Blocks - Broken | |||
Cleaning Wipes - Used |
Wipes clog pipes! Do not flush. Chemically treated wipes are not recyclable or compostable. |
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Clocks & Watches - Non-working |
Consider repair to reuse or donate. For DIY, see iFixit. |
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Clocks & Watches - Working |
Consider donation or post online for reuse. |
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Cloth Diapers & Accessories |
Reuse is best! Share locally on FreeCycle, Craigslist, NextDoor, etc. Click here to learn more about clothing repair, stain removal for clothing and linens (DIY & non-toxic cleaners), and donation/recycling programs. |
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Clothes Hangers - Broken |
Do not place in recycling carts or bins as hangers jam the recycling machinery. |
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Clothes Hangers - Metal - Working |
Return good condition hangers to a local dry cleaners/alterations business for reuse. |
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Clothes Hangers - Working |
Reuse is best! Share locally online or donate to thrift stores. |
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Clothing - Children's |
Reuse is best! Share locally on listservs, with local families, neighborhood schools, or on FreeCycle, Craigslist, NextDoor, etc., or local charity organizations to reduce your climate impact. Stain removal & repairs keep clothing in use.Click here to learn more about clothing repair, stain removal for clothing and linens, and donation/recycling programs. |
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Clothing - Good Condition |
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. |
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Clothing - Maternity & Nursing |
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, and donation/recycling programs. |
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Clothing - Poor Condition |
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. |
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Clothing - Undergarments - Good condition |
Reuse is best! Share locally on listservs, with local families, neighborhood schools, or on FreeCycle, Craigslist, NextDoor, etc., or local charity organizations to reduce your climate impact. Click here to learn more about clothing repair, stain removal for clothing and linens, and donation/recycling programs. |
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Clothing - Undergarments - Poor Condition |
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. |
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Coffee Pods - Compostable |
Consider reusable coffee pods to fill with your favorite local roast. Compost the used coffee grounds, and note the packaging placed in a curbside composting program may be screened out as a contaminate if it does not break down in the municipal composting process over a few months. |
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Coffee Pods - Metal/Plastic |
Consider reusable coffee pods to fill with your favorite local roast. |
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Collectibles |
Consider repair, reuse, resale, and donation for these special items on local and national online platforms. |
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Compostable Plastic Bags - BPI Certified Products |
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. |
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Compressed Gas Cylinders - Refillable |
Damaged or empty propane tanks and cylinders are hazardous waste and should never be put in the garbage or recycling as they could become punctured during the collection process and cause a fire or injury. Empty, good condition tanks can be exchanged or refilled where you got it (e.g. 1lb or 5-20lb propane cylinders, SodaStream gas cylinders) or have the supplier come pick it up. Look for a label to contact and return an unwanted cylinder to. 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. |
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Compressed Gas Cylinders - Single-use/Non-working |
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. |
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Computer Accessories - Non-working |
Consider refurbishing or repair before recycling, or DIY repair through iFixit. |
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Computer Accessories - Working |
Consider donation for reuse and redistribution to local community members. |
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Computer Monitors - Non-working |
Consider refurbishing or repair before recycling, or DIY repair through iFixit. |
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Computer Monitors - Working |
Consider donation for reuse and redistribution to local community members. |
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Computers - Non-working |
Consider refurbishing or repair before recycling, or DIY repair through iFixit. |
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Computers - Working |
Consider donation for reuse and redistribution to local community members. |
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Concrete | |||
Concrete With Rebar | |||
Construction & Demolition Debris |
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. |
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Cooking Oil/Grease/Fats |
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. |
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Copy Machines - Non-working |
Consider refurbishing or repair before recycling, or DIY repair through iFixit. |
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Copy Machines - Working |
Consider donation. |
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Corks - Natural |
Consider repurposing corks before collecting for recycling. 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. |
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Corks - Plastic/Synthetic | |||
Dead Animals |
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. Food & Ag's List of Active Haulers (farm animals). Marine Wildlife Reporting (dead & injured). |
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Deconstruction Services | Salvaging reusable material supports the local economy, creates jobs, supports small businesses and offers an affordable option for residents and businesses to acquire quality used building materials such as old-growth lumber. A deconstruction has significant carbon reduction benefits compared to demolition by preserving the embodied carbon and energy of existing building materials and avoiding the creation of greenhouse gasses associated with producing new materials. Deconstruction methods minimize dust and increase the likelihood of discovery of unabated hazardous materials such as asbestos, lead, and mercury, reducing health risks to workers and neighbors. | ||
Dental Chair |
Consider repair and donation. |
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Dishwasher - Non-working |
Consider reuse or repair before recycling. DIY repair resources through iFixit. |
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Dishwasher - Working |
Consider donation. |
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Disposable Diapers & Wipes - New |
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. |
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Disposable Diapers & Wipes - Used |
Wipes clog pipes! Do not flush wipes, diapers, menstrual products; put them in the trash. All used diapers, even those called "compostable" must be thrown in the trash or picked up by a "compostable diaper" service. Never place diapers in recycling - people hand sort recycling at the start of the process; keep them safe. |
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Doors |
Consider reuse or donation to a building supply store or post online for DIY. |
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Drums - Metal | |||
Drums - Paper | |||
Drums - Plastic | |||
Dryer & Vacuum Lint |
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. |
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Drywall |
Did you know drywall scraps can be placed in the interior wall cavities during new construction? This will eliminate the disposal and transportation costs. |
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Egg Cartons - Paper - Clean | |||
Egg Cartons - Paper - Soiled | |||
Egg Cartons - Plastic | |||
Electronics - Non-working |
Consider refurbishing or repairing ewaste before recycling. Find repair information, manuals and videos through the manufacturer, YouTube, iFixit, and repair specialists. Designate a box to accumulate broken electronics over time. The EPA recommends that businesses use third-party certified electronics recyclers (e-Stewards® and/or R2) to manage unwanted used electronics. |
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Electronics - Working |
Designate a box to accumulate old or unwanted electronics over time for donation to local community members or organizations. |
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Envelopes - Paper |
Envelopes with a clear window can be recycled without removing the clear plastic. |
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Espresso Machines |
Consider repair before disposal with service providers who fix on-site or contact the manufacturer for repair/refurbishing (ex. JURA, Cuisinart). |
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Exercise Equipment - Non-working |
Consider repair for reuse before disposal. DIY repair resources through iFixit. |
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Exercise Equipment - Working |
Consider donation or post online for reuse. |
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Exit Signs -Tritium |
Permanent warning label will mention tritium, 3H or H-3, display the three-bladed radiation warning symbol, and state "Caution-Radioactive Materials." Click here for information on identification and handling. Tritium exit signs cannot be disposed of in the ordinary trash or given to another individual not specifically licensed by the CDPH or Nuclear Regulatory Commission. Persons installing and removing exit signs should take caution to minimize their exposure in the event the glass tubes are broken. |
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Explosives |
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. |
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Eyeglasses |
Consider donation for prescription glasses in good condition to a Lion's Club collection center. 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. Many thrifts accept sunglasses and readers for reuse to their customers. Broken beyond repair glasses belong in the garbage. Find a participating eye doctor's office to drop-off old contact lenses & blister packs for recycling through TerraCycle. Share unexpired new condition contact lenses and solution to your community for reuse with perscription details. |
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Facial Tissues - Used |
If used for chemicals place in the trash. |
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Ferrous Scrap Metal/Steel | |||
Fire Extinguishers |
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. |
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Fire Hoses |
Consider reuse or repair before disposal. DIY repair resources through iFixit. Offer up locally for folks to upcycle into art, houseware, textiles, and furnishings. Repurposing ideas. |
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Flares - Marine |
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 |
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Flares - Road |
Accepted at Household Hazardous Waste Facilities. |
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Flooring - Non-working |
Consider reuse or repair before disposal. DIY repair resources through iFixit. |
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Flooring - Working |
Consider donation or post online for reuse. |
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Foam Padding |
Consider posting good condition for reuse. |
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Food for Donation |
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. |
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Food Scraps |
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. |
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Food Service Ware - Compostable Plastic - BPI Certified Products |
Consider using reusables instead of single-use items. Most composters across California now view compostable plastic as a contaminant to the finished compost and are screening these and along with other single-use plastics out and putting them into the landfill. Compost is a soil amendment that gets applied to agricultural lands to nourish the soil that the food and beverages we consume are grown. Find PFAS-free compostable fiber-based and plastic 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 shows products without PFOAs and other toxic chemicals. |
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Food Service Ware - Condiment Packets & Cups |
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. |
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Food Service Ware - Paper Products - Poly-coated |
To know if you're paper cup, plate, or to-go container is plastic-lined (e.g. poly-coated) on the inside, look for the shiny plastic coating. Wax-lined cups are quite uncommon though treated like non-polycoated paper (compostable). Foil-lined paper, like cake pads, boxes, or cupcake liners, belongs in the garbage. Consider carrying reusables with you for coffee and tea drinks and take-out food. Ask your local eateries about replacing disposables with reusables. |
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Food Service Ware - Paper Products - Uncoated |
Consider replacing disposables with reusables. |
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Food Service Ware - Plastic Clamshells/To-Go Containers/Trays |
Consider replacing disposables with reusables. |
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Food Service Ware - Plastic Cups & Plates |
Consider washing for reuse for picnics, parties, kid-friendly events, STEAM projects, and plant starts (cups). |
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Food Service Ware - Plastic Utensils |
Wash & reuse once you have them. Consider sharing large quantities for reuse by the community. 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. |
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Food Service Ware - Reusables |
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."
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Food Service Ware - Styrofoam Products |
Consider reusables. Most cities have Styrofoam take out container bans. Contact your City directly to report an eatery distributing food in Styrofoam. |
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Food Service Ware - To-Go Cup Lids |
Bring your own cup or mug. Plastic lids and straws are not recyclable. |
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Food Service Ware - Wood/Bamboo Products |
Consider washing for reuse or repurposing before composting. |
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Freezer - Non-working |
Consider repair before disposal. DIY repair resources through iFixit. |
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Freezer - Working |
Consider donation or post online for reuse. |
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Frozen Food Boxes | |||
Fuel |
Do not mix old fuel with any other solutions. Even water can be dangerous. Mark your gas can with your name and number when you drop off at the HHW Facilities, and they will let you know when you can return to pick it up. |
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Furniture - Non-working |
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. |
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Furniture - Small - Working |
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. |
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Furniture - Working |
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. |
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Game Cartridges - Non-working |
Consider reuse or repair before disposal. DIY repair resources through iFixit. |
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Game Cartridges -Working |
Consider reuse through donation or resale. |
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Gaming Systems & Accessories - Non-working |
Consider reuse or repair before disposal. DIY repair resources through iFixit. |
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Gaming Systems & Accessories - Working |
Consider reuse through donation or resale. |
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Garage Doors - Non-working |
Consider repair before disposal. DIY repair resources through iFixit. |
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Gel Ice Packs |
Consider reusable, refillable ice packs. Do not empty gel packs down the drain or toilet. Reuse as possible before disposal. |
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Gift Tissue Paper |
Consider folding for reuse for future celebrations or creative reuse. |
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Glass Bottles & Jars - Non-CRV |
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 |
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Glass Bottles - CRV |
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. |
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Glassware - Decorative & Kitchen - Non-working |
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 |
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Glassware - Decorative & Kitchen - Working |
Consider donation or resale of items in serviceable condition. 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 |
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Grandma's Fruitcake |
It's okay, we won't tell. |
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Greeting Cards - Musical/Electronic Piece |
Separate paper for curbside recycling and musical/electronic piece for reuse or add to your e-waste collection box |
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Greeting Cards - Unused |
Consider reuse or donation of cards in good condition. |
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Hair and Fur Trimmings |
Chemically treated hair cannot be placed in the green compost/yard waste bin. |
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Hardware & Fasteners |
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. |
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Hazardous Materials & Wastes |
Alameda County: Large quantities, materials/waste from large businesses, and waste requiring pick-up is not an option for the Household, Landlord, & Small Business Hazardous Waste Programs and Facilities in Alameda County. Contact a hazardous waste company for pick-up. |
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Hearing Aids | |||
Helium Tanks - Empty | |||
Helium Tanks - Non-empty |
Use up contents as possible before dropping-off at an Household Hazardous Waste Facility. |
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Holiday & Seasonal Items |
Consider reuse or donation of good condition items, repair, or creative reuse. |
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Hoses - Garden/Rubber - Non-working |
Old hoses will jam recycling machinery and are not accepted in curbside recycling. |
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Hot Tub & Accessories |
Consider reuse or repair before disposal. DIY repair resources through iFixit. Offer locally for reuse through FreeCycle, Buy Nothing, Craigslist, NextDoor. |
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Household Cleaners |
Consider donating unused or little-used items in good condition to those transitioning into new housing or women's and family shelters. |
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Houseware - Non-working |
Consider reuse or repair before disposal. DIY repair resources through iFixit. |
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Houseware - Working |
Consider donation or resale for items in good condition. |
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Industrial Equipment |
Consider posting to industry online marketplaces, sell it back to the distributor or manufacturer, donate it, find an equipment broker, auction it, or if too broken to repair, recycle it. |
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Ink Cartridges | |||
Inks | |||
Insulation - New/Unused |
Clean, like-new bagged insulation may be donated to a building reuse center or offered online for reuse. |
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Insulation - Used |
Bag old insulation and place in the garbage. |
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Jewelry |
Consider donation or resale. |
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Jewelry - Non-working |
Consider reuse or repair before disposal. DIY repair resources through iFixit. |
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Junk Mail Opt-Out |
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. |
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Keys |
Electronic key fobs are e-waste. Plastic covered keys are trash. Collect metal keys for scrap metal drop-off. Consider reuse as ornaments or weights for curtains/drapes. |
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Kitchen Fixtures |
Consider donation, reuse, or offering online items in working condition. |
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Knives & Shears |
Consider resharpening, repair, and donation before disposal. |
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Lab Equipment |
Consdider donation and repair before disposal. |
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Lab Glassware - Poor Condition |
Materials that should not be mixed into curbside recycling: glass labware, 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 |
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Lab Glassware - Working |
Clean, good/new condition materials may be accepted by school, college, or university science labs. |
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Lab Plastics - New/Unused |
Clean, good/new condition materials may be accepted by school, college, or university science labs. |
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Lab Plastics - Used |
Contact TerraCycle about their lab materials recycling programs. |
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Lacquers/Stains/Varnishes | |||
Lava Rock |
Consider reuse or donation. |
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Lawnmower - Non-working |
Consider reuse or repair before disposal. DIY repair resources through iFixit. Drain gas and oil before disposal; capture and cap these materials for drop-off to your local hazardous waste facility. |
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Lawnmower - Working |
Consider resale or donation for reuse. |
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Lead Paint Chips |
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's website at https://www.epa.gov/lead/lead-renovation-repair-and-painting-program-rules. Find a list of local testing service providers for lead in soil and paint here. |
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Lead-Painted Materials |
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. |
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Leather Remnants & Scraps |
Consider reuse or donation local crafters. |
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Light Bulbs - CFLs |
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. |
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Light Bulbs - Fluorescent Tubes |
Do not throw fluorescent or other toxic mercury-containing lights in the trash or recycling bins. High intensity discharge, metal halide, sodium and neon lights all contain toxic mercury as well. It is illegal to throw mercury lights in the trash. 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! See EPA guidance for cleanup (epa.gov/cfl). 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. When improperly managed, mercury products contaminate California’s drinking water, fish populations, soil, and air. The mercury limit in drinking water is 2 parts per billion in California, since even low quantities are extremely hazardous. Mercury exposure can harm the brain, heart, and immune and nervous systems of your employees, contractors, and tenants. Mercury exposure is especially dangerous to children, pregnant women, and the elderly. |
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Light Bulbs - Incandescent/Halogen | |||
Light Bulbs - LED |
ED (or light-emitting diode) lights, which are highly energy efficient and increasing in use, do not contain mercury. However, these lights have been found to contain other toxic metals (e.g., copper, lead, nickel, and chromium) that are harmful to human health and the environment. Manage these lights as hazardous waste like CFLs and fluorescent tubes. |
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Lighting Fixtures - Non-working |
Consider reuse or repair before disposal. DIY repair resources through iFixit. |
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Lighting Fixtures - Working |
Consider donation, resale, or reuse. |
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Linens/Blankets/Towels - Good Condition |
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. |
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Linens/Blankets/Towels - Poor Condition |
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. Local animal shelters and wildlife rehabilitation facilities often accept donations of towels and sheets; see their in-kind donation pages on their websites. |
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Living Plants |
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. |
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Luggage - Non-working |
Consider reuse or repair before disposal. DIY repair resources through iFixit. Cobblers who specialize in shoes often can fix or repair zippers in luggage, purses & backpacks, and broken wheel replacement videos can be found online. |
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Luggage - Working |
Consider donation for reuse. |
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Magazines |
Consider posting online when you have collection or offer to your hair salon, doctors office, other waiting room, or exchange space. |
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Major Household Appliances - Non-working |
Consider reuse or repair before disposal. DIY repair resources through iFixit. |
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Major Household Appliances - Working |
Consider donation, resale, or reuse. |
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Mannequins |
Consider reuse or donation before disposal. |
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Manure |
Consider offering online or to community gardeners for composting if you have horses, livestock, chickens, or rabbits. The Bay Area Equestrian Network lists manure management companies. |
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Marine Supplies & Equipment |
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 |
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Maternity & Nursing Supplies - Working |
Consider reuse for clean, good condition items for local families through hand-me-downs, swaps, or online postings. |
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Mattresses & Box Springs |
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. |
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Medals/Trophies/Ribbons | |||
Medical Equipment & Surplus |
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. |
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Medical Waste |
Contact a commercial medical waste pick-up provider for a one-time or regularly scheduled collection service. |
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Medications |
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.
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Mercury Thermometers |
Mercury is readily absorbed into the body when you touch it and poses a risk to the environment in landfills. What to do with a broken mercury thermometer. For additional safe disposal locations call 1-800-CLEANUP (1-800-253-2687). |
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Mercury Thermostats |
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. |
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Mercury-Containing Items |
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. |
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Metal Bottle Caps | |||
Metal Cans - Non-CRV |
Cans must be empty and drip-free before recycling. |
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Metal Jar Lids | |||
Metal Pipe | |||
Metal Sinks & Toilets | |||
Microscopes & Accessories - Non-working |
Consider reuse or repair before disposal. DIY repair resources through iFixit. |
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Microwave - Non-working |
Consider reuse or repair before disposal. DIY repair resources through iFixit. |
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Microwave - Working |
Consider donation or resale. |
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Milk Carton/Ice Cream Container |
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. |
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Mirror |
Broken mirrors and the broken shards contaminate curbside recycling; dispose of in them in the trash. Donate or reuse mirrors in good condition. |
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Mixed Debris |
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. |
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Motor Oil |
California Certified Used Oil Collection Centers will take used motor oil from the public and will pay you 40¢ a gallon. Most centers will take up to 5 gallons at a time. Used Motor Oil Certified Collection Center Drop-off Location Finder Certified center managers will not accept used motor oil that has been contaminated with other fluids such as antifreeze, solvents, gasoline, or water. Bring contaminated motor oil to a Household Hazardous Waste Facility. See the Used Motor Oil Fact Sheet for more information. Boat Waste resources: Boating Clean & Green, Pumpout Nav App, SF Bay Clean Boating Map, Bilge Care & Preventing Oil Spills |
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Moving Boxes & Packing Materials |
Post online for reuse. |
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Multi-layer Plastic Packaging | |||
Musical Instruments & Gear - Non-working |
Consider reuse or repair before disposal. DIY repair resources through iFixit. |
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Musical Instruments & Gear - Working |
Consider donation or posting online for reuse. |
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Nail polish - Empty | |||
Nail polish - Non-empty |
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. |
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Needles & Syringes |
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. |
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Neon Lights |
Donate or post online good condition items. |
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Newspaper | |||
Non-ferrous Scrap Metal | |||
Nothing | Some types of nothing are more fun than other types of nothing... | ||
Office Chair |
Consider reuse or repair before disposal of a non-working, poor condition office chair. DIY office chair repair resources through iFixit. Replacement wheels are readily available and easy to replace. |
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Office Furniture/Equipment - Working |
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. |
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Oil Filters |
Put your filter in a plastic bag or sealed container. If your curbside program does not have a pick-up program, California Certified Used Oil Collection Centers will also take used oil filters from the public. Call first. Used Motor Oil Certified Collection Center Drop-off Location Finder Oil filters are considered hazardous waste and are banned from landfills, however, they are also completely recyclable. Each filter has about a pound of re-usable steel. Each oil filter has on average, more than 10 fluid ounces of used motor oil, even after draining! All of this trapped motor oil adds up to more than two million gallons of used oil going into the environment, the water system or into landfills in California each year from filters that aren’t properly recycled. Oil recovered from the recycled filters is made back into motor oil.
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Oil-filled Heaters - Non-working |
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. |
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Oxygen Cylinders |
Find the label on the cannister and contact the medical supply company that the oxygen was rented from. |
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Packaged Food - Expired/Non-working |
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. |
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Packaged Foodgrade Liquids - Expired/ Non-working |
For commercial volumes, consider offering to businesses who could use the product for non-human consumption applications. Depackage. Pour contents down drain. Check if packaging is accepted for recycling. Recycle empty, dry rigid plastics, glass, and metals. |
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Packing Peanuts - Starch-based |
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. |
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Packing Peanuts - Styrofoam |
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. |
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Paint - Interior & Exterior - New/Unopened |
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. |
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Paint - Interior & Exterior - Used/Wet |
Use up wet, leftover house paint or offer it up to community members. 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. Paint Waste: Empty, dried out paint cans and buckets may be accepted for recycling. Stirrers, pans and brushes with dried paint go into the garbage. Chemical soaked rags are accepted by some Household Hazardous Waste Facilities. Empty spray paint belongs in the recycing bin (cap off); use up or safely dispose of cans spray paint. 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. |
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Paint Cans & Buckets - Empty & Dry |
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. |
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Pallets - Plastic - Reusable |
Consider contacting the manufacturer or distributor for take back or reuse. Post for reuse with dimensions, condition, brand, and age. Learn more about the financial benefits of switching to reusable transport packaging and containers at UseReusables.org. |
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Pallets - Wooden - Broken |
Post for reuse - 100's of repurposing projects on the internet - or find a recycler. |
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Pallets - Wooden - Working |
Post for reuse - so many repurposing projects on the internet - or find a recycler. |
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Paper | |||
Paper - Carbon | |||
Paper - Plastic Laminated | |||
Paper - Shredded |
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. |
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Paper Bags |
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. |
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Paper Bags - Polycoated |
Consider reusing as trash bin liners/bags or collection bags for used batteries, bulbs, or e-waste. |
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Paper Receipts - Thermal | |||
Paper Straws |
Consider carrying or requesting reusable options. |
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Paper Towels & Napkins | |||
Paperboard Boxes/Tubes |
Consider art and science reuse projects with littles before recycling. If food-soiled or wet, compost paperboard. Paperboard covered in metallic foil belongs in the garbage. |
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Personal Care & Beauty Product Packaging |
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. |
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Personal Care & Beauty Products - New/Unused |
Use it up or donate. Per CalRecycle, please do not put non-medicated lotions, cosmetics, fragrances, sunscreen agents, and similar products down the drain or into the toilet; the trash is the best "away." Click here for medicated lotions, creams and shampoos, and here for nail polish. |
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Personal Care & Beauty Products - Used |
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. |
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Pet Supplies - Working |
Consider donating or post online for reuse of good condition items, or what list what needs to be repaired. |
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Pet Waste |
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. |
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Phonebooks |
Click here to opt-out of the Yellow Pages Phonebook. |
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Photographs | |||
Pianos and Organs - Non-working |
Repaired and refurbished pianos, delivered locally, are more apt to find a new home. Broken pianos are very difficult to rehome. |
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Pianos and Organs - Working |
Repaired and refurbished pianos, delivered locally, are more apt to find a new home. |
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Pill Bottles |
Consider reuse or donation of clean, empty bottles with attached lid before recycling as possible. 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. |
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Pillows - Bed |
Consider washing, replacing the cover, and reusing or donating as possible. Tips for washing different pillow types. |
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Pillows - Decorative |
Consider washing, replacing the cover, and reusing or donating as possible. Tips for washing different pillow types. |
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Pillows - Poor Condition |
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. |
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Pizza Box - Greasy | |||
Pizza Box - Non-greasy | |||
Plant Pots - Broken | |||
Plant Pots - Ceramic |
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 |
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Plant Pots - Plastic |
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. |
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Plastic Bags |
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. |
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Plastic Bottle - CRV |
Empty and drip-free. Click here to find a bottle & can redemption center near you. 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. Many beverages packaged in aluminum, glass, plastic and bi-metal containers are eligible for CRV. |
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Plastic Bottle - Non-CRV |
Bottles and jugs must be empty and drip-free with lid reattached before recycling. |
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Plastic Bubble Envelopes |
Consider reuse before disposal. Bubble envelopes that are all plastic (without paper lining and not Mylar) may be collected with clean plastic film & bags for recycling. |
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Plastic Bucket | |||
Plastic Corrugated Signs |
Consider reusing these signs for messaging that is important to you or your community, or repurpose for schoolyard art projects attached to fencing with zip ties. The wire stand can be recycled at scrap metal collection facilities. Putting the stand in a curbside recycling cart jams recycling machinery. If printing these signs, think about how they could be evergreen - reused over time. For example, a graduation lawn sign without the year to be reused by graduates annually. |
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Plastic Film & Wrap |
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. |
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Plastic Lids & Caps - Bottles and Jars | |||
Plastic Packaging - Blisterpak | |||
Plastic Shower Curtain Liners |
Consider reuse or repair before disposal. New in package liners will be accepted as houseware at thrifts. Do not place old plastic shower curtain liners in recycling bins as they will jam the equipment. |
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Plastic Strapping | |||
Plastic Straws | |||
Plastic Tarps | |||
Plastic Wide Mouth Container | |||
Plate Glass |
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 |
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Plexiglass | |||
Plumbing Fixtures & Supplies | |||
Polyester Batting/Filling |
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. |
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Pool Cover - Non-working |
Consider reuse or repair before disposal. |
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Porcelain Toilets & Sinks | |||
Pots & Pans - Non-working |
Consider reuse or repair before disposal. Non-stick pans can be recoated if they start sticking. |
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Pots & Pans - Working |
Consider donation or posting online for reuse. |
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Printers/Faxes - Non-working |
Consider reuse or repair before disposal. DIY repair resources through iFixit. |
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Printers/Faxes - Working |
Consider donation or posting online for reuse. |
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Propane Cylinders - 1 lb - Empty Single-use |
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. |
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Propane Cylinders - 1 lb - Refillable |
Reusables can last up to 10 years and can be refilled hundreds of times. Reusables save money because you only pay for the gas and filling service, not the container! Reusables reduce the impact on landfills and the environment. |
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Purses & Backpacks - Non-working |
Consider reuse or repair before disposal. DIY repair resources through iFixit. |
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Purses & Backpacks - Working |
Consider donation or posting online for reuse. |
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PVC | |||
Radios - Non-working |
Consider reuse or repair before disposal. DIY repair resources through iFixit or local Fixit clinics. Radios without "electronics" are considered electrical and may go into the garbage when beyond repair, reuse or refurbishing. Digitial &/or bluetooth radios and speakers with electronic components - think digital screen and having a computer chip - would be considered an electronic device, and when beyond repair, refurbishing or reuse, considered e-waste. |
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Rags - Paint/Chemical/Oil Soiled |
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. |
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Railroad Ties | |||
Records | |||
Refrigerator - Non-working |
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. |
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Refrigerator - Working |
Consider donation or posting online for reuse. |
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Reusable Bags |
When shopping or dining out, bring your reusable bags, reuse plastic and paper bags, or refuse a bag. For information on Alameda County's Bag Law, click here, or on the California State Bag Law, click here. |
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Rigid Plastics |
Container/material must be empty, drip-free, at least 4" (inches) tall and fit in the cart/bin with the lid closed. |
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Rock/Gravel - Clean | |||
Roofing - Asphalt Composition Shingles | |||
Roofing - Clay Tile | |||
Roofing - Concrete Tile | |||
Roofing - Tar & Gravel | |||
Roofing - Wood Shingles | |||
Roofing Materials - Reclaimed | |||
Rubber Bands |
Gather in small containers or bags to donate for reuse for student arts and crafts projects and the like. |
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Rubber Items | |||
Rugs & Mats - Non-working |
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. |
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Rugs & Mats - Working |
Consider donation or posting online for reuse. 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. |
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Sand |
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. |
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Satellite Dish - Non-working |
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. |
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Sawdust - Composite Wood/Painted Wood |
This is not accepted in composting or greenwaste. |
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Sawdust - Untreated Wood |
Sawdust and scraps from wood that is made with glues, like plywood or engineered lumber, belongs in the trash. |
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School/Office Supplies - Working |
Consider donation or posting online for reuse. |
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Scrap Metal | |||
Sewing Machine - Working |
Consider donation or posting online for reuse. |
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Sewing Machines - Non-working |
Consider reuse or repair before disposal, or DIY repair through iFixit or FixIt Clinics. |
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Shoes - Good Condition |
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. |
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Shoes - Poor Condition |
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. |
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Single-use Personal Protective Equipment |
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. |
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Small Engines |
Consider reuse or repair before disposal. DIY repair resources through iFixit. Consider repair and reuse before disposal. Remove all engine fluids before recycling or disposal. |
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Small Household Appliances - Non-working |
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. |
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Small Household Appliances - Working |
Consider donation or posting online for reuse. Needs a little repair? Find DIY repair resources through iFixit or local Fixit Clinics. |
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Smoke & Carbon Monoxide Alarms - Non-working |
Accepted at the Household Hazardous Waste Facilities. |
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Soil - Clean | |||
Soil - Contaminated |
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. |
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Solar Panels - Non-working |
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 Universal Waste Recyclers that handle Solar Panels (PV Modules). 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. |
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Solar Panels - Working |
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. |
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Sponges - Natural | |||
Sponges - Synthetic | |||
Sporting Goods - Non-working |
Consider reuse or repair before disposal. DIY repair resources through iFixit. |
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Sporting Goods - Working |
Consider donation or posting online for reuse. |
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Stove/Oven - Non-working |
Consider reuse or repair before disposal. DIY repair resources through iFixit. |
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Stove/Oven - Working |
Consider reuse or repair before recycling, or DIY repair through iFixit. |
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Straw/Hay |
Offer portions of or whole bales to local gardeners, schools, or farms. |
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Strawberry Baskets - Plastic | |||
Stuffed Animals |
Consider repair or reuse for good condition, clean stuffed animals. Use very loved stuffies as the filling in beanbags, pillows, and pet bed fill. Consider adding in a squeaker or empty plastic beverage bottle to reuse as a dog squeaky toy. |
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Styrofoam Blocks |
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. |
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Styrofoam Sheets | |||
Tape |
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. |
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Tea Bags |
Consider reusable tea brewing systems. Tea "bags" made of paper or another natural material like cotton or silk, go in the compost bin, however "bags" made of plastic mesh should go in the trash after the tea leaves are put in the compost bin. |
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Telephones |
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. |
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Television - Non-working |
Consider reuse or repair before ewaste recycling, or DIY repair through iFixit. |
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Television - Working |
Consider donation or posting online for reuse. |
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Tennis Balls |
Consider donation for repurposing for dog toys, the bottom of student chairs, and the bottom of walkers. |
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Tents and Outdoor Gear |
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. |
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Textiles - Good Condition/Size |
Textiles include bolts, large swaths, yardage of fabric, leather, or textiles for upholstery, quilting, clothing, sewing projects, that can be reused by an individual or business. Consider reuse and donation for intact, unstained, and clean textiles. For poor condition textiles, choose repair, and stain removal (clothing/ linens/ furniture fabric/ shoes) before donating to an organization that has reuse and/or rag and textile shredding capactity. Scrap fabric? Consider tiny projects. Commercial entity? See the California Textile Resource Map (CPSC): Factories, Recyclers, Reuse, Repair, & Upcycle, Collectors
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Tile |
Consider posting leftover boxes for reuse or donation to a building supply store. |
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Tire/Rubber Scraps |
Contact a local tire store for acceptance. |
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Tires |
Contact a local tire dealer about recycling. Use CalRecycle to search for a tire recycler. |
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Tires - Bicycle |
Contact a local tire or bicycle store about collection for recycling. Find tire changing, tube replacement & patching, fixing a broken poke, and wheel realignment information on the Culture of Repair & The Crucible's Bike Repair Manual & Bike Maintenance Manual. |
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Toner Cartridges |
Contact your Brand or manufacturer about take-back/recycling programs. |
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Tools & Accessories - Garden - Non-working |
Consider reuse or repair before disposal, or DIY repair through iFixit. |
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Tools & Accessories - Garden - Working |
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 |
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Tools & Accessories - Hand - Non-working |
Consider reuse or repair before disposal, or DIY repair through iFixit. |
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Tools & Accessories - Hand - Working |
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 |
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Tools & Accessories - Power - Non-working |
Consider reuse or repair before disposal, or DIY repair through iFixit. |
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Tools & Accessories - Power - Working |
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 |
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Toys & Games - Non-working |
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. |
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Toys & Games - Plastic Parts Only |
Consider posting these as replacement parts for other families, reusing them for art projects, future pinatas or prizes for school fairs. |
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Toys & Games - With Electronics |
Consider donating to local families, friends, child care facilities, and organizations. |
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Toys & Games - With Electronics - Non-working |
Consider reuse or repair before ewaste recycling or DIY repair through iFixit. |
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Toys & Games - Working |
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. |
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Transparency Film Plastic |
Consider posting for reuse before disposal. |
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Transport Containers - Reusable |
Offer to good condition to similar or other businesses with similar operations or supply chains. Contact the manufacturer about recycling options. Learn more about the financial benefits of switching to reusable transport packaging and containers at UseReusables.org. |
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Trash Compactor |
Consider reuse or repair before recycling, or DIY repair through iFixit. |
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Typewriters - Non-working |
Consider reuse or repair before disposal, or DIY repair through iFixit. |
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Typewriters - Working |
Consider reuse or repair before recycling, or DIY repair through iFixit. |
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Tyvek | |||
Vacuum Cleaner Bags & Filters |
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. |
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Vacuum Cleaners - Non-working |
Consider reuse or repair before disposal, or DIY repair through iFixit. |
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Vacuum Cleaners - Working |
Consider reuse or repair before recycling, or DIY repair through iFixit. |
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Vaporizers |
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. 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. CalRecycle has cannabis waste regulatory & disposal information. |
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VCRs/CD/DVD Players - Non-working |
Consider reuse or repair before ewaste recycling, or DIY repair through iFixit. |
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VCRs/CD/DVD Players - Working |
Consider donation or posting online for reuse. |
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Video Projectors - Non-working |
Consider reuse or repair before ewaste recycling, or DIY repair through iFixit. |
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Washer/Dryer - Non-working |
Consider reuse or repair before recycling or DIY repair through iFixit. |
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Washer/Dryer - Working |
Consider repair, resale, or donation before recycling. |
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Water Bottles - Reusable |
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. |
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Water Coolers - Non-working |
Consider reuse or repair before disposal, or DIY repair through iFixit. |
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Water Coolers - Working |
Consider donation or resale. |
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Water Filters |
Contact your water filter brand to determine if they have a take-back program for recycling. |
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Water Heaters - Non-working |
Consider reuse or repair before recycling, or DIY repair through iFixit. |
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Water Heaters - Working |
Consider donation or resale before recycling. |
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Wax & Parchment Paper | Wax paper may be coated with paraffin wax (petroleum-based), soybean, vegetable oil, or beeswax. Parchment paper is coated with silicone plastic. As plastics break down to smaller plastics, and large-scale composting facilities are working to achieve organic status for the finished compost product that is applied to local gardens, farms, and orchards, keeping petroleum-based products out of the green bin works to ensure a cleaner finished soil amendment and less plastic in our soil and plants. | ||
Wedding Items |
Gift the gift of reuse by donating, reselling, or recrafting pieces that made your celebration meaningful. |
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Wigs |
Consider reuse or repair before disposal. |
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Window Screens | |||
Window Treatments - Non-working |
Consider creative reuse or repair before disposal, or DIY repair through iFixit. |
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Window Treatments - Working |
Consider reuse or donation. |
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Windows - Working |
Consider reuse or donation. |
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Wood - Engineered/Composite |
This is not accepted for composting. |
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Wood - Logs |
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. |
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Wood - Milling Services |
Consider partnering with arborists and cities to transform specimen trees. |
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Wood - Painted |
Painted wood may not be composted or recycled. |
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Wood - Treated |
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.
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Wood - Untreated |
Consider reuse before mulching or composting. |
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Wood Chips |
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. |
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Wood Scraps - Untreated |
Wood that is made with glues, like plywood or engineered lumber, belongs in the trash. |
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Wrapping Paper - Metallic |
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. |
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Wrapping Paper - Non-Metallic |
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. |
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X-Ray Film |
X-ray recycling services including the chemical removal and recycling of silver from imaging films which is mostly polyester. |
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Yard Trimmings & Plant Debris |
Removed living lawn/turf AND artifcial turf belongs in the Garbage/Landfill. Leave your unwanted living turf/lawn in place by sheetmulching with compost & mulch and you will be able to plant directly into the sheetmulched area. Keep finished compost clean by not adding any plastics to the green cart. Finished compost is applied to agriculture and ranch lands to enhance water holding capacity, add nutrients and minerals, and sequester carbon in in soil. You can add compost around the base of plants on top of the soil. Use the LawntoGarden Marketplace for compost & mulch sources. Too many trimmings for your cart?
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