Recycling in San Ramon, CA

What you can recycle depends on where you live so check with your waste management service and they will be able to tell you what you can do to help the environment.  In my town the following items are allowed as of 1/5/2010.  For the most updated list check their website by entering your zip code.

 Acceptable Items for recycling (Gray cart with black lid)

• Newspaper
• Cardboard
• Magazines
• Envelopes
• Phone Books
• Mixed Paper
• Office Paper
• Junk Mail
• Catalogs
• Cereal boxes
• Drink boxes
• Shoe boxes
• Flattened Cardboard Boxes
• Corrugated Cardboard
• Paper Bags
• Milk & Juice Cartons and Boxes
• Paperboard Boxes & Egg Cartons
• Aluminum Cans, Containers & clean Foil
• Aluminum
• Aerosol cans
• Steel and Tin Cans
• Glass Bottles and Jars
• Plastic Bottles, Containers & Jugs #1-7

Unacceptable Items

• Styrofoam Products
• Mirrors
• Windows
• Animal or human waste of any kind
• Asbestos
• Contaminated Soil
• Sharps (medical needles)
• Tires
• Plastic Cutlery and dishes
• Juice pouches
• Ceramic dishes and cups
• Plastic Bags:  clean, flexible plastic bags, plastic stretch and bubble wrap can be recycled by placing it in a single bag, tying the bundle and placing it in the container.

Doorstep Collection Program

• Household hazardous Waste & Sharps: On call collection of chemicals, paint, fluorescent lights, batteries, and sharps/needles from your doorstep and no charge. Call 800-449-7587 or email atyourdoor@wm.com or visit www.curbsideinc.com.
• Used Moter oil and Filter:  call 925-837-3356 to request VM oil jugs and oil filter bags.  Place on street against the curb, 3 feet from cart.  Full jugs will be replaced with new ones.
• Plastic Bags:  Clean, flexible plastic bags, plastic stretch and bubble wrap can be recycled by placing materials in a single plastic bag, self tying the bundle and placing it in the recyclables container.

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Yard Trimmings & Food Scraps (Green Cart)

• Anything edible
• Breads & grains
• Vegetable and fruit
• Dairy
• Meats and bones
• Coffee grounds
• Coffee filters & tea bags
• Food soiled paper
• Paper cups and plates
• Paper towels, napkins and wrappers
• Pizza boxes
• To go boxes and containers
• Ice Cream and milk cartons
• Waxed cardboard
• Plant clippings
• Leaves and grass
• Uncoated untreated wood and sawdust

Do not include in Yard waste:

• Treated or coated wood
• Cactus
• Palm
• Pet waste
• Rocks
• Dirt
• Concrete
• Styrofoam
• Plastics
• Metal

Standard Garbage is as follows (gray cart)

• Disposable razors
• Styrofoam
• Diapers
• Broken ceramic dishware
• treated or coated wood
• toothpaste dispensers
• Hoses
• Pet waste

 Don't include:

• household hazardous waste
• batteries
• Fluorescent lights
• cleaning products
• Gardening products
• Paint
• Sharps/needles

 
Although these items are unacceptable by my waste management service there are other areas were I can recycle these.  You can find these places on the Be Green page.

• Appliances & electronic equipment
• Batteries
• Chemicals of any kind
• Fluorescent light fixtures
• Hazardous waste of any kind
• Plastic Bags
• Paints, thinners & solvents
• Television & computer equipments
• Ink Cartridges