Recycling Services for Residential Properties

The Berkeley Ecology Center collects recyclable materials from single family households and apartments up to 9 units. Set your material at the curb by 7 a.m. on the same day as your refuse collection day. Follow the link above for curbside recycling and detailed recycling instructions or call the Ecology Center at (510) 527-5555  7:30 a.m. - 4 p.m.

There will be no recycling collection on Thanksgiving Day, Christmas, or July 4th. Materials will be collected the following week.

Poaching: Poachers who steal materials set out for the City's curbside program cost the City an estimated $15,000/month in lost revenues. Please report poachers to the Ecology Center (510-527-5555) who will contact the police. Include a description of the poacher, vehicle license number and/or description of poacher's vehicle if possible. Discourage poaching by setting out your material on collection morning instead of the night before.

Other Residential Materials

• Plastic Bags: Recycle at most supermarkets - remove food residues first. Ask a supermarket clerk where the bag recycling station is located. Many dry-cleaners also accept used bags.
• Styrofoam^TM Pellets: Many packing/mailing stores will reuse your packing pellets (peanuts) and bubble-wrap. Find a store nearby and bring them in a securely tied plastic bag or box.
• There is currently no viable way to recycle other household plastic packaging or plastic items.
• We now collect garden trimmings every week! For more information, see our plant debris and home composting page, or contact Refuse Customer Service.
• Food Scraps: Fruit and vegetable trimmings can be recycled in a backyard compost bin or worm bin to produce nutritious soil for your garden. Each Berkeley household can order one top-quality home compost bin for only $38 (normal retail price $100). Free classes are available. Call The Rotline at (510) 444-SOIL or look for more information at  www.stopwaste.org. Food scraps can also be recycled in your green cart and picked up weekly.

Bulky Waste Pick-Up: The City collects bulky items from Berkeley residents with 1 - 4 units once a year by appointment. Please contact Refuse Customer Service to schedule an appointment.

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Recycling for Apartment Buildings with 10 Units or More

• How: City crews collect recyclables from apartment buildings of 10 or more units at no additional cost.  Carts or bins are provided for bottles, cans, plastic bottles together, mixed paper, and cardboard for large quantities.  The City will supply brochures and posters for tenants.  Labels on carts have recycling instructions and the pickup day.
• Tips for Apartment Managers: Keep the Recycling carts in a location that is convenient to tenants, protected from theft, and easy to roll to the street.  Usually they will be in the parking garage or behind the building, next to the refuse bin.  This makes it easy for tenants to recycle when they take out their trash.  Some managers put a container by the mailboxes for unwanted junk mail.  The manager or janitor is responsible for placing the carts at the curb on recycling day and removing them from the curb within 24 hours of pickup. Tenants moving in? Call for a special pickup of flattened cardboard boxes.
• Save Money: There is no charge for recycling service. Try recycling for a month, then see how much you can reduce your refuse service.
• How to Sign Up: Contact Refuse Customer Service to request new recycling service or a change in service. You may also send an email. City staff will help you design a program that fits your building. Note: New service must be approved by the building owner or building manager.

What to Recycle: Recycle Glass & Plastic Bottles and Cans Together

• Glass: all colors. Lids and labels can stay on. DO NOT INCLUDE dishes, light bulbs, windows, or pyrex. They melt at a different temperature from glass bottles.
• Cans: "tin" cans, aluminum cans, aluminum foil and trays.
• Plastic: Recycle narrow necked bottles, such as water, soda, milk, juice and detergent bottles. These bottles will be marked with a  or  symbol on the bottom.
• Newspaper: All inserts that come with the newspaper can be recycled with the newspaper. Put them loose into the mixed paper cart.
• Mixed papers: Office papers, junk mail, cereal boxes, wrapping paper, envelopes, magazines, catalogs, phonebooks.  Metal staples, clips, glue, labels, and plastic windows are all ok. DO NOT INCLUDE milk or juice cartons, plastic attachments, food contaminated paper, tissue, paper cups/plates, waxed paper or photographs.
• Corrugated cardboard boxes and brown bags: Flatten boxes and put them in the carts.  Flatten and bundle extra cardboard, then stack it next to cart.  We cannot collect extra cardboard unless these guidelines are followed.  Small amounts can be included with mixed paper.