Recycling How-To Information – Tips 

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Solid Waste Sorting Tips

Know What Goes Where

Green for ORGANICS, Blue for RECYCLE, and Charcoal for TRASH  – and what goes in each one! View quick tips on what goes where. 

RECYCLE EMPTY JARS & BOTTLES

When recycling jars and containers, just make sure they are empty, there is no need to clean and dry them. Yay.
RECYCLE

DON’T BAG YOUR RECYCLABLES!

Recyclables in plastic bags can’t be handled by sorting equipment, so the recycling goes in the landfill with the trash. Not good!

FLIMSY PLASTICS GO IN THE TRASH.

Plastic wrap and plastic shopping bags contaminate recycling and damage sorting equipment.
TRASH

THINK REUSE AND REDUCE ALONG WITH RECYCLE!

Donate or repurpose clothing, toys, and housewares whenever possible.

YES, ALUMINUM CANS ARE RECYCLABLE

Recycled aluminum is transformed into many different things. PLUS, in a landfill, aluminum cans take 80-100 years to break down.

COATED PAPER PLATES AND CUPS GO IN THE TRASH.

Remember this for your next party.

PUT TANGLERS IN THE TRASH!

Garden hoses, cords, and wire or plastic hangers are not recyclable!

RIGID CONTAINERS ARE RECYCLABLE!

Think detergent and mustard bottles – but make sure to empty them of liquids or solids first!

THINK GREEN FOR THOSE WILTED ROSES.

Plants of any kind go in the green cart, not the trash. Your garden thanks you!

YES, FOOD OF ALL TYPES CAN GO RIGHT INTO THE GREEN CART!

From overripe fruit to chicken bones to freezer-burned meat. You get the picture.

CFL, LED and HID BULBS ARE HOUSEHOLD HAZARDOUS WASTE (HHW)

Drop off at an Alameda County HHW facility for free! Incandescent and halogen light bulbs are not hazardous waste and can go in the trash.

PIZZA BOXES GO INTO THE GREEN CART

Any uncoated paper used for food can too!

TAKE-OUT CONTAINERS GO IN THE TRASH!

They may look recyclable, but they are not.

Three bins: Organics (food waste), Recycle (paper, cans, bottles), Trash (styrofoam, hangers, hoses, mask).
Know What Goes Where Green For Organics, Blue For Recycle, And Charcoal For Trash – and what goes in each one! View quick tips on what goes where.
Two transparent glass jars, one with a metal lid.
Recycle Empty Jars & Bottles When recycling jars and containers, just make sure they are empty, there is no need to clean and dry them. Yay. Recycle
A trash bag with a red "X" beside a trash bin, indicating not to use loose bags.
Don’t Bag Your Recyclables! Recyclables in plastic bags can’t be handled by sorting equipment, so the recycling goes in the landfill with the trash. Not good!
A blue plastic bag and a roll of clear plastic wrap.
Flimsy Plastics Go In The Trash. Plastic wrap and plastic shopping bags contaminate recycling and damage sorting equipment. Trash
A pile of assorted clothing, including jeans, plaid shirt, and colorful fabrics stacked together.
Think Reuse And Reduce Along With Recycle! Donate or repurpose clothing, toys, and housewares whenever possible.
Eight colorful beverage cans, including soft drinks and beer.
Yes, Aluminum Cans Are Recyclable Recycled aluminum is transformed into many different things. plus, in a landfill, aluminum cans take 80-100 years to break down.
Colorful striped paper plates and cups with straws on a table.
Coated Paper Plates And Cups Go In The Trash. Remember this for your next party.
Coiled green garden hose with brass fittings, and three metal clothes hangers on top.
Put Tanglers In The Trash! Garden hoses, cords, and wire or plastic hangers are not recyclable!
Various colored detergent bottles in different shapes and sizes.
Rigid Containers Are Recyclable! Think detergent and mustard bottles – but make sure to empty them of liquids or solids first!
A bouquet of dried red roses with brownish leaves and stems.
Think Green For Those Wilted Roses. Plants Of Any Kind Go In The Green Cart, Not The Trash. Your Garden Thanks You!
A framed image showing a bitten cookie, chicken bones, leftover vegetables, and a partially eaten burger.
Yes, Food Of All Types Can Go Right Into The Green Cart! From overripe fruit to chicken bones to freezer-burned meat. You get the picture.
Three different types of light bulbs: an LED bulb, an incandescent bulb, and a compact fluorescent lamp (CFL).
CFL, LED and HID Bulbs Are Household Hazardous Waste (HHW) Drop off at an Alameda County HHW facility for free! Incandescent and halogen light bulbs are not hazardous waste and can go in the trash.
An open, empty pizza box with some grease stains and crumbs.
Pizza Boxes Go Into The Green Cart Any uncoated paper used for food can too!
A clear, square, ribbed plastic container with a lid.
Take-out Containers Go In The Trash! They may look recyclable, but they are not.
Reusable bottle, folding cup, striped towels, wooden and metal utensils - spoon, fork, knife, and straw. Eco-friendly set.
Skip The DisposablesS! Carry your own reusable bag, water bottle, coffee cup, and utensils.
Three bins: Organics (food waste), Recycle (paper, cans, bottles), Trash (styrofoam, hangers, hoses, mask).
Two transparent glass jars, one with a metal lid.
A trash bag with a red "X" beside a trash bin, indicating not to use loose bags.
A blue plastic bag and a roll of clear plastic wrap.
A pile of assorted clothing, including jeans, plaid shirt, and colorful fabrics stacked together.
Eight colorful beverage cans, including soft drinks and beer.
Colorful striped paper plates and cups with straws on a table.
Coiled green garden hose with brass fittings, and three metal clothes hangers on top.
Various colored detergent bottles in different shapes and sizes.
A bouquet of dried red roses with brownish leaves and stems.
A framed image showing a bitten cookie, chicken bones, leftover vegetables, and a partially eaten burger.
Three different types of light bulbs: an LED bulb, an incandescent bulb, and a compact fluorescent lamp (CFL).
An open, empty pizza box with some grease stains and crumbs.
A clear, square, ribbed plastic container with a lid.
Reusable bottle, folding cup, striped towels, wooden and metal utensils - spoon, fork, knife, and straw. Eco-friendly set.
Logo of Oro Loma Sanitary District with a heron standing in water surrounded by grass.

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How to Recycle Tips

Duration: 38 seconds

Reducing waste and also recycling whenever possible is good for our community and the environment. Always put empty glass and aluminum containers in the recycling bin. This video covers what is recyclable and other helpful recycling tips.

Recyclables and Compostables: Think Before You Toss!

Duration: 15 seconds

Oro Loma Sanitary District says Think Before You Toss! Put recyclables – like bottles and cans – in the recycling bin and compostables – like food scraps and grass trimmings – in the green bin. Let’s all reduce what goes into the landfill.

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