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Garbage & Recycling

women opening recycling bin

Basics of the Curbside Recycling Program

garbage truck

Collection

For efficient collection, all of San Jose's garbage and recyclables are collected by automated trucks which lift heavy carts and bins with mechanical arms or lifters. When the trucks are full, drivers take garbage to a landfill, and recyclables to a materials recovery facility (MRF) for sorting. The schedules and equipment you may see in your neighborhood will differ depending on the routing efficiencies of the company, and the type of containers being collected.

At single family homes, garbage and recycling are collected on the same day, but hauling companies may choose to collect them in separate trucks or in a single split-body truck that has a divider to keep garbage and recyclables separate. Regardless of the collection method, garbage and recycling materials are never mixed in the trucks, or at the facilities they are taken to. Please continue to keep materials separate in your garbage and recycling carts.

Apartments and condominiums have variable collection schedules due to the type and number of containers. At these sites, garbage and recycling will always be collected in separate vehicles, and often on different days of the week.

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Sorting

At the MRF, the truck driver empties the recyclables onto a conveyer belt. A system of belts, screens, electromagnets, and blasts of air separate paper, plastics, glass, aluminum, and other materials.

While much of the system is automated, workers help separate certain materials by hand. Remember to dispose of your recyclables correctly helps protect their health and safety (e.g., do not recycle needles, diapers, or food waste). Sorted bales and bins of materials are then taken to processing facilities before being sold as resources for making new products.

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garbage bag

Extra Garbage

Place extra garbage in a 32-gallon plastic garbage bag labeled with an Extra Garbage Sticker on the curb near the garbage cart. You may buy Extra Garbage Stickers for $6.25 at all libraries, Save Mart, Lucky, and Safeway stores in San José. A portion of the sticker sales at San José libraries supports library programs.

Your garbage cart lid must be completely closed when you set out your cart at curbside for collection. Otherwise, your garbage may not be collected.

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extra recylables in bag

Extra Recyclables

In San José, collection of recyclables is unlimited. However, the lid of your recycling cart must be closed when you set your cart out at curbside for collection. Place extra recyclables in paper bags on the curb near the recycling cart.

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cans and cartons

Cans & Cartons

Empty and rinse all containers. Flatten cartons, boxes.

Recycling Basics Printable List (PDF, 230 KB)

Recycling Cart

Beverage cartons and boxes (e.g., juice, milk, cream)

Tin, aluminum and steel cans and lids:

Food and beverage cans (soda, tuna, soup, pet food)

Aerosol cans (empty)

Garbage Cart

Foil containers, straws

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extra recylables in bag

Glass

Empty and lightly rinse all containers.

Recycling Basics Printable List (PDF, 230 KB)

Recycling Cart

Brown, clear and green glass bottles and jars (e.g., soda, wine, mayonnaise)

Garbage Cart

Ceramics, cookware, drinking glasses, incandescent bulbs, mirrors, windows, blue glass

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extra recylables in bag

Plastics & Plastic Bags

Empty and lightly rinse all containers. Secure loose plastic bags in a plastic grocery bag.

Recycling Basics Printable List (PDF, 230 KB)

Recycling Cart

Plastics: ONLY items labeled with the numbers 1 through 7 inside the chasing arrows symbol or triangle, such as:

Soda, water, mouthwash and mustard containers

Detergent bottles, flower pots, grocery bags, milk jugs, shampoo bottles, spray bottles, yogurt and margarine tubs

PVC pipe

Squeezable bottles (e.g., honey), dry cleaning and bread bags

Medicine bottles

Egg cartons

Large reusable water bottles, juice jugs

Plastic bags: All bread, dry cleaning, fresh produce, grocery, and newspaper bags

Garbage Cart

Bubble wrap, compact discs, credit cards, disposable diapers, hangers, hoses, pools, shoes, tarps, toys, utensils, plastic lids & caps not marked with the recycling symbols 1-7.

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extra recylables in bag

Paper & Cardboard

Flatten cartons, boxes. Secure loose material (e.g., shredded paper) in plastic grocery bags. Cut large boxes small enough to fit loosely inside the cart. If you have more cardboard than your cart will hold, flatten and cut it into pieces no larger than 4 feet by 4 feet and lean them against the cart.

Recycling Basics Printable List (PDF, 230 KB)

Recycling Cart

Cardboard

Catalogs

Cereal and cracker boxes (remove liners)

Egg cartons

Envelopes (plastic windows OK)

Gift wrap (no metallic/foil)

Magazines

Mail

Newspaper

Newspaper inserts and advertisements (glossy OK)

Office paper (e.g., construction paper, printer paper)

Paper bags

Shoe boxes

Shopping bags (remove handles)

Telephone books

Garbage Cart

Carbon paper, padded or Tyvek® envelopes, paper soiled with anything such as motor oil, paint, or food/grease; paper take-out containers, photographs and photo paper; pizza boxes; thermal fax paper

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extra recylables in bag

Polystyrene (Styrofoam®)

Empty and lightly rinse containers. Secure loose material (e.g., packing peanuts) in plastic grocery bags.

Recycling Basics Printable List (PDF, 230 KB)

Recycling Cart

Cups and plates

Egg cartons

Foam packing

Meat and fruit trays

Packing "peanuts"

Take-out containers

Garbage Cart

Containers soaked with food or grease

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extra recylables in bag

Scrap Metals

Clean and dry household metal items.

Recycling Basics Printable List (PDF, 230 KB)

Recycling Cart

Aerosol cans (empty)

Aluminum foil (clean)

Appliances, small metal (e.g., toaster, waffle iron, blender)

Keys

Metal lids and caps from glass bottles

Paint cans (remove excess paint, let residue dry)

Pots and pans, metal

Garbage Cart

Hangers (wood, metal, plastic), hardware (e.g., nails, screws, nuts, bolts)

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extra recylables in bag

Textiles

Tie clean textiles inside a clear plastic bag.

Recycling Basics Printable List (PDF, 230 KB)

Recycling Cart

Clean cotton, linen, polyester, rayon and wool fabrics:

Blankets and sheets

Clothes

Garbage Cart

Boots and shoes, carpet and rugs, disposable diapers, down-filled items, leather, nylon, pillows, rubber, stuffed animals, vinyl, electric blankets

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extra recylables in bag

Used Motor Oil & Filters

To recycle used motor oil and oil filters at curbside, you must use free City-issued oil jugs and filter bags which are designed to prevent leaks. Place filled oil jugs and filter bags on the curb near your recycling cart for collection. To order the free oil jugs and filter bags, call your recycling hauler.

After collecting your used motor oil or oil filter bags, the driver will leave a replacement for what is collected. For example, if one oil jug is picked up, then one empty oil jug is left in exchange (up to a maximum of four one-gallon jugs). If one oil filter bag is collected, then one empty filter bag is left in exchange (up to a maximum of two oil filter bags). Remember: oil mixed with antifreeze, transmission fluid, or any other automotive fluid will NOT be collected. For safe disposal of other automotive fluids, contact the Santa Clara Countywide Household Hazardous Waste (HHW) Program at (408) 299-7300 to schedule a free appointment.

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Special Stuff

Recycling Guide

 

 

Last Modified Date: 12/20/2007

 
 

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