Commercial Trash or Recycle?
Here is a great way to see how to sort and know if you need to trash or recycle your items.
Mirrors
mirrors, tempered & window glass
Egg Shells & Dairy Products
Egg shells and any dairy products
Coffee Grounds
Coffee grounds & tea leaves
Spoiled Food
Spoiled food, outdated packaging ok
Meat & Bones
Any kind of meat or bones
Meal Prep Waste
Scraps from meal preparation
Plate Waste & Scraps
Waste from leftover meals
Paper Plates & Cups
Soiled Paper plates & used cups
Paper Napkins
Paper napkins or paper towels
Paper Bags
Paper bags used to contain food scraps
Paper Takeout Containers
Used containers for food takeout
Newspapers
Newspaper used to wrap food
Pizza Boxes
Soiled, used pizza boxes
Waxed Paper
Waxed paper or boxes used with food cooking or preparation
Wooden Chopsticks
Used, soiled wooden chopsticks
Fruits & Vegetables
Fruits & Vegetables including peels, pits & rinds
Shredded Paper
Must be in a paper bag, secured with a staple.
Aseptic Boxes
Soup, juice, soy milk.
Books
Up to 40 lbs.
Aerosol Cans
Must be empty.
Scrap Metal Pieces
Up to 20 lbs.
Rugs & Mats
Old Rugs and Mats
Lightbulbs
Lightbulbs, no fluorescent
Metallic Wrapping
metallic wrapping paper – potato chips
Paper Used for Cleaning (Soiled)
paper used for cleaning (soiled)
Photographs
Photographs
Vacuum Bags
Vacuum Bags
6-Pack Rings
Rings for soda and beer cans (please cut)
Plastic Wrap
Plastic Wrap and Film
Straws
Plastic Drinking Straws and Stir Sticks
Records, Tapes & CDs
Old music on records, cassette tapes and CDs.
Shower Curtain Liners
Old Shower Plastic Curtain Liners
Tape
Duct tape, Scotch Tape, Masking Tape
Cotton Balls
Soiled Cotton Balls
Bread & Pasta
Bread, pasta and other grains
Shoes, Clothing & Stuffed Animals
Old Shoes, Clothing or Stuffed Animals that cannot be donated
Sponges
Used sponges
Balloons
Balloons from parties and events
Clothes Hangers
Plastic or wooden clothes hangers
Diapers
Diapers of any kind
Feminine Products
Feminie Products, tampons, pads
Styrofoam
Foam & Styrofoam products
Hoses
Hoses from garden or rubber hoses
Pet Feces
Feces from any animal or pet
Rubber Bands
Any kind of rubber bands
Toothpaste Tubes
Toothpaste tubes, used or unused
Toys
Any toys that cannot be donated
NO RECYCLABLE MATERIALS
NO CONSTRUCTION OR DEMOLITION MATERIALS
What Goes in Recycling?
Scrap Metal Pieces
Up to 20 lbs.
Aerosol Cans
Must be empty.
Books
Up to 40 lbs.
Aseptic Boxes
Soup, juice, soy milk.
NO GARBAGE OR ORGANICS
NO FOOD-SOLIED PAPER OR PIZZA BOXES
NO STYROFOAM
Recycling Guide (English, Spanish & Mandarin)
Resources
Please visit the web pages listed below for other helpful information:
- Construction and Demolition Debris Recycling
- County of Santa Clara Household Hazardous Waste Program – Business Hazardous Waste
- Santa Clara Fire Department Hazardous Materials Division – Proper storage and use of hazardous waste
- Bay Area Green Business Program
- Junk Mail Reduction: StopJunkmail.org | CatalogChoice.org
- Use Reusables Campaign – Reusable transport packaging saves your company money and resources
- County of Santa Clara Integrated Waste Management
- Santa Clara County Recycling Hotline
- California Department of Resources Recycling and Recovery (CalRecycle)
- CalRecycle Electronic Product Management Directory – E-Waste Disposal Info