
Click here to test your recycling
knowledge with a fun game!
RECYCLE RIGHT!
RECYCLE RIGHT!
Keep Your Recyclables Empty, Clean & Dry

Empty containers

Clean food waste

Dry cardboard and paper


Just because something has a recycle symbol doesn’t make it recyclable.
Click the button below to make sure items are accepted in Oakland’s curbside service.
What DOES go in the Recycling:

- Plastic bottles, tubs, and lids
- Plastic milk jugs
- Plastic containers
- Clean clamshell and other plastic take-out containers
Only these types of plastics go in your curbside cart. Unsure if you can recycle an item? Search recyclewhere.org.

- Clean paper
- Clean cardboard
- Junk mail and magazines

- Empty glass jars
- Empty glass bottles

- Clean aluminum foil
- Metal containers
- Cans
- Aluminum cans
Avoid Contamination
The following items are NOT accepted in Oakland’s curbside recycling service:
Compost has its own bin. Click here to learn what to compost!

Summer Challenges: hot ashes, cigarette butts, chip bags, styrofoam plates, wipes

Dirty aluminum foil

Plastic bags, wrap, and film

Polystyrene (styrofoam)

Unrecyclable plastic, including but not limited to shrink wrap, bubble wrap, red solo cups, plastic forks & spoons, and children’s toys

Ceramics, plates and cups

Face masks and gloves

Diapers

Garden hose

String lights, extension cords, power outlets, wire cable, and fire extinguishers

Household chemicals and propane tanks

Cell phone batteries, computer batteries, car batteries, and tool batteries

Small appliances and electronics

Light bulbs
Drop it off at Oakland’s Household Hazard Waste facility at 2100 East 7th Street, Oakland.
Visit StopWaste’s website for more info.

Blankets and curtains

Household items, including
but not limited to: wood, blinds,
kitchenware,
kitchen appliances

Clothing
Is that still usable? Donate it! Visit recyclewhere.org to find out where to donate your usable household goods and clothing.
Remember to put household batteries in a sealed plastic bag on top of your recycle bin, and your motor oil recycling kit next to the bin. Acceptable batteries include: alkaline, button cell and ni-cadmium. For more information, check out our brochure.
Put Motor Oil Recycling Kit next to the bin. Complete the free tools form on our website for a free kit.
COMPOST RIGHT!
COMPOST RIGHT!
Common items that go in the Green Bin:

Fruit and vegetable scraps

Meat and bones
Cheese, butter and eggshells

Bread, cereal, rice and pasta

Take out boxes
Fats, oils and grease – in solid form

Loose leaf tea and coffee grounds

Food-soiled paper and cardboard,
such as napkins, paper towels,
pizza boxes, and egg cartons
Want to reduce food waste? Learn how at StopFoodWaste.org.
Tips for Cleaner Composting:
- Line the kitchen pail with newspaper, paper towels, or shredded paper to help soak up liquids and odors.
- Place cardboard at the bottom of your compost bin to absorb moisture.
- Place food scraps in a sealable container in the freezer until your pick-up date.
- Empty foodscraps into a paper bag to transport to the bin — the paper bag can be composted, too.
RESOURCES
RESOURCES
Items you want to recycle that don’t go into the cart? Look them up at RecycleWhere.org
Program Guides
To download a printed version of your Program Guide:
English – Oakland Residential Recycling Program Guide
Spanish – Guía del Programa de Reciclaje Residencial
Chinese – 住宅回收計劃指南
Vietnamese – Hu?ng D?n Chuong Trinh Tái Ch? Cho Cu Dân
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Prevent Food Waste!
By making small shifts in how you shop, prepare, and store food, you can toss less, eat well, save money, and help reduce climate change.
- Food storage guides and resources: http://stopfoodwaste.org/resources
- Recipes, additional food storage tips/tricks and ways to identify when food is good or bad: http://stopfoodwaste.org/tips
- Share excess food. OLIO is a free app connecting neighbors with each other, and volunteers with local businesses, so food can
be shared instead of thrown away: https://olioex.com/ - Step-by-step guide that helps businesses set up a surplus food donation program:
http://stopfoodwaste.org/resource/food-donation-guide-for-businesses - Informative article on how reducing food waste is an important solution to climate change:
https://www.waste360.com/food-waste/whats-most-important-solution-climate-change-reduce-food-waste