Oakland Recycles - Your Recycling Team

Common Recycling Questions

See if you know how to sort the following tricky items. Below is a list of common questions that you may have.

Don’t see what you are looking for?

Plastic Bags

Belongs in Trash.

plastic bags

Plastic bags are trash. Reduce your use of plastic bags by bringing your own bag to the store, reusing plastic bags that come with your purchase of food items, and using reusable containers to prevent the use of zip lock baggies or plastic film wrap. 

Do not put your recyclables in plastic bags as recycling sorters cannot tell if the bagged material is trash or recycling and pull the material as trash.  Plastic bags also tangle around recycle sorting machinery and can damage or break equipment over time.

Pet / Animal Waste

Belongs in Trash.

pet waste in bag for trash

Animal and human waste belong in the trash.  This ensures finished compost is free of bacteria found in the gut of meat-eating animals.

Diapers

Belongs in Trash.

diaper

Disposable diapers always belong in the trash. While there are “compostable” diapers for purchase, they still belong in your curbside trash cart.  Compostable diapers can only be composted by a diaper service provider that collects used diapers for diaper only composting and are not accepted in Oakland’s compost cart.  To prevent diaper waste, consider using cloth diapers or subscribing to a diaper composting service provider.

Pizza Boxes

Belongs in Compost.

pizza box

Most often pizza boxes have grease or cheese stuck on it. This can contaminate the recycling. Any paper or cardboard that is food-soiled belongs in the compost where it can break down and be turned back into soil amendments.

Plastic Utensils

Belongs in Trash.

plastic utensils

Single-use plastic utensils are not recyclable. Consider reusing them or switch to other reusable utensils.

Disposable Coffee Cups

Belongs in Trash.

coffee cup

Most coffee cups contain a plastic lining that does not break down in the compost. Please place the cup and lid into the trash. Prevent cup waste by bringing your own mug to your favorite coffee shop.  Reusable mugs often keep hot drinks hotter for longer and many shops offer small discounts when you bring your own cup.

Milk Cartons

Belongs in Recycle.

milk cartons

Paper and plastic milk cartons belong in recycle. Please make sure it is empty before placing in recycle container.

Bones and Shells

Belongs in Compost.

chicken bone and egg shells

All food scraps belong in the compost, including bones, nut shells, egg shells and all meats, fruits and vegetables.

Grease and Fats

Small amounts belong in the Compost.

grease poured frompan into box for disposal in trash

You can scrape small amounts of grease and fats into a paper container then place into your compost. Large amounts of grease, fat and cooking oil can be disposed at the Alameda County Hazardous Waste facilities.

Used Motor Oil

Does not belong in any container.

motor oil near recycling bin

Used motor oil can be disposed using the curbside disposal program, or dropped off at the county hazardous waste facility. Please visit the hazardous waste page for more details.

Used Batteries

Does not belong in any container.

batteries in bag on recycling bin

Used household batteries can be disposed using the curbside disposal program, or dropped off at the county hazardous waste facility. Other types of batteries must be disposed at a hazardous waste facility. Please visit the hazardous waste page for more details.