Download PDF file for recycle guide

Recycling Cans

Empty and rinse cans

• Aerosol cans
• Beverage cans
• Can lids
• Food cans
• Metal paint cans (let residue dry)
• Pet food cans

Cartons

Empty, rinse and flatten

• Juice boxes and cartons
• Milk and cream cartons

• Unacceptable Cartons Include: Foil wrapped beverage pouches, Frozen food packaging, Plastic straws

Fabrics And Textiles

Try charitable donation first. Tie fabrics in a clear plastic bag. Buttons and zippers are okay. NO fabrics soiled with chemicals, oil or paint.

• Cotton
• Linen
• Polyester
• Rayon
• Wool (e.g. blankets, clothes, cloth diapers, rags, sheets)

• Unacceptable Fabrics and Textiles Include: Boots and shoes, Carpet and rugs, Disposal Diapers, Down-filled items, Leather, Non-cloth accessories (e.g. belts), Pillows, Rubber, Stuffed animals, Vinyl

Glass

Empty and rinse bottles and jars. Remove lead wrapping and corks from wine bottles.

• Blue glass bottles
• Brown, clear, and green glass bottles and jars (e.g. beverage and wine bottles, food jars)
• Ceramics
• Coffee mugs
• Cookware (e.g. Pyrex™)
• Dishware
• Glass art
• Light bulbs
• Mirrors
• Windows

Plastic

Plastics labeled with number 1-7 inside the recycle symbol: Empty and rinse first.

• Baby wipe containers
• Beverage bottles (e.g. soda, water)
• Bleach and detergent bottles
• Buckets (remove handles)
• Flower pots
• Food containers (e.g. cottage cheese margarine tubs, yogurt cups)
• Prescription Bottles
• Shampoo bottles
• Take out food containers (polystyrene, plastic)

• Unacceptable Plastics Include: Bubble Wrap, Credit Cards, Disposable Razors, Hoses (e.g. car, garden, appliance), Shoes, Straws, Tarps, Toys, Umbrellas, Webbing from lawn furniture

Plastic Bags

Bundle plastic bags inside another plastic bag and knot the top.

• Bread bags
• Dry cleaning bags
• Newspaper bags
• Produce bags
• Shopping bags

• Unacceptable Plastic Bags Include Cellophane food bags (e.g. pasta, salad, candy, cookies), Frozen food bags or pouches, Plastic Wraps, Plastic or wax liners from food packaging

Paper

Flatten all boxes and cartons. Tie shredded paper in a plastic bag. Staples, tape and plastic window in envelopes can be recycled.

• Books
• Carbonless paper (e.g. receipts)
• Cardboard
• Cereal & cracker boxes (remove liners)
• Colored or Construction Paper
• Coupons
• Egg cartons
• Envelopes (plastic windows OK)
• Junk Mail
• Newspapers (clean, including glossies)
• Shoeboxes
• Telephone Books
• White office Paper

• Unacceptable Paper Includes: Envelopes (padded, plastic, Tyvek®), Frozen food packaging, Napkins and paper towels, Newspaper (dirty with paint, pet waste or food/grease)

Polystyrene (Styrofoam™)

Empty and rinse foam container. Tie foam packing peanuts in a plastic bag.

• Cups and plates
• Egg cartons
• Foam packaging (e.g. hard foam packing forms from electronics)
• Meat trays
• Packing “peanuts” —try to donate these first to a mail house
• Take-out and other food containers (polystyrene and plastic)

Yard Trimmings

Place yard trimmings in your cart for collection.

• Branches (cut to fit in can or cart)
• Flowers
• Grass clippings
• Leaves
• Palm fronds
• Small prunings
• Sod (remove as much soil as possible)
• Fruit and vegetables, including pumpkins
• Undecorated natural or flocked Christmas trees (remove stands, tinsel and decorations and cut trees to fit in can or cart)

• Unacceptable Yard trimmings include: Ashes, Concrete, Dirt , Lumber, Pet Waste, Rocks

Scrap Metals

Small household appliance or pans. Call for information about recycling car parts and other metals.

• Aerosol cans (empty)
• Aluminum foil (clean)
• Aluminum furniture (plastic webbing removed)
• Aluminum pie pans
• Appliances, small metal
• Metals Lids & caps from glass bottles
• Paint cans (remove excess paint, let residue dry)
• Pots and Pans, metals

• Unacceptable Scrap Metals Include Hangers, Hoses (e.g. car, garden, and appliance), Keys, Nails, screws, nuts and bolts

Household Hazardous Waste

Examples of acceptable Household Hazardous Waste include: Paint, auto fluids, florescent light bulbs, car batteries, pesticides, and propane tanks. These items cannot go into the garbage, recycling or yard trimmings collection.

Call Santa Clara County Household Hazardous Waste at (408) 299-7300 or visit www.hhw.org to find the nearest drop off location.

Other Stuff

Used Motor Oil, Oil Filters, and Household Batteries: To recycle used motor oil and oil at curbside, you must use free GreenWaste issued oil jugs and filter bags because they are designed to prevent leaks. To recycle household batteries, such as AA, AAA, D or nickel cadmium, place batteries in a sealed clear bag and place next to Garbage Carts for collection. Place filled oil jugs and bags on curb near your recycling bins for collection. Oil mixed with antifreeze, transmission fluid, or any other automotive fluid will not be collected. To order FREE oil jugs and filter bags, call Customer Service Department.

Large Item Collection: You can have bulky items, such as sofas, refrigerators, or tires picked up at your curb for a small fee. To schedule a pick up appointment call Customer Service Department 48 hours before your next scheduled pick up day.

Extra Services: Call Customer Service Department to arrange for extra pick up of garbage or to order a debris box.

Customer Service Department:
(408) 283-4800
(800) 944-4388
Contact customer service