GreenWaste Zanker Resource Recovery Facility
Notice: GreenWaste Zanker Resource Recovery Facility: Site #2 is closed on Saturdays, effective 12/14/2024.
Welcome to the GreenWaste Zanker Resource Recovery Facility!
The GreenWaste Zanker Resource Recovery Facility is a leader in processing and recycling waste. We divert for recycling over 75% of the material we receive from landfill, and were the first in the Western U.S. to have our diversion rates third-party certified by RCI. We are open to the public and specialize in construction and demolition debris (C&D) recycling but also will accept everything from your RV to unwanted furniture and other bulky items.
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Site 1:
705 Los Esteros Rd.
San Jose, CA
Site 2:
675 Los Esteros Rd.
San Jose, CA
Accepted Materials:
Site 1
Brush, Tree Chips, and Stumps
Brush — $25/CY
Brush, tree trimmings, branches, tree rounds, tree chips, brush, leaves, and yard trimmings.
Note: Tree rounds and trees must be less than 4’ and have a diameter of no more than 2’.
Mixed Brush — $44/CY
These materials include brush plus other items such as trash, dirt, etc.
Oversized Brush — $147/CY
All brush and tree-trimmings that did not fit the previous criteria.
Tree Chips — $32/CY
Tree chips are produced from chipped tree trimmings and may contain a few small tree rounds. No fibrous materials.
Mixed Tree Chips — $44/CY
Tree chips that contain lumber, chipped palm, or other fibrous materials. Loads cannot contain trash. Pressure treated tree stakes not accepted.
Unchipped Palm, Ivy, and Other Fibrous Materials — $44/CY
These items will not be processed and are classified as trash.
Concrete
Concrete 1 — $18/CY
Clean concrete from building pads, driveways, road construction, etc. May include native stone and asphalt, with minimal flush-cut wire or rebar. No dirt, base rock, brick, roofing tiles, wood, or trash. Concrete over 3’x3’x3’ will be charged as oversized.
Concrete 2 — $35/CY
Concrete and asphalt containing some wire or rebar and a small amount of dirt or base rock. No brick, roofing tiles, wood, or trash. Concrete over 3’x3’x3’ will be charged as oversized.
Concrete 3 — $75/CY
Brick, adobe block, asphalt with petromat, roofing tiles, clay tile roofing or other inert style of roofing. Loads that contain excessive amounts of dirt or baserock will be charged as dirt or concrete 3. Concrete over 3’x3’x3’ will be charged as oversized.
Materials will be classified as non-recyclable items (trash) if Stucco/Plaster materials are bagged. Excessive trash, wood, etc. in the loads will deem the entire load as trash.
Construction and Demolition Debris
Demolition Debris — $44/CY
These are materials that contain over 75% recyclable items. These types of loads come from construction sites, but may contain some demolition debris, and are usually hand-loaded. These loads are tipped at one of our Sorting Operations. Recyclable items in these loads may include lumber, drywall, concrete, brick, tile, granite, rigid plastics, OCC, paper, metals, brush and trees, rock, asphalt, windows, appliances and toilets.
Construction Debris — $44/CY
May be classified as trash, or miscellaneous debris if containing excessive amounts of trash.
Dirt and Soil
Clean Dirt or Sod — $69/CY
Dirt and sod. All loads over 8 cubic yards are charged by the ton automatically.
Mixed Dirt or Sod — $75/CY
(Loads over 8CY will be charged by the ton)
Dirt that has sod/grass, yard waste, stumps, concrete, asphalt, base rock, and/or rocks mixed in.
Mobile Homes, Trailers, and Boats
Thinking about getting rid of your mobile home, trailer, RV, or boat? Recycle it at GreenWaste.
We can recycle a mobile home from the roof to the tires. We pull out recyclable commodities such as wood and metals. All this is done in under 30 minutes. If the trailer is made of mostly wood, it can be recycled even faster.
All mobile homes, Trailers, RVs, and Boats must come with proof of ownership and DMV paperwork.
Here’s what to do
Mobile home salvage is easy at GreenWaste. The Hunker gives you a step-by-step process on how to deconstruct the interior/exterior of the home, and how to sort the recyclable items. Home Town Demolition Contractors offers a “Homeowner’s Guide to Mobile Home Removal,” where they provide an in-depth explanation of disposal methods such as demolition, deconstruction, relocation, and donation.
There are extra charges for tires, and mobile homes that have refrigerators, air conditioners or other Freon containing items. Please make sure your motor does not contain any liquid, including fuel, gas, or water.
Roofing (Shingles and Composition)
Wood Shingle Roofing with Tarpaper — $44/CY
Source-separated wood shingles that include tarpaper.
Mixed Wood Shingle Roofing with Tarpaper — $44/CY
Wood shingles that include other materials other than tarpaper. Common materials mixed in include asphalt shingles, trash, tar and gravel roofing, and plastics. These loads may be classified as trash or miscellaneous debris if they contain excessive amounts of trash.
Tar and Gravel Roofing — $44/CY
Roofing materials containing roofing felt or paper, tar and assorted gravel materials.
Composite Asphalt Roofing — $44/CY
Source separated residential roofing shingles does not include tar and gravel roofing or commercial roofing tear-offs. If wood, metals, or bags are commingled in the load, the load will be considered composite asphalt roofing-mixed.
Wood and Lumber
Wood and Lumber — $19/CY
Wood and Lumber waste includes source separated lumber, pallets, fencing, plywood, and lumber used for cement forms. Small amounts of metal affixed to the lumber, such as nails or hinges, are acceptable.
Note: no treated wood waste accepted.
Mixed Wood and Lumber – $44/CY
Primarily wood and lumber, as classified as above, with some nominal contamination, such as plastics, painted lumber, and metals. Large amounts of contamination will designate the load as Trash.
Note: no treated wood waste accepted.
Trash
Trash — $44/CY
These are materials that should go directly into the outgoing trash pile.
Non-recyclable items (trash) may include pressure-treated wood, laminated wood, painted wood, sawdust, insulation, PVC pipes, film plastics and other packing materials, asphalt roofing, roofing felt, roofing insulation, fiberglass insulation, vinyl flooring, ceiling tiles, stucco, soil, asphalt, windows, doors, carpeting, carpet padding, furniture, cabinets, sinks, Styrofoam, crushed materials, mattresses, rubber tiles, ground rubber materials, textiles and linen, couches, chairs, desks, office partitions, signs, foam board, cabinets, wet materials, Visqueen, composite type materials, palm/ivy/fibrous material, and materials contained in trash bags.
Site 2
Bulky Items
Bulky Items — $44/CY
Bulky Items include couches, chairs, tables, furniture, manufactured wood, mattresses, Styrofoam, and/or other large items.
Construction and Demolition Debris
Demolition Debris — $44/CY
These are materials that contain over 75% recyclable items. These types of loads come from construction sites, but may contain some demolition debris, and are usually hand-loaded. These loads are tipped at one of our Sorting Operations. Recyclable items in these loads may include lumber, drywall, concrete, brick, tile, granite, rigid plastics, OCC, paper, metals, brush and trees, rock, asphalt, windows, appliances and toilets.
Construction Debris –$44/CY
These are materials that contain over 75% recyclable items such as lumber, sheetrock, concrete, brick, tile, granite, rigid plastics, OCC, paper, metals, brush and tress, rock, asphalt, windows, appliances, and toilets.
Note: These loads may be classified as trash, or miscellaneous debris if containing excessive amounts of trash.
Dirt and Sod
Clean Dirt or Sod — $69/CY
Dirt and sod. All loads over 8 cubic yards are charged by the ton automatically.
Mixed Dirt or Sod — $75/CY
(Loads over 8CY will be charged by the ton)
Dirt that has sod/grass, yard waste, stumps, concrete, asphalt, base rock, and/or rocks mixed in.
Drywall
Drywall — $38/CY
Drywall loads contain stucco, plaster, pool plaster, and/or gunite. Loads must not be wrapped in Visqueen or contained within garbage bags or boxes. Please place Visqueen in a trash bag at the front of your load.
Mixed Drywall — $44/CY
Mixed drywall loads contain drywall, as described above, and nominal amounts of other items such as Visqueen, ceiling tiles, wood, or other debris.
Foam and Insulation
Foam and Insulation — $44/CY
Foam, Insulation, and other light weight materials.
Mattresses
California Residents can dispose up to four mattresses for free! See terms and conditions for the Bye By Mattress program:
Terms and Conditions
Mattresses and box springs that are eligible for free drop-off and recycling through the Bye Bye Mattress Program are defined as:
- Mattresses: which are defined to include any sleep surface covered with ticking or fabric that contains resilient material, such as steel inner springs, foam, fiber, or other filling or upholstery materials, used alone or in combination, regardless of size or shape, except for those products listed below.
- Box springs (also commonly called Foundations): which are defined to include a ticking- or fabric-covered structure used to support a mattress or sleep surface, and may be comprised of a frame, foam, springs or other structure, or other materials, used alone or in combination, and includes both adjustable bases or foundations and stationary foundations.
- Used and renovated Mattresses or Box springs
- Futon Mattresses – must be detached from the frame or base
Products that are not eligible for free drop-off include:
- Items that are wet, heavily soiled or infested with bedbugs
- Air mattresses that contain no upholstery material (such as camping beds)
- Car beds
- Cushions (such as from chairs, couches or patio furniture)
- Juvenile products including, carriages, baskets, dressing tables, strollers, playpens, infant carriers, lounge pad, crib bumpers
- Mattress pads
- Mattress toppers
- Pillows
- Sleeping bags
- Sofa beds and futons
- Collapsible roll-away beds
- Water beds that contain no upholstery material
- Futon frames and bases, as well as futon mattresses that do not detach from the frame or base are not accepted
Trash
Trash — $44/CY
These are materials that should go directly into the outgoing trash pile.
Non-recyclable items (trash) may include pressure-treated wood, laminated wood, painted wood, sawdust, insulation, PVC pipes, film plastics and other packing materials, asphalt roofing, roofing felt, roofing insulation, fiberglass insulation, vinyl flooring, ceiling tiles, stucco, soil, asphalt, windows, doors, carpeting, carpet padding, furniture, cabinets, sinks, Styrofoam, crushed materials, mattresses, rubber tiles, ground rubber materials, textiles and linen, couches, chairs, desks, office partitions, signs, foam board, cabinets, wet materials, Visqueen, composite type materials, palm/ivy/fibrous material, and materials contained in trash bags.
Rate structure effective December 1, 2024
- Download our rate sheet and directions (PDF – English and Spanish included)
- Review our Description of Materials and List of Accepted Materials
Prices subject to change, call our office at 408-263-2384 for current prices. There is a $50.00 minimum charge on all items per vehicle. Measurement of load is by volume with no allowance for air space. No hazardous wastes will be accepted. No wet garbage or food waste will be accepted. A load checking program is in effect.
Diversion Rates
RCI – Third Party Certification
GreenWaste’s Zanker Road Recycling Facility is the first facility in California to receive third-party certification of its recycling rates from the Recycling Certification Institute (RCI). The RCI uses independent third-party evaluators to verify the accuracy and reliability of the recovery/recycling rates reported. Providing a rigorous set of protocols, guidelines, and tools to professionally review and certify the recovery/recycling reports of participating C&D recyclers, the Institute is intended to increase certainty and build confidence in the C&D recycling marketplace on the part of project owners, architects, the environmental community, municipalities and the public.
RCI has certified or registered seven GreenWaste Recycling operations in San Jose. Recycling rates for each of the operations is listed in the table below. Recycling rates are based on the total tons of incoming materials/the total tons of waste landfilled. A separate calculation shows the recycling rate, less alternative daily cover (ADC).
Rates as of November 2024
| Diversion Rate With ADC | Diversion Rate Without ADC | ||
|---|---|---|---|
Site 1 |
94.52% |
79.59% |
|
| Asphalt Shingles | |||
| Demolition Debris: Clean and Mixed | |||
| Dirt | |||
| Wood Shingles | |||
Source Separated Wood |
99.81% |
98.28% |
|
| Wood: Clean and Mixed | |||
| Tree Chips: Clean and Mixed | |||
| Brush: Clean, Mixed, and Oversized | |||
Source Separated Concrete |
99.08% |
98.28% |
|
| Concrete 1, 2, 3, and Oversized | |||
| Stucco and Plaster | |||
Site 2 |
77.51% |
50.66% |
|
| Construction Debris: Clean and Mixed | |||
| Mixed Debris | |||
Source Separated Sheetrock/Drywall |
99.77% |
99.77% |
|
| Drywall: Clean and Mixed | |||
DM Reduction System |
48.27% |
17.07% |
|
| Bulky Items | |||
| Miscellaneous | |||
US Green Building Council (USGBC) – LEED
US Green Building Council’s (USGBC), Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED), offers Construction and Demolition Waste Management credits for diversion on waste materials. LEED offers one point when a project achieves a 50% diversion rate that includes the diversion of two waste streams. Projects can earn a second point when the project reach’s a 75% diversion rate that includes the diversion of three waste streams. Examples of both options from LEED v4.1 are listed below:
LEED Paths/Points Using a Certified Facility
Path 2. Divert 50% using Certified Commingled Recycling Facility (1 Point)
Divert at least 50% of the total construction and demolition material. All commingled recycling must be sent to offsite sorting facility(ies) certified by the Recycling Certification Institute or approved equivalent.
Path 4. Divert 75% using Certified Commingled Recycling Facility and One More Material Stream (2 points)
Divert at least 75% of the total construction and demolition material; diverted materials must include at least two material streams. All commingled recycling is required to be one of the streams and must be sent to offsite sorting facility(ies) certified by the Recycling Certification Institute or approved equivalent.
LEED Paths/Points Using a Non-Certified Facility
Path 1. Divert 50% and Two Material Streams (1 point)
Divert at least 50% of the total construction and demolition material; diverted materials must include at least two material streams.
Path 3. Divert 75% and Three Material Streams (2 points)
Divert at least 75% of the total construction and demolition material; diverted materials must include at least three material streams.
Zanker is a part of the overall equation/solution to a project being awarded points for a project’s C&D material recovery and, using Zanker is the easier option because it is RCI-Certified. This means the project does not have to do source separation or can do less source separation depending on the LEED points it has set out to achieve and the Mixed C&D and/or combination of C&D materials it needs to recover.
To be awarded the two points described in Path 4, mixed construction and demolition waste can be sent to a 3rd party certified facility, like Zanker Recycling, and achieve an overall diversion rate for the project that is at least 75%. To achieve a higher diversion rate, we recommend that the project recycle source separated materials which will help offset a Mixed C&D diversion rate that is lower.
Zanker makes it simpler to achieve the LEED credits by not having to separate construction and demolition materials for 1 point and doing less separation than required for using non-certified facilities for 2 points. Paths 1 and 3 are more challenging because more separation of materials are required.
Every LEED project starts with a waste management plan and must be measured on its own merit, not just on a specific load of recyclables and/or trash. A project may have multiple contractors who each perform different functions, but each contractor must account for the waste their project generates and must provide proper disposal receipts. The receipts go to the owner or responsible party to track all the waste and recyclables generated for the project. Debris box companies bear the most responsibility of any waste-processing company for tracking and record-keeping for the projects, although they normally do not receive all the waste materials.
Zanker does not use visual inspection to determine the volume of loads. All loads are measured or weighed at the scale.
Contractors who have different commodities have different recycling rates for those commodities. For example, an electrician who sells copper scraps may have a clean commodity that is 100% recyclable, whereas an insulation contractor’s materials may have a 0% recycling rate. Mixed Waste containers usually have a reduced diversion rate since some materials are not recoverable. LEED rarely approves giving all containers a blanket diversion rate, since a mixed debris load may contain a mix of both recyclable items, like copper scraps, and non-recyclable items, like insulation. One of the primary goals of LEED is to encourage projects to source separate (SS) as much as possible. SS allows the project to have a higher diversion rate because the materials are cleaner and more marketable.
For more information on regarding LEED Rating System v4.1 click here.
CDD and other Cities Recycling Diversion Programs
Zanker Recycling is the leader in recycling C&D debris in the Bay Area and we comply with every city’s diversion program for C&D. To learn more about what your City requires, you should contact your specific City since requirements vary from one City to the next.
Choose the type of online application:
Credit Card:
Permits, and Licenses
- SWIS Facility Detail : Zanker Road Resource Recovery Operation (43-AN-0007)
- View our City of San Jose CDD Program Certification
Tonnage Qualification Form:
Do you qualify for tonnage rates? To find out, please answer the following questions below:
The GreenWaste Zanker Resource Recovery Facility is a leader in processing and recycling waste. We do not consider ourselves a dump, but rather a resource recovery facility, where valuable materials–concrete, wood, dirt, metal–are recovered from the waste stream and recycled into new products. We are open to the public and specialize in construction and demolition debris (C&D) recycling but also will accept everything from your RV to unwanted furniture and other bulky items. We are proud to divert for recycling over 75% of the material we receive.
The GreenWaste Zanker Resource Recovery Facility is broken up into two different sites, each specializing in recycling specific waste materials:
Site 1 is divided into operational areas specifically designed to recycle: demolition debris, asphalt shingles, concrete, and wood waste/brush. The site is also home to the GreenWaste Zanker Landscape Materials yard which sells landscape and construction products, may of which are recycled-content and made on-site or locally.
Site 2 is divided into several different processing areas, designed to recycle: sheetrock, soils, and mixed construction waste. Operation plants at site 2 are the Advanced C&D Processing System, Sheetrock Operation, and the DM Reduction System.
Spencer Morgan, General Manager
Interested in learning more about this facility? Watch our virtual tour.
Frequently Asked Questions
What do you do to my waste after I dump?
Unlike others, we do not consider ourselves as a dump. All material brought to the GreenWaste Zanker Resource Recovery Facility is processed for recycling and we are proud that both of our sites divert for recycling over 75% of all material processed. To view our specific diversion rates, click on the diversion rates tab above.
Do you accept dirt or concrete?
Yes! Dirt and concrete are two of the most common things brought to us. We specialize in the recycling of construction and demolition debris, we also accept dirt, mobile homes, furniture, mattresses, and other bulky items. For a full list of accepted materials look above.
What do you do with concrete?
The GreenWaste Zanker Resource Recovery Facility diverts for recycling more than 99% of source separated concrete. We crush concrete on site, turning it into several recycled materials, like our Class II base rock and recycled concrete mix. Purchase our recycled-content landscape and construction materials today!
How do you determine your diversion rates?
To ensure transparency, our diversion rates are third-party certified by the Recycling Certification Institute (RCI). Our rates are certified monthly and broken down by each site and processing line.
GreenWaste Zanker Resource Recovery: Site #1
705 Los Esteros Road
San Jose, CA 95134
Get Map and Directions
Please use Highway 237 and the Zanker Road Exit to get to our facilities
408-263-2384 (se habla español)
Regular Facility Hours – Disposal/Recycling
M – F: 6 AM – 5:45 PM
Sat: 8 AM – 3:45 PM
Holiday Schedule – Close Early
Memorial Day: 6 AM – 2 PM
Independence Day: 6 AM – 2 PM
Labor Day: 6 AM – 2 PM
Christmas Eve: 6 AM – 2 PM
New Years Eve: 6 AM – 2 PM
Holiday Schedule – Closed
Easter
Thanksgiving
Christmas Day
New Years Day
GreenWaste Zanker Resource Recovery Facility: Site #2
675 Los Esteros Road
San Jose, CA 95134
Get Map and Directions
Please use Highway 237 and the Zanker Road Exit to get to our facilities
408-263-2384 (se habla español)
Regular Facility Hours – Disposal/Recycling
M – F: 6 AM – 4:45 PM
Holiday Schedule – Closed
New Years Day
Independence Day
Easter
Memorial Day
Labor Day
Thanksgiving
Christmas Eve
Christmas Day
New Years Eve
GreenWaste Zanker Landscape Materials
Landscape Materials
408.586.9292 (se habla español)
Regular Facility Hours:
M -F: 6:00 AM – 4:00 PM
Sat: 8:00 AM – 3:00 PM
Holiday Schedule – Close Early
Christmas Eve: 6 AM – 2 PM
New Years Eve: 6 AM – 2 PM
Holiday Schedule – Closed
Independence Day
Easter
Thanksgiving
Christmas Day
New Years Day