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Recyclables | Organics | Garbage

RECYCLABLES

Please place all recyclable materials together in your white recyclables bin or blue recyclables cart.

AB341: California’s Mandatory Commercial Recycling Program
Requires commercial businesses that generate 4 cubic yards or more of garbage per week and multi-family complexes with 5 or more units to recycle. If your business or complex fits into these parameters and you currently do not recycle, call customer service at 408.283.9250 and West Valley Collection & Recycling will provide recycling containers and service at no additional charge.

SB 1383: California’s Mandatory Organics Recycling Law                                                                                                      Requires all commercial businesses and multi-family complexes to recycle organics. If your business or complex is not currently participating in an organics recycling program please call customer service at 408.283.9250 and West Valley collection & Recycling will provide organics recycling containers and service at no additional charge.

Metal  Empty and rinse food and product containers.

  • Aerosol cans (empty and non-hazardous)
  • Aluminum foil, foil trays and pans (clean)
  • Aluminum pie pans
  • Beverage and soda cans
  • Can lids – metal
  • Car parts – small (no fluids)
  • Doors and screens
  • Electrical motors
  • Food and soup cans
  • Furniture (e.g. chairs, tables)
  • Hangers – metal/wire
  • Keys
  • Lids and caps – metal (e.g. from glass bottles, jars)
  • Nuts and bolts
  • Paint cans (remove excess paint, let residue dry)
  • Pet food cans
  • Pipes
  • Plumbing fixtures
  • Pots and pans
  • Propane/gas tanks (empty, with valve off)
  • Scrap metal
  • Screws and nails
  • Sporting goods – metal
  • Tools – metal
  • Toys – metal
  • Umbrellas – metal
  • Utensils – metal

Glass  Empty and rinse food and product containers.

  • Beverage bottles
  • Blue glass
  • Broken glass
  • Dishware – glass
  • Food jars
  • Windows – uncoated/unlaminated
  • Wine bottles

Paper  Staples and tape are acceptable.

  • Aseptic containers* (e.g. juice, soup, soy milk)
  • Books – hardback and softback
  • Carbonless paper (e.g. receipts)
  • Cardboard – unwaxed (flattened)
  • Cereal and cracker boxes (remove liners)
  • Coffee cups – cardboard (e.g. from coffee shops)
  • Colored or construction paper
  • Coupons
  • Egg cartons – cardboard
  • Envelopes (plastic window OK)
  • Frozen food packaging – cardboard
  • Gift wrap (no metallic/foil)
  • Juice boxes and cartons – non-aseptic
  • Junk mail
  • Magazines and catalogs
  • Mailers – cardboard (e.g. FedEx, UPS)
  • Newspaper – clean (including inserts)
  • Paper bags
  • Paper cups and plates – clean, uncoated
  • Photographs – photo paper
  • Pizza delivery boxes – clean
  • Shoe boxes
  • Shredded paper (tie in clear plastic bag)
  • Telephone books
  • Tissue paper (e.g. gift wrap, dry cleaning)
  • White office computer paper

*material is recycled when markets exist

Plastic  Empty and rinse food and product containers.

  • Auto parts – plastic (no fluids)
  • Baby wipe containers
  • Baskets – plastic
  • Beverage bottles (e.g. soda, juices, water)
  • Bleach and detergent bottles
  • Buckets (remove metal handles)
  • Coat hangers – plastic
  • Coffee cup lids
  • Coolers
  • Crates – plastic
  • Disposable razors
  • Flower pots – plastic
  • Food containers (e.g. cottage cheese, yogurt)
  • Furniture – plastic (e.g. chairs, tables)
  • Gloves – rubber (not single-use or latex disposable)
  • Hoses (e.g. car, garden, appliance)
  • Household cleaner bottles (non-toxic)
  • Mouthwash container
  • Pet carriers
  • Pipe – plastic
  • Plastics #1-#7  (not Polystyrene/Styrofoam™)
  • Prescription bottles (must be empty)
  • Shampoo and conditioner bottles
  • Shelving – plastic
  • Squeezable bottles (e.g. honey, mayo, ketchup)
  • Swimming pools (e.g. rigid, inflatable)
  • Take-out food containers – plastic
  • Toys – plastic
  • Umbrellas – plastic (e.g. patio, beach)

Film Plastic  Bundle in a clear plastic bag and knot the top.

  • Bread bags
  • Bubble wrap
  • Cellophane bags (e.g. pasta, salad, cookies)
  • Dry cleaning bags
  • Frozen food bags or pouches
  • Newspaper bags
  • Pallet wrap
  • Plastic or wax liners (e.g. from food packaging)
  • Plastic wraps
  • Produce bags
  • Shopping bags – plastic
  • Shrink wrap

Electronic Waste Please remove all batteries before placing the following items inside your recyclables container. Electronic waste may also be dropped off. Please call customer service at 408.283.9250 to schedule an appointment.

  • Appliances – small (e.g. coffee maker, toaster)
  • Calculators
  • Cameras
  • Cell phones
  • Computer mice
  • Cords – tied up (e.g. telephone, computer, appliance)
  • DVRs, VCRs, DVD players
  • Fax machines
  • Keyboards
  • PDAs
  • Printers
  • Radios
  • Scanners
  • Stereos
  • Telephones


Electronic Waste Requires bulky item collection and does NOT go in your container.

  • Computer monitor
  • Computer tower
  • Laptop
  • Microwave – large
  • Television

GARBAGE

Please place all NON-reusable, NON-recyclable and NON-hazardous materials in your garbage container.

All items must fit loosely inside the garbage container with the lid closed. For an extra garbage pick-up, please contact Customer Service at 408.283.9250.

Paper

  • Carbon paper
  • Cardboard – waxed, wet, or dirty
  • Envelopes (e.g. padded, Tyvek)
  • Ice cream cartons
  • Newspaper – dirty (paint or pet waste)
  • Photographs- Polaroid
  • Thermal fax paper
  • Waxed paper

Plastic

  • Chip bags
  • Credit cards
  • Foil beverage pouches
  • Gloves – latex (single-use and disposable)
  • Pipe – PVC
  • Rubber bands
  • Shoes
  • Straws
  • Take-out food containers – polystyrene foam
  • Tarps*
  • Toothpaste and ointment tubes
  • Utensils – plastic (e.g. spoons, forks, knives)
  • Webbing/mesh (e.g. from lawn furniture)

*For large quantities of these items, call Customer Service at 408.283.9250 to schedule a debris box

Polystyrene/StyrofoamTM

  • Cups and plates
  • Egg cartons – molded foam
  • Foam packing (e.g. from electronics)
  • Meat trays – molded foam
  • Packing “peanuts” (bagged)
  • Take-out food containers – polystyrene foam

Fabric/Textiles  Try donating first.

  • Accessories (e.g. belts, purses)
  • Boots and shoes
  • Burlap
  • Carpet and rugs
  • Cotton
  • Diapers – cloth or disposable (bagged)
  • Down filled items
  • Electric blankets
  • Fabrics
  • Leather goods
  • Linen
  • Pillows
  • Polyester
  • Rayon
  • Rubber
  • Stuffed animals
  • Vinyl
  • Wool

Electronic Waste

  •  Audio tapes
  • CDs and DVDs (e.g. computer, music)
  • Speakers
  • Video tapes

Glass

  • Ceramics
  • Cookware – glass (e.g. baking pans, PyrexTM)
  • Dishware – ceramic
  • Eye glasses
  • Glass art
  • Incandescent light bulbs
  • Mirrors

Yard Waste

  • Ashes (bagged, hot ashes prohibited)
  • Bamboo
  • Cactus
  • Construction lumber* (painted)
  • Crates – wood*
  • Dirt*
  • Hay
  • Palm fronds
  • Pampas grass
  • Pet waste (bagged)
  • Poison oak
  • Rocks*
  • Sawdust (bagged)
  • Sod*
  • Soil*
  • Stumps*
  • Tan bark
  • Yucca

*For large quantities of these items, please call Customer Service at 408.283.9250 to schedule a debris box

Organics Please place all organics together in your organics container. Items may not exceed 2 feet in length or three inches in diameter and must fit loosely inside with the lid closed. Food scraps do not need to be bagged.

  • Bones
  • Branches – cut to fit loosely in container
  • Bread
  • Coffee grounds
  • Dairy products (e.g. cheese)
  • Dough
  • Eggs
  • Filters (e.g. coffee, tea)
  • Fish and shellfish
  • Flax
  • Flowers
  • Fruit
  • Garden/tree fruits and vegetables
  • Grains (e.g. bean, rice)
  • Grass clippings
  • Holiday trees
    • See size limitations above or call Customer Service 408.283.9250
  • Ice plant
  • Landscape vegetation
  • Leaves
  • Meat
  • Newspaper – soiled (food or grease)
  • Paper cups and plates (not coated)
  • Paper napkins
  • Paper straws
  • Paper take-out containers (e.g. fast food)
  • Paper towels
  • Pasta
  • Pizza delivery boxes – soiled (food, grease)
  • Plant trimmings
  • Poultry (e.g. chicken, turkey)
  • Shrubs
  • Small prunings
  • Succulents
  • Tree trimmings
    • See size limitations above
  • Vegetables
  • Wood/lumber (non-treated and non-painted)
    • see size limitations above