Curbside Recycling ProgramFrequently Asked Questions
What plastic items are acceptable in my blue cart? The days of looking for numbers contained in the recycling symbol on plastic containers are over in San Francisco! We have expanded the blue-cart recycling program to accept the following plastic items:
We Cannot Accept: Styrofoam or plastic film of any kind, such as plastic bags and plastic wrap. Plastic bags and other thin plastic films get tangled in recycling equipment and conveyer belts. Plastic bags also contaminate paper bales and may cause them to be rejected by paper mills, so please DO NOT place plastic bags or other film plastics in your recycling cart. These items should be placed in your black garbage cart. How do I recycle materials that can't go in the blue cart? For a directory of where you can recycle items that don't go in the blue cart (i.e.: plastic bags, cell phones, batteries), check the SFEnvironment.com website. Where should I place my carts for service? Both residents and businesses should place their carts as close to the street curb as possible. This helps drivers collect your garbage and recyclables as efficiently as possible and help keep your disposal costs down. We realize that at some households, setting carts at the curb is not practical and we will work with those residents to develop an alternative service location. How do I set out additional green waste/yard trimmings? On your regular collection day, place extra yard trimmings next to your green composting cart. Extras compostable material must either be tied and bundled (no longer than 4' long), in paper bags, in small cardboard boxes (boxes must be less than 40 pounds), or in Biodegradable Products Institute (BPI), certified compostable bags Download a list of where to purchase BPI certified compost bags. There is no charge for extra yard trimmings that are properly prepared (no plastic bags) and set out on your regular collection day. If you are setting out more than 10 extra bundles or boxes, please call your service provider ahead of time so your collector can make the necessary accommodations for the extra materials. How do I schedule a Bulky Item Collection appointment? San Francisco residents can schedule two Bulky Item Collection appointments per calendar year by calling Sunset Scavenger at 330-1400 or Golden Gate Disposal & Recycling at: 626-4000. Call about two weeks before you're ready to get rid of your bulky items, and have a list of the items so the customer service representative can schedule the appropriates trucks to come to your residence. Last minute "next work day" collection is also available for a fee. For program details, visit the Bulky Item Collection and Custom Hauling Service page. What should I do with old paint and other hazardous waste? For information on where you can bring your paint, motor oil, and other hazardous chemicals, visit the SF Recycling and Disposal, Inc. website. What should I do with my old computer or TV? Computers can be recycled in the Bulky Item Collection program. They can also be brought to SF Recycling and Disposal Inc.'s Public Disposal & Recycling Area, as well as Goodwill and other places around San Francisco. For more information about recycling centers in San Francisco, visit SFEnvironment.com's recycling directory. Where can I recycle cell phones and batteries? You can recycle cell phones and batteries at San Francisco Recycling & Disposal, (SFR&D), as well as at several other locations. For a detailed list, please visit SFEnvironment.com. What should I do with Styrofoam? Styrofoam peanuts can be recycled at most shipping/mail houses (ie: UPS and Mail Boxes, etc.). Call to see if you can drop them off for reuse. There are no local places to recycle to-go containers or large pieces of Styrofoam; however, some local art organizations may reuse large pieces for art projects. I recycle and compost almost everything now; I don't need a 32-gallon cart! Residents who do a good job recycling generate minimal trash, and may be able to save money by reducing their garbage service level. If your household generates very little garbage, you may be able to utilize the 20-gallon cart service, which can save you about $2.00 per month of your garbage bill. I'm afraid the organic material is going to make a mess. Can I use plastic bags in these carts? No, the only cart that can be lined with a plastic bag is the black one for garbage. We CANNOT accept recyclables or compostable material in plastic bags. Plastic bags are a big problem for the equipment that processes this material. However, you can line your green and blue carts with newspaper, paper bags, or cardboard. There are special Biodegradable Products Institute (BPI), certified bags to line the composting cart and kitchen pail available. Cole Hardware, Rainbow Grocery, Albertsons, Wal-Mart and dozens of other stores carry these BPI certified bags. Download a list of where to purchase BPI certified compost bags. Visit the Biodegradable Products Institute for more information about compostable products such as garbage bags. TIP: A neat and convenient alternative for kitchen waste collection is an empty paper milk carton. Just open the top, fill it with food, fold the top closed when full, and drop it into your green cart for collection. What are the dimensions of the of 32, 64, and 96 gallon toter carts?
How can I backyard compost? For information on backyard composting, check out the SFEnvironment.com's, Home Composting website. There are free classes available. What is the Special Reserve Surcharge? The Special Reserve Surcharge is a new landfill fee collected by the City of San Francisco. What time is my garbage picked up? Pick up times may vary from week to week depending on substitute drivers, traffic, or route changes. Some customers in commercial areas are collected at night, therefore it's important to put your garbage and recycling out the night before so the driver does not miss your carts. Why was my garbage missed? To make sure your garbage is not missed, make sure:
I recycle everything I can. What else can I do to reduce my garbage?
Someone is stealing my recyclables. What can I do? City and State law prohibit the theft of recyclables. If you see a "thief" taking your recyclables, obtain the vehicle license number, car description, time of the theft, description of the person, direction they were heading and report the theft to the non-emergency Police dispatch office at 553-0123. Also, call Sunset Scavenger at 330-1300 or Golden Gate Disposal & Recycling at 626-4000 during business hours to report the theft of recyclables. We will request that the police patrol areas with repeated problems. You can also report the theft by filling out our online Recycle Theft Form. For your safety, do NOT confront the recycling thieves. I want extra carts for a one-time clean up. We do not provide additional carts. For further options, contact Sunset Scavenger Company at 330-1300. | ||||||||||||||||||||
