Residential Properties Recycling Services
Recycling Is Now Twice as Easy With the City's Split Carts
To help reach the City's recycling goal, residents in single-family homes and duplexes received 1 new split cart per unit. This is in addition to your green cart for plant debris and food waste. The split carts are easier to maneuver, tougher against the elements, and allow for more efficient pick-up and processing of these recyclable materials.The split carts are divided into 2 sections: cans and bottles go on one side, and cardboard and paper on the other. The basics of the service are the same:
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The Ecology Center provides the City’s residential recycling collection (except green carts), so for additional information or service questions, please contact them by phone at (510) 527-5555 or by email to Recycling@EcologyCenter.org.
- Residential properties with 3 - 9 units received a standard cart for bottles & cans, and another standard cart for paper & cardboard.
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There is no recycling collection on these holidays: Thanksgiving Day, Christmas Day, or New Year's Day. On these holidays, collection will be 1-day later.
Blue recycle tubs/bins previously used at residential properties with 1 - 9 units, serviced by the Ecology Center, were collected as the new split carts are delivered. If you want to use a blue bin for other purposes, and it was already removed, you may pick up a maximum of 2 bins at Berkeley Recycling (Community Conservation Center), 669 Gilman Street (2nd & Gilman), Monday-Sunday 8:30am-4:00pm. Please note: recyclable materials are no longer collected from bins.
Poaching
The removal of recyclable materials from curbside is a crime that deprives the City's recycling program of needed revenue. Please report recycling theft to the Ecology Center at (510) 527-5555, and include a description of the poacher, vehicle license number and/or description of poacher's vehicle if possible. For your safety, do not confront the thieves. Discourage poaching by setting out your material on collection morning instead of the night before.
Plant Debris & Food Waste - Into the Green Cart
Plant Debris & Food Waste, along with garden trimmings, can be recycled every week using your Green Cart. For more information, see Plant Debris & Food Waste Collection, which includes information about Home Composting! You can also contact Customer Service.
- Fruit and vegetable trimmings: These can be placed in a backyard compost bin or worm bin to produce nutritious soil for your garden. Call The Rotline at (510) 444-SOIL for more information and classes, or check www.StopWaste.org.
Other Residential Materials
- Plastic Bags: Please remove food residue and recycle these at most supermarkets and farmers' markets. Ask a supermarket clerk where the bag recycling station is located, or look for a container in the market. Some dry-cleaners also accept used plastic garment bags.
- StyrofoamTM Pellets: Many packing/mailing stores will reuse your packing pellets (peanuts) and bubble-wrap. Find a store nearby and bring them in a securely tied plastic bag or box.
- There is currently no way to recycle other household plastic packaging or plastic items.
Bulky Waste Pick-Up
The City offers a bulky waste pick-up by appointment once a year for residents in properties with 1 - 4 units. For more information, see Bulky Waste Pick-up Guidelines or contact Customer Service to schedule an appointment.
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Recycling for Residential Properties with 10 or more Units
Multi-Family Recycling: The Alameda County Mandatory Recycling Ordinance requires that all residential properties with 5 or more units have adequate recycling service and information for their tenants. City crews collect recyclables from apartment buildings of 10 or more units as part of Commercial Recycling Services. Blue rolling recycling carts are provided for glass, cans and plastic bottles and for mixed paper and cardboard.
Posters for recycling areas and replacement recycling cart stickers are available by calling Customer Service at 311 (or 510-981-7270). These informative Recycling Posters, and Recycling Guides for Property Managers and Tenants, will support you in meeting mandatory recycling requirements. For additional details, see this Alameda County Recycling web page: http://www.recyclingrulesac.org/.
To request new recycling service or a change in service, Property Owners or Managers for buildings with 10 or more units can call 311 in Berkeley (or 510-981-7270) or send an email to Customer Service. See additional online information at Customer Service. City staff will conduct a site visit to verify service needs, set-out locations and service days. All recycling carts are collected at the curb, and Property Managers must arrange for carts to be placed there by 7:00 AM on their assigned service day, and removed from the curb within 24 hours of service. Large apartment buildings that may warrant large metal bin service for paper & cardboard can request review and approval by the site inspector.
Property Managers: you should make recycling convenient for tenants and ideally in the same location as the refuse bin; also, make sure there is adequate refuse service, and address any recycling contamination issues to prevent a lapse or discontinuance of recycling service.
The City also provides green recycling carts for Multi-Family Organics collection of plant debris and/or food scraps. Organics collection is charged at 80% of the refuse rate.
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