Hey Oakland! Reduce, Reuse, Recycle!

What Can You Recycle in Your Gray Cart?

New!Plastic Tubs Are In!

Plastic food and beverage containers (bottles and tubs) are now accepted in the Oakland residential recycling program. We invite you to include plastic containers like margarine tubs, yogurt cups, and deli containers for recycling, in addition to narrow-neck plastic bottles that have long been a part of Oakland’s recycling program.

WHAT ELSE CAN YOU PUT IN?

• Glass bottles and jars
• Plastic bottles and tubs
• Aerosol cans (empty)
• Aluminum cans & foil
• Carbonless paper
• Catalogs and junk mail
• Steel or tin cans
• Drink boxes (juice)
• Soup boxes
• Milk cartons
• Carbonless paper
• Cardboard boxes flattened (*Notes about cardboard recycling: Small cardboard boxes please flatten and place in cart; Large cardboard boxes please flatten, bundle and place next to cart . Must be less than 3-feet by 3-feet!)
• Computer Paper
• Egg cartons (paper only)
• Envelopes (plastic windows okay)
• Grocery bags (paper only)
• Junk mail
• Magazines
• Newspaper (glossy paper inserts okay)
• Office paper
• Paper towel & toilet paper tubes
• Phone books
• Shoe boxes

PLEASE KEEP THESE ITEMS OUT!

• Batteries – Click here for residential battery recycling information

• Light bulbs

• Mirrors and windows
• Dishes, cups and other ceramic items 
• Glassware (drinking glasses)
• Thick glass milk bottles (return to store for deposit)
• Plastic bags
• Plastic items other than bottles and tubs (such as plastic toys)
• Styrofoam
• Frozen food boxes (if box is paper it can go in your yard-trimmings and food scraps recycling)
• Food-contaminated paper such as take out or to-go food containers and used paper plates (put in your yard-trimmings and food scraps recycling)
• Photos and photo graphic paper
• Carbon paper
• Compact disks or DVDs
• Sharps containers
• Motor oil and filters
• Garbage