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Recycling

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1. What is Recycling?

Recycling turns materials that would otherwise become waste into valuable resources. Collecting used bottles, cans, and newspapers and taking them to the curb or to a collection facility is just the first in a series of steps that generates a host of financial, environmental, and social returns. Some of these benefits affect us and our environment on a local and global level.

2. What are My Recycle Pick-up Days?

Your Recycles are picked up on the same day as your garbage and green waste. To find your recycle and trash days, please click or call (209)895-8068

3. What Recyclable Materials are Accepted at the Curbside Pick-up?

Aerosol Cans (empty)
Aluminum: cans, beverage and food containers, foil (clean), and pie pans
Books: hardbound, paperback and text books
Bottles: narrow-neck bottles used for food liquids, soap, soda or water - (lightly clean if heavily soiled)
Cardboard and paperboard boxes corrugated boxes, egg containers, food boxes (including cereal boxes), frozen food packaging, mailing boxes, and oversized boxes
Cartons (waxed): used for a liquid such as juices, milk or soups
Glass containers such as bottles and jars (please rinse)
Juice Boxes (clean)
Mail: envelopes with plastic windows
Metal: beverage and food containers
Paper (all colors and types): catalogs, folders, junk mail, magazines, mixed paper, newsprint (all types), non-metallic wrapping paper, office papers, printer paper, school papers and shredded paper
Plastic: bottles and jars with symbols #1 through #7 (narrow neck and screw top – lightly clean if heavily soiled) -e.g., detergent/bleach bottles, juice bottles, milk jugs, soda bottles, water bottles. Containers with symbols #1 through #7 (wide-mouthed – lightly clean if heavily soiled) -e.g., cottage cheese, margarine, mayonnaise, sour cream and yogurt (caps and labels o.k.). Drinking cups and prescription bottles, including lids and caps.
Steel: beverage containers and food (scrap metal is not accepted for curbside Recycle Pick-up, but may be recycled at our
Tin: cans and foil

4. Why are Plastic Bags No Longer Acceptable for Recyclables?

Plastic bags of any color, size, or shape will no longer be accepted. The Recycling Processing Facility uses an automated system to sort and bale the recyclables. Plastic bags jam the automated machinery. Most jurisdictions that have gone to a single stream recycling system which allows all mixed recyclables to be recycled together, no longer accept plastic bags. Residents can take their plastic bags to some grocery stores. You are encouraged to ask for paper bags during shopping or opt for the cloth/mesh reusable bags. The first step in recycling is to reduce, so changing the type of bag used during shopping is a huge help to the environment.

5. Are the Blue Recycle Bins Manadatory for Recycling?

Yes – Citizens are advised to place all recyclable materials in Blue Totes marked RECYCLE ONLY.

6. What is the Process for Curbside Recycling?

Set out recycling items by 6 a.m. for collection. Every section of the City has a different collection day/schedule. You can find your Recycle and Trash days by clicking here.
If your collection day falls on a holiday, please hold your recycling items until the make-up collection day. You do NOT need a City issued recycle bin to recycle.

7. Can I get another Blue Recycling Bin?

You can get another Blue Recycling Bin by calling (209) 895-8040

8. How Can I do a tour of the WTE and the Landfill?

If you are interested in scheduling a tour at the Waste To Energy Facility (WTE) or the Fink Road Landfill, please see contact information below.

Covanta Stanislaus Inc. (WTE)
4040 Fink Road P.O.Box 278
Crows Landing, CA 95313
(Must be at least 18 years of age to tour this facility)
Contact: Matt Barnes (209) 534-3287

Stanislaus County Landfill Division
4000 Fink Road P.O.Box 86
Crows Landing, CA 95313
(Must be at least 18 years of age to tour this facility)
Contact: George Angusich (209) 837-4800 .

9. What are Rigid Plastics?

Rigid Plastics Include: Milk and soda crates, buckets, laundry baskets, lawn furniture, totes, plastic drums, coolers, flower pots, water bottles, pallets, pet carriers, shelving, closet organizers, empty garbage/recycling bins

10. What Are Unacceptable Recycling Materials?

Some unacceptable recycling materials are:

Carry out or deli food containers
Cat litter
Chemicals
Cookware and plates (plastic)
Containers of toxic substances -e.g., bottles, cans motor oil, pesticides, etc.
Contaminated paper products -e.g., napkins, paper towels, waxed paper, paper plates & tissue
Contaminated plastic products -e.g., plates, utensils, cookware, to-go cartons
Dry cleaning bags
Food Waste
Furniture of any kind
Glass (window and mirror)
Paint and paint cans
Plastic bags including grocery and newspaper covers
Utensils (plastic)
Waxed paper
Styrofoam

11. What Can I do With Old Clothes?

If you have old clothing, please consider “reuse” by selling these yourself or donating usable clothing (without tears, holes, burns, etc.) to charity groups (Goodwill Industries , Salvation Army (External Link), Deseret Industries, etc.). Damaged items, including fabric scraps, cannot be resold by these organizations. It takes valuable time and effort away from their good work to separate these from the usable items. If you have such damaged fabrics simply place them in with you regular trash and they will be incinerated at the waste-to-energy facility.

12. What Happens to My Household Haardous Waste After I've Dropped if off at the City Hazardous Material Recycling Event?

Corrosive liquids like ammonia or detergent are taken to a treatment facility where the chemicals are neutralized. Pesticides and poisons are incinerated. Oil-based paints and thinners are blended into fuel mixtures and later used as fuel. Motor oil is also reused as fuel. And batteries are returned to their pre-used condition at smelters.

13. Can I Recycle Electronics?

YES. City offers electronic recycling twice a year in partnership with Tri-Valley Recycling. For the location and hours of operation and a list of acceptable materials, please click. Only Tri-Valley Recycling can accept electronic materials.

14. How Do I Dispose of Fire Extinguishers?

We accept Fire Extinguishers on our Household Hazardous Waste collection days

15. Can I Recycle Light Bulbs?

We strongly urge residents to recycle CFL bulbs at our Household Hazardous Waste events.

16. What do I do with Latex/Water Base Paint?

Use completely, or give away to someone who can use it. Otherwise, air dry unwanted paint in the can and mix with kitty litter. Dispose of dried paint in the garbage.

Alternative - Use whitewash for fences, barns, and outbuildings. Use new, low volatility paints.

17. What do I do with Enamel/Oil-based Paint/Stain?

Use up, or give to someone who can use it. Otherwise, store for a household hazardous waste drop-off event. Another alternative is using latex or water-based paint instead of oil based paint.

18. What do I do with old batteries?

The time in which we live and our everyday social habits require the use of many types of batteries. If you are interested in recycling your old batteries, please consider take-back programs at retail store outlets like (Home Depot, Lowes, Circuit City, Best Buy, Radio Shack, and Cell Phone Retail Stores). Preferably, at point-of-purchase, please inquire about the stores’ possible recycling options. Batteries can also be set aside and taken to a Household Hazardous Waste drop off event.

19. What do I do with used motor oil?

There are free drop off places for used motor oil to City residents Monday – Saturday at O'Rilley's and Auto Zone Auto Parts.