Garbage
Please place all non-reusable, non-recyclable,
non-compostable and non-hazardous items in your garbage container.
All items must fit inside the garbage container with the lid closed.
Multi-Material Items
• Aseptic containers (e.g., juice
boxes, soy milk)
• Foil wrapped beverage pouches
(e.g., Capri Sun®)
• Polaroid photographs
PAPER
• Carbon paper
• Padded envelopes
• Metallic paper
GLASS
• Ceramics
• Cookware — glass (e.g., PyrexTM)
• Dishware
• Mirrors
• Windows
PLASTIC
• Disposable razors
• Hoses (e.g., car, garden)
• Rubber bands
• Tarps
• Toothpaste & ointment tubes
• Webbing/mesh from lawn
furniture
EXPANDED POLYSTYRENE
(Styrofoam™)
• Cups and plates
• Egg cartons — molded foam
• Foam packing (e.g., blocks)
• Meat trays
• Packing “peanuts”
Household
Hazardous
Waste
Need to dispose of batteries, motor
oil, chemicals or even a car battery?
We offer many convenient services to
help you get rid of them safely.
Visit www.cityofpaloalto.org/
hazwaste or call (650) 496-6980 for
more information.
What Goes Where?
Live in an apartment or
Animal Waste
condo? Have questions about
Donations
Do you have old clothing, furniture
or toys that you no longer need? If
these items are in good condition,
consider donating them to a local
community organization.
recycling, disposal or reuse?
We can help you figure out
“What Goes Where.”
Palo Alto has the goal of Zero Waste by 2021.
Attempting to eliminate waste is an ambitious
goal, but there are actions everyone in the
community can take to help achieve Zero Waste.
We have a variety of resources to help you get
started at www.zerowastepaloalto.org
You’ll find how-to videos, a fun online sorting
game, downloadable flyers and more!
Here are a couple resources:
Goodwill Industries
4085 EI Camino Way
Palo Alto, CA 94306
Tel: (650) 494-1416
Salvation Army
Tel: 1-800-SA-TRUCK (728-7825)
www.greenwaste.com/paloalto
[email protected]
(650) 493-4894
www.zerowastepaloalto.org
[email protected]
(650) 496-5910
Printed on 100% post-consumer recycled paper.
Recyclables
Please place all recyclable materials in your blue container.
All items must fit inside the recyclables container with the lid closed.
METAL
• Aerosol cans (empty)
• Appliances, small metal (e.g., toaster,
blender)
• Cans (e.g., food, beverage, pet food)
• Foil, foil trays and pans
• Furniture
• Hardware (e.g., keys, nails, screws)
• Household items (e.g., pots, pans,
trays, utensils)
• Lids, caps
• Lighting fixtures
• Paint cans (empty, no excessive or
wet residue)
• Pipe
• Scrap metal (e.g., plumbing
fixtures, wires)
• Sporting goods
• Tools
• Toys
• Trays
• Umbrellas
PAPER (staples, tape okay)
• Bags (e.g., white, colored, nonmetallic)
• Books (e.g., hard/soft cover,
telephone)
• Boxes (e.g., cereal, cracker, tissue,
shoe, mailing)
• Carbonless (e.g., receipts)
• Cardboard (flatten, unwaxed)
• Catalogs
• Colored, white, glossy
GLASS (clear and colored,
except blue and red)
• Bottles
• Jars
FILM PLASTICS (Please place
inside a clear plastic bag and
knot the top of the bag)
• Bags (e.g., bread, dry cleaning,
grocery, newspaper, produce,
merchandise, zip lock)
• Bubble wrap
• Case wrap (e.g., beverage container
and snack flats)
• Liners (e.g., cereal box)
• Pallet/shrink wrap
• Plastic packaging wrap (e.g., wrap
from toilet paper, napkins, paper
towels, diapers)
• Shipping envelopes (labels removed)
ELECTRONICS (anything with a
computer chip) Note: Televisions and
computer monitors NOT accepted
• Appliances (e.g., coffee makers,
microwave oven)
• Calculator
• Camera
• Cell phone (inside clear tear-resistant
bag)
• Computer (e.g., desktop, laptop,
mouse, cables)
• Fax machine
• Home entertainment
(e.g., game systems,
DVR, VCR, stereo, radio)
• Keyboard
• Pager
• PDAs
• Printer
• Scanner
Compostables
Please place all compostables in your green container.
All items must fit inside the compostables container with the lid closed.
PLASTICS (all types, with or without
a number) Note: Polystyrene aka
Styrofoam™ is NOT accepted
• Auto parts (small)
• Baskets
• Bottles (e.g., beverage, laundry and
household cleaners, personal care
products, prescription)
• Buckets
• Cartridges (e.g., toner, ink jet,
printer)
• Computer housing
• Coolers
• Crates
• Drums
• Flower pots
• Food containers (e.g., cottage
cheese, margarine, yogurt, take-out)
• Lids
• Pet carriers
• Pipe (non-PVC)
• Product packaging
• Shelving
• Toys
• Trays
FOOD SCRAPS
• Bones
• Bread
• Coffee grounds and filters
• Dairy products
• Dough
• Fruit
• Grains
• Meat
• Pasta
• Tea bags
• Vegetables
COMPOSTABLE PAPER
• Food soiled paper (e.g., paper
plates, napkins, cups, towels, takeout containers, fast food packaging,
sandwich wrappers, trays, waxed
paper)
• Milk, juice and ice cream cartons
• Pizza boxes
• Tissues
• Waxed cardboard
COMPOSTABLE PLASTICS
(products made from corn,
potato and other starch)
• Bags, liners
• Cups
• Cutlery
• Hinged clamshell containers
• Lids
YARD TRIMMINGS
• Branches, stumps*
• Flowers
• Grass clippings
• Holiday trees**
• Leaves
• Lumber***
• Plants, shrubs
• Sawdust***
Kitchen Food Collection & Storage Tips
• Bag it! Use a paper or compostable plastic bag to store food
scraps. Just toss the full bag directly in your compostables
container. Plastic bags are not allowed in the cart — they ruin
the compost.
• Put a lid on it! Use a reusable container with a tight fitting lid
for your food scraps. It can be plastic, metal or ceramic. Large
yogurt, or margarine tubs, juice pitchers, stainless steel canisters
all make storing food scraps easy.
• Chill it! Put leftovers in a container or wrap them in paper, then
place them in your refrigerator or freezer until collection day. This
may sound strange, but residents say this system works great!
If you don’t have compostables service check with
your property manager to request the service.
* Branches must be less than 6 inches in
diameter and shorter than 4 feet in length.
** Undecorated, unflocked, remove stands,
tinsel and decorations. Check with your
property manager for collection details.
*** Must be untreated/unpainted.