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Recycling

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Cart Placement: (Single-family households and businesses with carts)

Place your carts in the street with the wheels against the curb and the arrow on the lid pointing toward the street.  The lid must be closed.  Leave at least 1 1/2 feet between your trash, yard waste, and recycling containers so the automated collection equipment can easily pickup the containers.  Please do not park your car in front of containers.  If possible, park off the street on your scheduled service day. 

Cart placement 

Questions about your service, call Republic Services at (619) 421-9400.

 

What goes into your recycling container?

Please recycle:

Recycling

  • Dry food boxes, packaging, paper bags, cardboard, white paper, colored paper, letters and junk mail, shredded paper in a see-through bag

  • Milk cartons and juice boxes
  • Magazines, newspapers, catalogs, phone books
  • Block Styrofoam often in electronic and appliance packaging (No Styrofoam peanuts or sheets)
  • Empty metal paint or aerosol cans
  • Glass or plastic bottles and jars, plus all CRV containers
  • Steel, tin, pie tins, wire hangers, aluminum cans, foil, plus all CRV containers

Don’t trash a good thing. Recycle it!

Recyclables that are contaminated with trash or are put in plastic bags must be disposed of as trash — defeating the whole purpose of recycling!

How do you properly recycle?

Remember these three easy steps and you can learn how to recycle right!

 

  1. EMPTY: Scrape out any leftover food

  2. DRY: Pour out all liquids

  3. FLATTEN: Break down all boxes for more space

Most importantly, NEVER bag recyclables, Keep them LOOSE.

 

Recycling Is Mandatory

    • Businesses may also sell or donate recyclable and reusable materials to a recycling or reuse company.
    • Republic Services can also provide recycling for loads of concrete, asphalt and wood. Additional materials may be recyclable as well, check with Republic Services before mixing the materials with trash.
    • New Recycling Container Requirements for Businesses per State Assembly Bill 827. Please check our Recycling guide for businesses for more information.

     

    Frequent Questions on Recycling

    1. Can I place plastic bags in my recycling container?

    • No, plastic bags must go in your trash container.

    2. Can Styrofoam go in my recycling container?

    • Only block Styrofoam (that is rigid and can be snapped in half) can go in your recycling container. Packing peanuts, and Styrofoam sheets must go in your trash container.

    3. Can shoes and clothing go in my recycling container?

    • No, clothing and shoes can be donated if still useable. If unusable, they go in your trash container.

    4. What should I do with Ziplock Bags, Food Wrappers, and Plastic Film?

    • Ziplock Bags, Food Wrappers, and Plastic Film must go in your trash container. 

       

    5. What should I do with clothes hangers?

    • Both metal and plastic clothes hangers, if not donatable, must go in your trash container.

    6. Can I recycle garden hoses?

    • No, garden hoses are not recyclable, they go in your trash container.

    7. Can I put my recyclables in plastic bags?

    • No, recyclables must always be placed loose in your recycling container.

    8. What do I do with unwanted medication?

    • Medication should never be put in the trash or flushed down your drain or toilet. Please visit Pharmaceutical Waste page to find locations near you for proper disposal.

    9. What items are considered household hazardous waste and how do I dispose of them?

    • Paint/thinners, batteries, fluorescent bulbs, electronic waste and sharps all household hazardous waste. For a more detailed list please visit our Hazardous Waste Disposal page.
    • If you live in Chula Vista, Imperial Beach, National City or Unincorporated County of San Diego you may bring them to our Household Hazardous Waste Facility located at 1800 Maxwell Road. We are open Wednesday and Saturday excluding holidays from 9am-1pm and no appointment is necessary.
    • What else can I do with used paint?
    • Where else can I dispose of my syringes or lancets?
    • Go to your local pharmacy for a mail-back container. Participating pharmacies include CVS, Costco, Sharp Rees Steely, Ralphs, Rite Aid and Walgreens.
    • Where else can I dispose of electronic waste? 
    • Call Republic Services at 619-421-9400 to schedule a pickup, please note there is a cost associated with this service. Or look for a local E-Waste recycling drive. There is a cost associated with this service.

       10. How do I request a bulky item pick-up?

    • Please visit Republic Services website or call (619) 421-9400 at least 24 hours before your service day to schedule this service. Up to 10 bulky items can be picked up weekly. 

       11. How do I get my free landfill and/or yard waste passes?

    • Residents with cart service collection are entitled to two landfill passes and two-yard waste passes every calendar year. To view options on how to obtain a pass, please visit Bulky Item & Landfill Passes page.

     

       12. How do I get rid of painted or treated wood?

    • Painted or treated wood does not go in your green cart and should be placed in your trash container. If you have a large amount of painted/treated wood, schedule a bulky item pickup by calling Republic Services at 619-421-9400.

     

     

    Notes/Questions that should be listed on the FAQ Page: Submit feedback.