Where to Recycle


Find places to properly dispose of your unwanted things. Just click on what materials you need to recycle! Remember, recycling is good for all of us!

Electronic Waste - Household Hazardous Waste - Bottles & Cans - Plastic Bags - Polystyrene Packaging Peanuts - Construction & Demolition Debris - Local CA Recycling Centers - Other Recycling Services


E-Waste

CIWMB's Electronic Recycling Locator - Check out this list by county to find your nearest drop-off or other recycling option. (for computers, laptops and other electronics)

FREE E-Waste Recycling Events - Find free and easy locations to safely dispose of unwanted electronics in your community.

Cell Phone Recycling

CD Recycling - Remember that CDs and DVDs shouldn't be discarded and can in fact be recycled. Some free e-waste events and municipalities will take them as part of e-waste. Call them to see if they do. Or try Green Disk for a simple mail back option.

Toner and Inkjet Cartridges

  • Recycle Your Empty Toner and Inkjet Cartridges - For every item recycled through this program a donation is made to the Susan G. Komen Foundation. This organization is committed to eradicating breast cancer as a life threatening disease by advancing research, education, screening and treatment.
  • Planet Green - This inkjet cartridge remanufacturing company based in Chatsworth, CA accepts used inkjet printer cartridges and cell phones and the company pays for shipping.


Household Hazardous Waste

Used Rechargeable Batteries - Search by ZIP code for the rechargeable battery recycling collection site in your area.

Used Single Use Batteries - Search by county for facilities and businesses that accept single use batteries.

Universal Wastes (including fluorescent lamps (CFLs)) - CIWMB's Electronic Recycling Locator for locations to recycle near you. Note: CA IKEA stores will take back and recycle your CFLs and batteries free of charge (the picture on the right was taken at an IKEA store).

Used Motor Oil - CIWMB's Used Motor Oil Recycling Program locator of recycling centers in your neighborhood.

DTSC's Take It-Back Program - Dept. of Toxic Substances Control has a convenient way to recycle batteries and lamps for businesses and individuals.


Bottles and Cans

Locate beverage container recycling centers through the Dept. of Conservation's Bottles and Cans website and get money back for your bottles!


Plastic Bags

PlasticBagRecycling.org - Locate a place to recycle your unwanted plastic bags!

 

Polystyrene Packaging Peanuts

Most UPS Stores will take back and reuse your unwanted packaging peanuts that come in that gift you just received. Contact your local store for details!

The Plastic Loose Fill Council also as has a partial list of places for take back here.

Click here to find a location near you that will take back your polystyrene packaging blocks.


Construction and Demolition Debris

CIWMB C&D Debris Recyclers Database - Find a place that collects specific types of construction and demolition debris for reuse or recycling in your county.


Your Local Community Recycling

California County Waste and Recycling Resources - Browse by county to find out where to recycle unwanted materials.

County of San Mateo RecycleWorks - Great site with its own searchable database for harder-to-recycle items like electronics and appliances for residents of San Mateo County.

San Francisco's Department of the Environment also has a similar searchable database for hard items to recycle such as polystyrene, personal care products and garden furniture. The database expands to the greated SF Bay Area.

L.A. Shares - A non-profit program that takes tax-deductible donations of reusable goods & materials (both new & used) from the local business community. LA Shares redistributes these items free of charge to non-profit agencies and schools throughout Los Angeles.


Other Recycling Services

Earth's 911 - A ZIP code based directory of recycling options near you. You can also call their toll-free number 1 (800) CLEAN-UP/ 1 (800) 253-2687

CalMax - A free program run by the State of California that helps businesses find markets for non-hazardous materials that are normally discarded.

Carpet America Recovery Effort - A national program aimed at recovering discarded carpet. Use this page to find a place near you.

ReUse A Shoe - An opportunity to recycle all those old sneakers in your closet.

 

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