What Goes Where?

Find out how to properly dispose of your items by viewing the tabs below. You can also view or download the printable sorting guides. If you’re unable to find what you’re looking for, please reach out!

RECYCLE
TRASH
HAZARDOUS & ELECTRONIC WASTE

Please do not place recyclable materials in plastic bags, as the recycling facility is unable to process those materials. Paper bags are acceptable.

Accepted Recycling Materials		Unaccepted Recyclables
Glass (no liquids or food) Glass bottles and jars only (metal caps and lids too) Metal (no liquids or food) Aluminum cans Aluminum foil and trays (ball foil up to softball size) Caps and lids from bottles, jars and steel (tin) cans Paint cans (must be empty or dry) Spray cans (must be empty) Steel (tin) cans Plastic bottles, tubs, and jugs (rinsed) Bottles (leave caps on) Containers and clam shells Laundry detergent bottles Tubs and lids (yogurt containers and Tupperware)	Paper (clean, dry and unsoiled) Bags (paper only, no plastic) Cardboard (non-waxed) Cereal boxes Computer and office paper Egg cartons Envelopes (windows okay) Juice or soy milk type boxes with foil liner Junk mail and magazines Newspapers Packing paper Phonebooks Sticky notes Waxy paper milk or juice cartons Wrapping paper (non-metallic)		Batteries Ceramic dishware or glassware Clothing, linens and rags Coat hangers Electronics Foil-backed or plastic-backed paper Food scraps Glass mirrors and windows Incandescent light bulbs, Fluorescent light bulbs and HIDs Plastic bags, wrappers or film Plastic items mixed with metal, fabric or rubber Plastic labeled “Compostable” or “Biodegradable” Scrap metal Soiled paper Styrofoam Waxed cardboard and paper Wood Yard trimmings

Accepted Recycling Materials

Unaccepted Recyclables

Glass (no liquids or food)

Glass bottles and jars only (metal caps and lids too)

Metal (no liquids or food)

Aluminum cans
Aluminum foil and trays (ball foil up to softball size)
Caps and lids from bottles, jars and steel (tin) cans
Paint cans (must be empty or dry)
Spray cans (must be empty)
Steel (tin) cans

Plastic bottles, tubs, and jugs (rinsed)

Bottles (leave caps on)
Containers and clam shells
Laundry detergent bottles
Tubs and lids (yogurt containers and Tupperware)

Paper (clean, dry and unsoiled)

Bags (paper only, no plastic)
Cardboard (non-waxed)
Cereal boxes
Computer and office paper
Egg cartons
Envelopes (windows okay)
Juice or soy milk type boxes with foil liner
Junk mail and magazines
Newspapers
Packing paper
Phonebooks
Sticky notes
Waxy paper milk or juice cartons
Wrapping paper
(non-metallic)

Batteries
Ceramic dishware or glassware
Clothing, linens and rags
Coat hangers
Electronics
Foil-backed or plastic-backed paper
Food scraps
Glass mirrors and windows
Incandescent light bulbs,
Fluorescent light bulbs and HIDs
Plastic bags, wrappers or film
Plastic items mixed with metal, fabric or rubber
Plastic labeled “Compostable” or “Biodegradable”
Scrap metal
Soiled paper
Styrofoam
Waxed cardboard and paper
Wood
Yard trimmings

Few things, once they are used, are actually trash. Among such things are non-recyclable plastics and other complex materials that were not designed to be recycled.

Accepted Landfill Items		Unaccepted Trash Items
Cat litter and animal feces (bagged) Ceramic dishware or glassware Clothing linens and rags Cigarette Butts (extinguished – run under water prior to disposal) Dental floss Diapers Feminine Hygiene Products Foil-backed or plastic-backed paper Glass mirrors and windows Incandescent light bulbs (no fluorescents or HIDs) Mylar (shiny metal) bags (potato chips, candy bars, balloons, etc)	Pens and pencils Plastic bags, wrappers and film (not labeled “Compostable”) Plastic items mixed with metal, fabric or rubber Plastic labeled “Biodegradable” only Rubber bands Six-pack ring holder – please cut up Sponges Styrofoam Twist Ties Wood – small pieces of plywood, press board, and painted or stained wood		Appliances Asbestos Batteries Construction debris Cooking oil and grease Dirt, rocks or stone Electronics Fluorescent or HID light bulbs Household hazardous waste or chemicals Large items (furniture, metal, plastic, wood) Liquids or ice Motor oil Needles or syringes Paint Tires Toys with electronics or batteries Treated wood

Accepted Landfill Items

Unaccepted Trash Items

Cat litter and animal feces (bagged)
Ceramic dishware or glassware
Clothing linens and rags
Cigarette Butts (extinguished – run under water prior to disposal)
Dental floss
Diapers
Feminine Hygiene Products
Foil-backed or plastic-backed paper
Glass mirrors and windows
Incandescent light bulbs
(no fluorescents or HIDs)
Mylar (shiny metal) bags (potato chips, candy bars, balloons, etc)

Pens and pencils
Plastic bags, wrappers and film (not labeled “Compostable”)
Plastic items mixed with metal, fabric or rubber
Plastic labeled “Biodegradable” only
Rubber bands
Six-pack ring holder – please cut up
Sponges
Styrofoam
Twist Ties
Wood – small pieces of plywood, press board, and painted or stained wood

Appliances
Asbestos
Batteries
Construction debris
Cooking oil and grease
Dirt, rocks or stone
Electronics
Fluorescent or HID light bulbs
Household hazardous waste or chemicals
Large items (furniture, metal, plastic, wood)
Liquids or ice
Motor oil
Needles or syringes
Paint
Tires
Toys with electronics or batteries
Treated wood

It is illegal to put items such as electronics, batteries, fluorescent bulbs, pesticides, and other chemicals in the trash. When household hazardous wastes end up in a landfill, they can cause serious threats to humans, wildlife and the environment.

Recology hosts annual household electronic drop-off events. Please check our website and your mail periodically for details on upcoming events.

For recycling and drop off options visit Mendocino County’s household hazardous waste website.

- Treated Wood Waste Now Accepted: Starting August 31, 2022, treated wood (any wood that has been treated with a chemical preservative to protect the wood against attacks from insects, microorganisms, or fungi) is accepted for disposal and considered hazardous waste per California State law. It must be disposed of properly. Find a disposal site near you.