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![Blue bin](/sites/default/files/styles/very_large/public/2017-06/bin_blue_800x800.jpg?itok=Se5Y9na-)
Recycle bin
Please remove film portion before placing hard plastic in the recycling bin.
Please remove film portion before placing hard plastic in the recycling bin.
Caps and lids okay.
Empty bottles in the blue bin. Put corks made with natural material in the green bin.
Empty contents.
Make foil into ball. No food.
Aluminum, steel, or tin.
Includes small metal household items, such as broken pots and pans. Appliances and electronics with metal parts require special handling.
Remove plastic lining (if any) and bundle with plastic bags.
Paper and plastic egg cartons okay. No polystyrene foam.
Envelopes with plastic window okay.
Lids okay.
Glossy paper okay.
Recycle clean and dry paper only. For greasy or food-stained paper, place in the green composting bin.
Recycle empty cup, sleeve, and plastic lid.![](https://mpp.mxptint.net/2/26839/?rnd=%n)
Shredded paper can be recycled if placed in a brown paper bag, stapled shut, and labeled "SHREDDED" on the outside. Otherwise, please put shredded paper in the composting bin.
Wire handle okay.
No polystyrene foam. If labeled "compostable," put in green bin.
![Compost](/sites/default/files/styles/very_large/public/2017-06/bin_green_800x800.jpg?itok=on5Xsvxq)
Compost bin
Item must be labeled "compostable."
Item must be labeled "compostable."
Bones okay.
Shells okay.
Paper only.
Compost natural corks in your green composting bin. Place composite and plastic corks in the black trash bin.
No plastic stems.
No synthetic fibers.
Natural hair only. Donate hair to Clean Wave.
No plywood or pressboard. Nothing stained or treated.
Break branches down to fit in green bin.
Cut to less than 4 feet long and 6 inches wide.
![Black landfill bin](/sites/default/files/styles/very_large/public/2017-06/bin_black_800x800.jpg?itok=gxirF8x7)
Landfill bin
Broken glassware, such as stemware, drink glasses, porcelain, and tempered glass should be placed in the trash bin. Broken bottles and jars can be placed in the blue recycling bin.
Disposable ice packs (plastic filled with a gooey substance) are difficult to recycle.
Reuse when possible. If your ice pack came with a meal delivery kit, contact the meal kit provider to see if they have a take-back program.
Reuse when possible. If your ice pack came with a meal delivery kit, contact the meal kit provider to see if they have a take-back program.
Only incandescent and halogen light bulbs go in the black bin.
Bags for coffee beans have a plastic liner fused to paper. Large to-go foil bags (inside coffee boxes) have mixed materials.
Paper envelopes with plastic padding have mixed materials.
disposable masks
baby and disinfectant, disinfectant wraps
For health and safety, always put in the black bin.
Potato chip bag, protein and candy bar, mylar
Recycle blocks of polystyrene foam at the Recology San Francisco Transfer Station located at 501 Tunnel Avenue.
![Items that do not belong in one of San Francisco's three bi](/sites/default/files/styles/very_large/public/2020-07/NO_symbol_800x800.jpg?itok=QcnKZEtv)
Special handling
Take to a designated drop-off location. Max of 5 gals per day. No business waste.
Take to a designated drop-off location. Max of 5 gals per day. No business waste.
Take to a designated drop-off location. Filters must be drained and punctured or crushed. No business waste.
Properly dispose of tires at the SF Transfer Station.
Lithium batteries from electric bikes
Put small household batteries into a clear plastic bag on top of black bin or search for retail take-back location. PUT CLEAR TAPE OVER CONTACTS OF LITHIUM BATTERIES. No business waste.
Return up to 10 batteries per day to point of purchase for recycling.
Donate clean and dry clothes to a local thrift store. Call to inquire if they accept other items such as bedding and linens.
Eye glasses in good condition can be donated to some vendors.
Clean and dry fabric in usable condition.
Return to grocery store or propane vendor for exchange
Search above for retail take-back location. No business waste. Handle cylinders that are not empty as hazardous waste.
Contact San Francisco Environment Department for assistance
Contact the Department of the Environment for assistance
Wood and lumber treated with chemical preservatives. Contact San Francisco Environment Department for assistance
If broken or not reusable, handle as E-Waste.
Broken or not reusable computers and peripherals, televisions, other electronic devices which have a screen or can be programmed.
Use Recology Bulky Item Recycling Pick-up Service. Place in sealed box and mark "E-Waste."
Search for Retail Take-back location or use Recology Bulky Item Recycling Pick-up Service. Place in a sealed box and mark "E-Waste."
If broken or not reusable, handle as E-Waste.
If furniture is in good, functioning condition, please consider donation on the Facebook Buy Nothing group, NextDoor, Craigslist, and freecycle.org
Take to a recycling location or contact a pick-up service.
Many common household products (cleaners, detergents, pest sprays, etc.) may contain toxic chemicals. Look for Signal Word on product label: CAUTION, DANGER, WARNING. No business waste.
Many common household products (cleaners, detergents, pest sprays, etc.) may contain toxic chemicals. Contact Recology.
Home thermometers only. No business waste.
Search for Retail Take-Back location. Do not remove mercury ampule from thermostat. Drop off entire device.
A flammable liquid typically used as a fuel or cleaner. Look for Signal Word on product label: CAUTION, DANGER, WARNING. No business waste.
Donate books to a local thrift store or to Friends of the San Francisco Public Library's donation center in Potrero Hill.
Max 10 gals/day. No business waste. Absorb small amounts with paper towels and place in green compost bin or collect, strain, and reuse it.
If broken or not reusable, handle as E-Waste.
Donate clean and functioning toys to a local thrift store. For non-functioning toys made of mixed-material, please remove all batteries before placing in the black trash bin.
Many older types of energy efficient lighting contain toxic mercury. Max 5 bulbs or tubes per day. No business waste at Retail Take-Back locations.
Many LED lighting products contain toxic metals other than mercury. Max 5 bulbs or tubes per day. No business waste at Retail Take-Back locations.
Take to a designated drop-off location, or request a mail-back package. No business waste.
Take to a designated drop-off location. NO LOOSE NEEDLES. Needles must be inside a Sharps Container. Free replacement sharps containers available. No business waste.
Medicine drop-off locations cannot collect medicine dispensed with a syringe for self-injection. Order a special mail-back package. No business waste. Handle used auto injectors as a syringe.
Art supplies may contain hazardous chemicals which must not go in any bin. Handle full or partial containers as chemical liquid.
Includes indoor and outdoor, latex and oil-base. Max 5 gal/day at Retail Take-Back locations. No business waste. Recycle empty and dry small paint can s in blue recycling bin.
Paint for auto and appliance touch-ups, traffic marking, and art projects. Retail Take-Back locations do NOT collect these paints. Handle full or partial containers as chemical liquid. No business waste.
Retail Take-Back locations do NOT collect spray paint. Use up and recycle empty can in blue recycling bin - remove cap and tip. Handle full or partial spray cans as chemical spray. No business waste.