Cans, Bottles, Paper and Cardboard: “Gray Recycling Cart”
If you live in an apartment building or complex with 5 or more units your recycling container may be a gray, green or blue cart, or a white dumpster bin. If your recycling container is not clearly labeled, or if you need a new or replacement container contact your recycling company.
Single Family Residential Recycling Guide
Applies to 1-4 unit residences in Oakland. Complete information about all the significant improvements to residential recycling services that began in January 2006.
Multi-Family Residential Recycling Guide Applies to 5 or more unit residences in Oakland. Program information and free tools to help increase recycling.
What Can You Recycle in Your Gray Cart?
New!Plastic Tubs Are In!
Plastic food and beverage containers (bottles and tubs) are now accepted in the Oakland residential recycling program. We invite you to include plastic containers like margarine tubs, yogurt cups, and deli containers for recycling, in addition to narrow-neck plastic bottles that have long been a part of Oakland’s recycling program.
DO PUT IN:
- Glass bottles and jars
- Plastic bottles and tubs
- Aerosol cans (empty)
- Aluminum cans & foil
- Carbonless paper
- Catalogs and junk mail
- Steel or tin cans
- Drink boxes (juice)
- Soup boxes
- Milk cartons
- Carbonless paper
- Cardboard boxes flattened
- Computer Paper
- Egg cartons (paper only)
- Envelopes (plastic windows okay)
- Grocery bags (paper only)
- Junk mail
- Magazines
- Newspaper (glossy paper inserts okay)
- Office paper
- Paper towel & toilet paper tubes
- Phone books
- Shoe boxes
*Notes about cardboard recycling:
- Small cardboard boxes:
Flatten and place in cart
Large cardboard boxes:
Flatten, bundle and place next to cart . Must be less than 3-feet by 3-feet!
Please Keep These Items OUT!
-
Batteries – Click here for residential battery recycling information
- Light bulbs
- Mirrors and windows
- Dishes, cups and other ceramic items
- Glassware (drinking glasses)
- Thick glass milk bottles (return to store for deposit)
- Plastic bags
- Plastic items other than bottles and tubs (such as plastic toys)
- Styrofoam
- Frozen food boxes (if box is paper it can go in your yard-trimmings and food scraps recycling)
- Food-contaminated paper such as take out or to-go food containers and used paper plates (put in your yard-trimmings and food scraps recycling)
- Photos and photo graphic paper
- Carbon paper
- Compact disks or DVDs
- Sharps containers
- Motor oil and filters
- Garbage
Go:
- The New Weekly Pickup - Complete information about all the significant improvements to residential recycling services
- Green cart - weekly yard trimmings and food scraps recycling
- Gray cart - weekly bottles, cans, jars, paper and cardboard recycling
- Burgundy cart - weekly garbage and non-recyclables collection
- Contact your recycling company
- Used motor oil and oil filters - weekly collection for recycling
- Bulky pickup and recycling (household appliances and other bulky items)
- Services for disabled and senior Oakland residents
- Discounted rates for low-income Oakland seniors
- Holiday collection (what happens when your service day is also a holiday)
- Holiday tree recycling each January
- Back to residential homepage