What do we Recycle?

Everything!  Well, not exactly everything, but most of the items that would normally get tossed in the trash can be recycled in the District’s commingled recycling program or one of our other recycling programs.  See the information below on what you can recycle!

Commingled Recycling Program - Everything is Mixed Together!
 
This is our most popular program and is found at most school and administrative sites.  Please recycle the following items TOGETHER in the small blue recycling containers found in classrooms and offices or place larger items in the blue recycling dumpsters located outside:

• Paper products (some food residue is OK): notebook paper, spiral notebooks (plastic and metal spirals are OK), construction & poster paper, colored paper, newspaper, magazines, phone books, catalogs, books (remove hard covers), envelopes (windows OK), post-it notes, paper bags (empty lunch & fast food bags), and paperboard boxes (tissue, food and packaging boxes), pizza boxes (some residue OK), milk or juice cartons, molded fiber packaging and drink carriers (similar to paper egg cartons), wrapping paper, paper packaging, etc.  Some tape, glue, staples, paper & binder clips (re-use if possible), metal brads or bindings, are OK. NO paper towels , tissue, paper coffee or soda cups, laminated paper, etc.

• Cardboard:  Boxes, sheets, packaging, and pizza boxes (some residue OK). Flatten when possible to save space. Hard plastic (no film plastic packaging or pouches) and Styrofoam packaging from shipments CAN be recycled, too!  These items can all be placed in the same recycling bin.

• Aluminum/Tin/Metal: includes aluminum cans, tin cans, aluminum foil and food service products (pie plates, etc.), broken metal tools (wrenches, screwdrivers, etc.), metal pots/pans, frames, parts, pipe, metal office products & furniture, and EMPTY aerosol cans & metal paint cans (thin layer of dried paint film is OK).

• Glass Bottles & Jars:  includes all colors of glass bottles and jars. Lids and labels are OK.  NO window glass, ceramics, mirrors, broken glass, etc. 

• Rigid Plastic: All bottles, jugs, jars, tubs, pails, buckets (paint buckets with dried residue is OK), baskets, plastic toys, milk crates, laundry tubs/baskets, agricultural trays and pots, plastic cups & lids (usually for cold drinks from coffee shops, fast food, etc. "Party" cups, too!). Microwave trays/bowls & plastic food containers (including clear plastic "clamshells").  Includes beverage, dairy (i.e. yogurt), sauce/condiment, cooking oils, soaps, cleaners.. EMPTY containers please! Some food residue is OK.  Now accepting clean polystyrene (Styrofoam) packaging products! NO overhead transparencies, laminated paper, sticker backing, straws, bags/baggies, plastic wrap, plastic film packaging (bubble wrap, air pouches), disposable cutlery, table cloths, PVC pipe, candy wrappers, electronics, etc.

Click here for links to printable lists and signage.

Beverage Container Recycling Program  

Several schools and administrative sites choose to separate out California Redemption Value (CRV) beverage containers to raise funds for their school or program.  CRV containers include most plastic, aluminum and glass water, sports drink, juice, tea, coffee, energy drink, and soda containers.  Containers must be separated by type (i.e. plastic, aluminum, and glass). Volunteers take the containers to a recycling center where they are redeemed for cash.


Shredded Paper Recycling Program 

Shredding services are available for District confidential documents.  Special pick up of documents and/or locked containers are available for shredding and recycling these materials.

Click here for more information on why District staff should take advantage of this program.  For more information, check out the Frequently Asked Questions regarding shredding District documents.

 

Universal Waste Management Program 

Each District site collects batteries and lamps (fluorescent and other types of bulbs) for proper handling, recycling and/or disposal.  Sites can request special buckets to collect batteries and boxes for fluorescent tubes.  Batteries and lamps cannot be kept longer than one year. 

District sites can click here  for more information on how to request containers or pick up service.

Electronic Waste
 
Electronic waste is also considered universal waste, but is handled separately at the District.  The Materiel Control Unit is responsible for managing the inventory of the District’s electronics, such as computers, monitors, televisions, and other electronics with property identification tags.  Materiel Control contracts with a recycler to collect, process, and recycle electronic waste. 

District sites can click here for more information on how to transfer unwanted electronics to Materiel Control for proper recycling.

Supply Exchange
 
Do you wish you had extra supplies for your classroom or student projects? Are you holding on to items you will never use, like obsolete overhead transparencies, extra binders, file folders, manipulatives, etc?  The weekly staff Newsline has a Supply Exchange section where employees can post Available or Wanted items.  Items must be used for District purposes, including student use, and are not intended for staff personal use. Employees must arrange delivery/pick up of items.  Check it out!

Printer Cartridge Recycling
 
One way to help raise extra funds for school programs and student activities is by recycling printer cartridges, cell phones, and other similar products. Several schools and District offices collect these materials and send them to companies who pay for the materials. Many of these programs provide free postage and collection containers, as well as promotional materials to get you started. 

 

For links on how to set up a printer cartridge or cell phone recycling program at your site, click here. To send cartridges to the District's Education Center for recycling, check the staff Newsline Supply Exchange (listing at the bottom) for more information.