No, plastics are never appropriate for the green compost cart. You can use a paper bag, or a bag labeled “compostable” which is made from plants to line your compost pail. Biodegradable Products Institute (BPI) certified bags available to line your composting cart or kitchen pail. Cole Hardware, Rainbow Grocery, Albertsons, Wal-Mart and dozens of […]
On your regular collection day, place your extra yard trimmings next to your green bin in a paper bag, bundled together with string or collected in a Biodegradable Products Institute (BPI) certified compostable bag in a manageable size (2’x2′ max). The lid on your bin must be fully closed at pickup. Additional collection charges may apply. Please do not […]
Tips & Guidelines Compostable material includes food scraps and yard waste. Compost collection is included with your garbage subscription at no additional cost. The handling and processing of compostable material is less resource-intensive than processing garbage and creates a valuable product to use in parks and gardens. Approximately 30% of all material that ends up […]
Recology San Mateo County accepts napkins, paper towels, soiled paper plates, paper cups, and pizza boxes. Recology also accepts waxed cardboard (such as produce boxes), and wet or soiled paper and cardboard. Clean and dry paper, as well as wax milk and juice cartons, should be placed in the recycling.
If you’re a new resident of San Mateo County, or you’ve lost or damaged your kitchen pail for compost material, contact Recology San Mateo County for a replacement. Kitchen pails are for in-home use only, so we request that you don’t set your kitchen pail out for service. Recology’s trucks are not equipped to lift and […]
Recology San Mateo County strongly encourages you to give composting a try. We’ll even give you a kitchen pail and signage to help you get in the swing of it! San Mateo County residents have told us that composting becomes easy after the first week. From experience, they recommend bagging or wrapping food scraps in […]
Yes! Compostable bags are acceptable in the compost collection program, but please make sure that your local Recology will accept them. Compostable bags must meet the Biodegradable Products Institute (BPI) standards. These bags can be found at Costco, Whole Foods, Mollie Stones, Safeway, CVS and Walgreens, among other stores. Find a full list of approved […]
Once you’ve removed all the tinsel, lights, decorations and stands from your holiday tree, leave the tree next to the green compost cart, and Recology will pick it up for you between December 26 and January 31. Please make sure trees are 8 feet and under. If it’s taller than 8 feet, cut the tree […]
No. Many food packaging companies label their bio-based cups or eating utensils as “biodegradable,” but in reality they are neither compostable nor recyclable. These products are blends of bio-based resins and petro resins and, sadly, go to landfill.