Find out how to properly dispose of your items by viewing the tabs below or by searching for an item (last tab). You can also view or download the printable sorting guides. If you’re unable to find what you’re looking for, please reach out!
- COMPOST
- RECYCLE
- TRASH
- HAZARDOUS & ELECTRONIC WASTE
- SEARCH
We accept all food scraps, soiled paper, and plants in the green compost cart. Please do not place compostable material in plastic or compostable plastic bags, as the current regional compost facilities are unable to process those materials. Paper bags are acceptable.
Accepted Compost Materials
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Unaccepted Compost Materials
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Food Scraps
- Bread, grains and pasta
- Coffee grounds with paper filter
- Dairy
- Eggshells and eggs
- Fruit (pits and shells too)
- Leftovers and spoiled food
- Meat (including bones)
- Seafood (including shellfish)
- Tea and tea bags
- Vegetables
Food Soiled Paper
- Coffee filters
- Greasy pizza boxes
- Paper cups and plates (without film plastic liner)
- Paper bags, napkins, tissues and towels
- Paper take-out boxes and containers
(without film plastic liner)
- Tissues
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Plants
- Branches and brush
- Flowers and floral trimmings
- Grasses and weeds
- Leaves
- Tree trimmings (less than 6 inches in diameter and 4 feet long)
Other
- Hair, fur, and feathers (non-synthetic)
- Shredded paper
- Wood – small pieces of lumber or sawdust from clean wood only (no plywood, press board, painted, stained or treated wood)
- Wooden chop sticks and coffee stir sticks
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- Aluminum foil or trays
- “Biodegradable” and “Compostable” labeled plastics (bags, utensils, cups)
- Cat litter or animal feces
- Ceramic dishware or glassware
- Clothing, linens and rags
- Cooking oil
- Corks – Natural
- Corks – plastic
- Diapers
- Dirt, rocks or stone
- Flower pots or trays
- Foil-backed or plastic-backed paper
- Glass, metal or plastic not labeled “Compostable”
- Juice or soy milk type boxes with foil liner
- Liquids or ice
- Plastic bags, wrappers or film
- Recyclable/clean cardboard or paper
- Styrofoam
- Waxy paper milk and juice cartons/cardboard
- Wood – plywood, press board, painted or stained wood
- Oleander, Poison Oak, Yukka tree trimmings, Bamboo, Cactus, Palm fronds
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Please do not place recyclable materials in plastic bags, as the recycling facility is unable to process those materials. Paper bags are acceptable.
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 |
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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)
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- 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
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- 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
- Toys with electronics or batteries
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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.
Motor Oil: We offer a curbside pickup for motor oil and filters – call customer service to request an oil kit and you will be provided with a container and zip-lock filter bag. When filled, call customer service to request a pick up, and place oil and filters at the curb next (NOT IN) to your recycling cart for pickup. There are also many locations in Sonoma County that will accept motor oil and filters. Visit www.ZeroWasteSonoma.gov to find a location.
Electronics: Any Sonoma County transfer station will accept household electronics for recycling. Goodwill will also accept electronics, working or not. Please also visit www.ZeroWasteSonoma.gov for additional recycling options, as well as for community drop-off events.
RESOURCES
Glass (no liquids or food)
Paper (clean, dry and unsoiled)
