Commercial Recycling Services

COVID-19 Service Information: Commercial and residential refuse, compost, and recycling collection continues as regularly scheduled. The Transfer Station and Berkeley Recycling Center are open to the public. Face coverings and social distancing required.

We recognize that many businesses are closed due to the pandemic and may need to adjust their refuse collection schedule. Please call (510) 981-7270 for assistance with commercial service.

See COVID-19 service notices for a full list of changes to City services during the pandemic.

Commercial Recycling Services are provided for businesses and residential buildings with 10 or more units by the City of Berkeley.

To start or change existing service, email Customer Service, or call 311 for a Customer Service Representative (if calling from out of Berkeley, use 981-7270) 

 Mandatory Recycling Requirements for Businesses & Multi-family Properties in Alameda County Effective July 1, 2014, all businesses are required to have recycling collection for basic recyclable materials. Recycling collection is included with paid refuse service. Food generating businesses, like restaurants and markets, are required to have compost collection for food scraps, food soiled paper and plant debris. Compost collection rates can be found here:  Zero Waste Rates
The Alameda County Waste Management Authority has begun mailing warnings and possible citations for lack of required service, as well as for covered materials in the trash. Visit the Alameda County Waste Authority’s Mandatory Recycling Website:  http://www.recyclingrulesac.org/.  

Please call City of Berkeley Customer Service at 311 (510-981-7270) to request recycling or composting service. 

 Cans, Bottles, Plastics & Paper Recycling

Collect discards as you generate them, using a small container by your desk, kitchen preparation area, in lunchroom, etc. Then transfer it into wheeled blue carts supplied by the City. Wheel the carts to the curb by 7 a.m. on your collection day. 

What to Recycle

Container Recycling Cart

• Glass Bottles: all colors. Lids and labels can stay on. DO NOT INCLUDE dishes, light bulbs, windows, or glass bakeware. They melt at a different temperature from glass bottles.
• Metal Cans: "tin" cans, aluminum cans, aluminum foil and trays. Remove food residues. Labels can remain.
• Plastic: all clean rigid containers and bottles. Caps & Lids OK if attached.
• Plastic bags are not recyclable in the City's curbside collection program: many supermarkets and some dry cleaners take them back. Ask a clerk for the bag recycling station.

Note: Put foam packing peanuts and bubble wrap in plastic bags and take them to a packaging/shipping store, such as UPS or Mailboxes Etc.

Glass, Metal & Plastics Recycling Poster

Fiber Recycling Cart

• Mixed papers - recycle all office and packaging paper together including white and colored papers, envelopes, forms, file folders, tablets, junk mail, cereal boxes, wrapping paper, catalogs, magazines, phone books, newspaper, and newspaper inserts. You can include metal staples, clips, glue, labels, and plastic windows on envelopes.  Please remove plastic bindings and dividers.     
• DO NOT INCLUDE plastic coated paper, blueprints, cups/plates, milk or juice cartons, food contaminated paper, tissue or photographs.
• Corrugated cardboard boxes and brown paper bags - Remove packaging, then flatten and place in cart or bin. DO NOT INCLUDE waxed cardboard. Produce boxes are not recyclable, but they are compostable.

Paper & Cardboard Recycling Poster

Food Waste & Organics

Separating your food, food-soiled papers and plant debris for compost collection is an easy way to reduce the impacts of your waste generation. We can accept all food scraps, plant debris, paper napkins and wrappings, waxed cardboard, and small, unpainted wood scraps in our compost program. The City will supply carts or bins for your organics and can collect your organics up to 7 days/week. Participants receive a discount of 20% off the current refuse rate for the food waste portion of their service and find it an effective program for meeting Green Business Program certification criteria.

Food generating businesses, like restaurants and markets, and Multi-family buildings of 5 or more units, are required to have compost collection for food scraps, food soiled paper and plant debris. Compost collection rates can be found here: Zero Waste Rates
The Alameda County Waste Management Authority has begun mailing warnings and possible citations for lack of required service, as well as covered materials in the trash. Visit the Alameda County Waste Authority’s Mandatory Recycling Website: http://www.recyclingrulesac.org/.   

Commercial Organics Recycing Poster

To Start Recycling Food Waste & Organics: contact Customer Service

To Recycle Other Materials: Visit StopWaste's RE:Source guide for nearby reuse, repair, recycling, and safe disposal options.

To learn more about additional City of Berkeley Environmental Regulations and Resources for Food Service Businesses: view this one page guide.