Recycling FAQs

Recycling can be confusing, but trust us, there are many good reasons why certain items are recyclable and others aren't. Finding an individual item using our search feature will often get you the answers you're looking for, but if you still have questions, we have more answers here. Click the question below to see the answer.

Recycling Worst Offenders - Not Blue-Bin Ready:

Please avoid putting the following materials in your recycling bin. While many are actually recyclable, they need to be taken to special facilities.

• What are the recycling worst offenders?

  • Aerosol Cans (if even slightly full)
  • Automotive Fluids
  • Batteries
  • Chemicals and Hazardous Waste
  • Electronics
  • Fluorescent Light Bulbs
  • Paints and Solvents
  • Paper Towels, used or unused
  • Pottery and Ceramics
  • Styrofoam
  • Tissue and Toilet Paper
  • Waxed cartons and waxed paperboard (e.g. paper milk cartons, frozen food boxes)
  • Window Glass and Incandecent Light Bulbs

How To Recycle Questions:

• How much do I need to clean out recyclables?

  Glass, plastic, and metal containers hold all sorts of edible and inedible materials that can leave all sorts of gunk inside afterward. Especially that darn peanut butter!

  A quick rinse is nice for many things, but don't worry about getting your containers sparkling clean. The main concern is actually the paper in your bin, which food and moisture can ruin.

• What about peanut butter jars?

  Try this for peanut butter: if you have a soft spatula, scoop out what you can and use it to make one more sandwich. Then fill it about a quarter of the way up with water and add a drop of soap. Put on the top, give it a vigorous shake, and dump out the gunk.

• Do I need to take off bottle and jar caps?

  Short answer: NO.

  Longer answer: Sometimes it's better to take the top off, especially if the top is made from a different material than the jar (e.g. metal tops on a glass jar). For smaller plastic bottles and their tiny caps, it doesn't make much of a difference, even if they're a different color or plastic type.

• Can aerosol cans be recycled?

  Full aerosol cans are hazardous waste, but if the can is completely empty you can treat it like any other metal can and recycle it in your blue bin. If any contents remain you should take the can to one of the sites listed on our Aerosol Can page.

• Can cardboard containers for food be recycled?

  If you have a greasy pizza box with cheese stuck on, then it should be trashed. If the container held food but doesn't have any food or oil residue remaining, please recycle it in your commingled recycling container.

Why Questions:

• Why is the recycling symbol on this Styrofoam or plastic coated paper or other non-recyclable product?

  The recycling symbol isn't regulated, so any company can put the recycling symbol on their product.

  Follow up question: WHAT?!

  Yep, no one regulates the recycling symbol. Amazing that it works so well, eh? There's also the problem that some materials, such as Styrofoam. Even though clean Styrofoam is technically made from a recyclable material, polystyrene aka #6 plastic. However, the low weight of Styrofoam means that very few places can actually recycle it. Imagine how much a truckload of Styrofoam weighs - almost nothing!

What Questions:

• What happens to my recyclables after my waste hauler collects them?

  Depending on where you live, your recyclables may follow different routes, but they always end up at a MRF (we call them Murfs, like a smurf without an "S"). A MRF, or Materials Recovery Facility, employs people and machinery to separate the different materials from one another.

  After being separated the materials are bailed together and sold on the open market. Manufacturers use these recyclables as raw materials to make new goods.

• What are the energy savings from recycling?

  Take a look at our Why Recycle page for details.

Still have Questions?

If you can't find the information you're looking for here or on one of our many other Less Is More pages, please contact us and ask your question. We'll do our best to answer it.

Additionally, the sites listed below, like Earth911, have more information about what is recyclable and why.

Where to go

• Outside Santa Barbara County (1)

  • Earth911.com - Information Only — 14646 N. Kierland Blvd., Suite 100