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What Goes Where Toolkit
Knowing what materials can go into your recycle bin and how they should be prepared can be confusing.
This toolkit page gives you tools you need to know what materials can be recycled (lists of accepted materials, flyers, interactive games and how-to videos). 

    
Our intent is to continue to add helpful items to the toolkit as they become available. If you have an idea for a useful tool we should add to this page, please let us know!

Select the appropriate link below to go directly to the section created to fit your needs.
    
Who are you?
Resident in a Single-Family Home
Resident in a Multi-Unit Complex
Business
School
Event Coordinator
    
     
  
I am a Resident in a Single-Family Home
    
Sorting Game
      
    
Flyers
  • Recycling flyer with pictures of basic items that can be placed in your recycle cart.
    
    
Lists
  • Detailed list of items accepted in your recycling and yard trimmings carts.
  • Short list of items accepted in your recycling cart.


How-To Videos
Residue - How clean do recyclables have to be? 
Film Plastics - What's accepted and how do I prepare them? 
Paper Cups - Where do they go? 
Plastics - What is accepted? 
Products from Multiple Materials - What are they and why are they not accepted? 
Electronics - Yes, they really can go in your recycling cart! 

 
If this section hasn’t been able to answer your questions, you can check our FAQ’s page or contact us.  
   
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I am a Resident in a Multi-Unit Complex
    
Sorting Game      
    
Flyers
  • Recycling flyer with pictures of basic items that can be placed in your recycle cart or bin.
  • Compostables flyer with pictures of basic items that can be placed in your compostables cart or bin.

Lists

  • Detailed list of items accepted in your recycling and compostables cart or bin.
  • Short list of items accepted in your recycling cart or bin.


How-To Videos
Residue - How clean do recyclables have to be? 
Film Plastics - What's accepted and how do I prepare them? 
Paper Cups - Where do they go? 
Plastics - What is accepted? 
Products from Multiple Materials - What are they and why are they not accepted? 
Electronics - Yes, they really can go in your recycling cart! 
Food Composting - It's for more than just restaurants and cafeterias


If this section hasn’t been able to answer your questions, you can check our FAQ’s page or contact us

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I am a Business

GreenWaste Environmental Outreach Coordinators
If you need assistance starting a program or keeping one going, GreenWaste Environmental Outreach Coordinators will assist you, at no additional cost. 

Assistance includes:

  • Establishing service levels, conducting site visits and waste audits
  • Planning for special events
  • Education: on-site training and meetings, posters and stickers, processing facility tours

For assistance, contact GreenWaste Customer Service at (650) 493-4894.


Sorting Game
A fun online game to test your sorting skills. 


Flyers

  • Recycling flyer with pictures of basic items that can be placed in your recycle cart or bin.
  • Compostables flyer with pictures of basic items that can be placed in your compostables cart or bin.

Lists 
Detailed list of items accepted in your recycling and compostables cart or bin. 


How-To Videos
Residue - How clean do recyclables have to be? 
Film Plastics - What's accepted and how do I prepare them? 
Paper Cups - Where do they go? 
Plastics - What is accepted? 
Products from Multiple Materials - What are they and why are they not accepted? 
Electronics - Yes, they really can go in your recycling cart! 
Food Composting - It's for more than just restaurants and cafeterias

If this section hasn’t been able to answer your questions, you can check our FAQ's page or contact us

Return to top of page


I am a School

GreenWaste Environmental Outreach Coordinators
If you need assistance starting a program or keeping one going, GreenWaste Environmental Outreach Coordinators will assist you, at no additional cost.

Assistance includes:

  • Establishing service levels, conducting site visits and waste audits
  • Planning for special events
  • Education: on-site training and meetings, posters and stickers, processing facility tours

For assistance, contact GreenWaste Customer Service at (650) 493-4894.


Sorting Game
A fun online game to test your sorting skills. 


Flyers

  • Recycling flyer with pictures of basic items that can be placed in your recycle cart or bin.
  • Compostables flyer with pictures of basic items that can be placed in your compostables cart or bin.

Lists 
Detailed list of items accepted in your recycling and compostables cart or bin. 


How-To Videos
Residue - How clean do recyclables have to be? 
Film Plastics - What's accepted and how do I prepare them? 
Paper Cups - Where do they go? 
Plastics - What is accepted? 
Products from Multiple Materials - What are they and why are they not accepted? 
Electronics - Yes, they really can go in your recycling cart! 
Food Composting - It's for more than just restaurants and cafeterias


If this section hasn’t been able to answer your questions, you can check our FAQ's page or contact us

Return to top of page

Zero Waste Video Blog
Hear community members share their stories of what they are doing to create Zero Waste. View >>
  
Zero Waste System
Learn about the components of a Zero Waste system and how it relates to you. View >>
 
Recyclopedia
Find out where to reuse and recycle your unwanted items. View >>
 


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City of Palo Alto City Hall - 250 Hamilton Ave, Palo Alto, CA 94301 | Main Telephone Number 650-329-2100 8am-5pm M-Th, Alt Fridays