Waste Prevention Information Exchange

Recycling

Recycling is not waste prevention. Although we strongly encourage the recycling of waste, one needs to produce waste in order to recycle. If given a choice, it would be preferable to not produce waste at all. So, before you recycle, try to send items for reuse. Before you buy recycled content items, try to acquire reusable items. Because this is the Waste Prevention Information Exchange, strictly speaking, recycling is not showcased in this exchange. Nevertheless, because reuse and recycling often go hand-in-hand, here are some resources to assist your recycling efforts.

For a further explanation of terms such as waste prevention, recycling, reuse, and the waste management hierarchy, see the definitions page of Waste Prevention World.

Also see Batteries, Building Design and Construction, Electronics, Fluorescent Lamps, Plastic in this directory.

Table of Contents

Recycling and Reuse Directories and Resources

• Where to Bring Things to Be Recycled or Reused
• Where to Buy Recycled Content Products
• Where to Find Secondary Material to Manufacture Products

CalRecycle Programs and Services

CalRecycle Publications

• Sample Contracts

Other Resources

• Web Sites

Recycling and Reuse Directories and Resources

• Where to Bring Things to Be Recycled or Reused
  • Battery Drop-Off Locator—Find where to recycle used rechargeable batteries.
  • Beverage Container Redemption—For answers to questions regarding beverage container recycling, see the Department of Conservation, Division of Recycling Web site, or call (800) RECYCLE, (800) 732-9253. To speak to a live person, call (916) 323-3836. To find beverage container redemption centers, see the "Recycling Centers and Dropoffs" Web page. The Department of Conservation, Division of Recycling administers the California Beverage Container Recycling and Litter Reduction Act of 1986.
  • CalMAX—Connects businesses, organizations, manufacturers, schools, and individuals with the most effective online resources for exchanging materials.
  • C&D Debris Recyclers Database—This database lists places where you can bring demolition debris for recycling.
  • Electronic Product Management Directory—A database of facilities that collect specific types of electronic equipment and equipment related parts for reuse or recycling.
  • Expanded Polystyrene (Styrofoam) Collection Sites—Alliance of Foam Packaging Recyclers.
  • Reuse Resources—From the CalRecycle Reuse Web.
  • Used Oil—Find where to recycle your used oil.
  • Where Can I Recycle My...?—Call 800 CLEAN-UP (253-2687) or enter your zip code at this Web site to find the nearest recycling center. Includes information for many types of recyclable material, including household hazardous waste. If this option does not work, ask your Local Contact for Waste Prevention and Recycling.
     
• Where to Buy Recycled Content Products
  • Construction and Demolition Recycled-Content Building Products—This database lists manufacturers of recycled-content building products, and a few reuse establishments.
  • Recycled Content Product Directory—May include products of any business in any country that manufactures or produces with recycled material. This directory is intended to be used by all types of  buyers: government, business, and consumers.
  • RecycleStore—This database lists only products of businesses that are located in one of California's Recycling Market Development Zones. The RecycleStore is targeted at consumers.
     
• Where to Find Secondary Material to Manufacture Products  (Also see publications such as Recyclingmarkets.net)
  • CalMAX—Connects businesses, organizations, manufacturers, schools, and individuals with the most effective online resources for exchanging materials.
  • Construction and Demolition Debris Recyclers Directory—Facilities that collect specific types of construction and demolition debris for reuse or recycling.
  • Electronic Product Management Directory—A database of facilities that collect specific types of electronic equipment and equipment related parts for reuse or recycling.

CalRecycle Programs and Services

• Buy Recycled—California's efforts to buy recycled content products.
  • State Agency Buy Recycled Campaign (SABRC). The SABRC is a joint effort between the California Department of Resources Recycling and Recovery (CalRecycle) and DGS to implement State law requiring State agencies and the Legislature to purchase products with recycled content.
• Food Waste Recycling—See our Food Scrap Management and Food Recycling Web sites.
• Information for Recycling and Waste Reduction Coordinators—Materials and assistance available to help set up and operate a successful waste reduction program.
• Packaging Waste Reduction—Consumer, reuse your packaging and recycle your packaging. Manufacturers, please ship in reusable containers, and use only packaging made from recycled materials.
• Plastics Information and Resources
• Recycling Assistance for California State Agencies—Project Recycle.
• Recycling Market Development Zones—If you are in one, you may qualify for financial assistance.
• School District Waste Prevention and Recycling—Start a recycling program in your school district.
• Tire Recycling—Please don't just pile them up.
• Waste Prevention and Recycling Tools
  • Recycling Containers for Home and Office—Manufacturers of indoor and outdoor recycling bins, compost and vermicompost bins, and a variety of related products. In Waste Prevention World.
  • Recycling Processing Equipment—Manufacturers of industrial equipment used to sort and process recyclable material. In Waste Prevention World.

CalRecycle Publications

CalRecycle has either printed or Web publications on this topic that you can find at either our publication search page or our main search page. However, not all of these publications apply to "waste prevention" in the most literal use of that term.

• Contracts for Recycling Services in Office Buildings—General information and options to consider when forming recycling collection services contracts.
• Sample Contract—Contract between a business and a waste recycler to pick up recyclable material from an office. Note: This sample contract is not a formal CalRecycle publication and is provided for sample purposes only. (MS Word, 32 KB | PDF, 51 KB)
• Sample Contract—Contract between a state agency and a waste recycler to pick up recyclable material from an office. Note: This sample contract is not a formal CalRecycle publication and is provided for sample purposes only. (MS Word, 230 KB | PDF, 531 KB)

Other Resources

Web Sites

• America Recycles Day
• Beverage Container Recycling in California—For answers to questions regarding beverage container recycling, see the Department of Conservation, Division of Recycling Web site, or call (800) RECYCLE, (800) 732-9253. To speak to a live person, call (916) 323-3836. To find beverage container redemption centers, see the "Recycling Centers and Dropoffs" Web page. The Department of Conservation, Division of Recycling administers the California Beverage Container Recycling and Litter Reduction Act of 1986.
  • City and County Beverage Container Recycling Coordinators—To find the beverage container recycling coordinator in your community, go to the grants page of the Department of Conservation, Division of Recycling, scroll to the last list near the bottom and look for the title, City/County Contact Information. Look for one of the bulleted items on the list with the heading, The City/County Payment Program.
• Californians Against Waste—An organization that promotes waste reduction and recycling.
• Container Recycling Institute—Interesting facts about recycling.
• Earth 911—Learn where to recycle almost anything from almost anywhere. After you enter your ZIP code, use the blue navigation bar on the left to find more information. You can also call (800) CLEANUP, (800) 253-2687.
• Expanded Polystyrene (Styrofoam)—Find the expanded polystyrene recycler nearest you.
• Glass Packaging Institute—A voice for the glass container industry.
• Global Recycling Network—An electronic information exchange that specializes in the trade of recyclables reclaimed in Municipal Solid Waste (MSW) streams, as well as the marketing of eco-friendly products.
• Grass Roots Recycling Network—A Web site for recycling activists.
• North East Recycling Council (NERC)—A ten state coalition in the north eastern United States that fosters and promotes both recycling and reuse.
• Plastic Film Recycling—The American Plastics Council and Moore Recycling Associates have developed a Web site in California to facilitate the recovery of clean dry grocery and retail bags, and polyethylene film such as stretch wrap and shrink wrap. The web site provides consumers, municipalities and businesses in California an opportunity to identify grocery stores and other recovery facility locations that collect plastic bags and film for recycling. Additional highlights of the web site include a film identification section, information on how to set up a collection program, a markets database, and tools to determine the cost-effectiveness of an onsite plastic film recovery program.
• Plastic Resin Codes—Also called SPI codes. See the topic, Plastic in the Waste Prevention Information Exchange.
• RecyclingMarkets.Net—A searchable database of more than 17,000 companies involved in the Recycling Process throughout the USA and Canada. The database is divided into two sections, recycling markets, and recycled products.
• Recyclers World—A trading site for information related to recyclable commodities, by-products, used & surplus items.
• Recycling Laws Update—From Raymond Communications.
• Symbols—An explanation of recycling related symbols used around the world.