Recycling, Compost, or Trash: A Guide to What Goes in What Bin

December 28, 2022 2:51 PM
by Yvonne Yeung

This article was featured in the December 2022 edition of Seascape. Read the entire edition in English and Spanish.

On January 1, 2022, the City implemented a new law requiring all people living and working in Santa Monica to recycle organics (i.e. formerly living organisms). The City’s zero waste goal is to reduce landfill disposal to 1.1 pounds per person per day (PPD) by 2030. Currently, we are at 3.5 PPD. By moving recyclable materials out of the black landfill trash containers and into the blue and green containers, more recyclables will get a second life, and we can get closer to that goal.

Non-organics recycling is already required, and every property should have access to three containers: black for landfilled trash, blue for non-organics recyclables, and green for organics. The Resource, Recovery and Recycling (RRR) Division is delivering green organics containers to all properties without one, starting with the Ocean Park and Sunset Park areas and moving south to north through the rest of the neighborhoods.

Knowing what material goes in which container can be confusing, especially as information changes. Manufacturers also label products Biodegradable, Compostable, or Recyclable without knowing if materials can be recycled locally. Mixing non-recyclable items in the blue and green containers causes contamination, and it might lead to otherwise recyclable materials being sent to the landfill so please use this list as a guide.

GREEN CONTAINER ‒ ORGANICS (I.E. IF IT WAS ONCE ALIVE)

YES:

NO

BLUE CONTAINER ‒ NON-ORGANICS RECYCLABLES 

YES

NO

BLACK CONTAINER ‒ LANDFILLED TRASH

YES

NO

BULKY ITEMS
Please help keep Santa Monica clean and safe by not engaging in illegal dumping. Your neighbors will thank you! Consider donating unused items instead of discarding them. Each household gets three annual complimentary pick-ups by contacting 3-1-1 or 311@santamonica.gov.

HOUSEHOLD HAZARDOUS MATERIALS
Request a complimentary door-to-door collection appointment by scanning this QR code, or call (800) 714-1195.

For more information, visit santamonica.gov, keyword recycling.

Authored By

Yvonne Yeung
Resource Recovery and Recycling Administrator

Categories

Recycling and Trash, Services