San Luis Obispo County Recycling

For general questions, call San Luis Garbage, Mission Country Disposal, and Morro Bay Garbage at (805) 543-0875. Please note that this list will be updated from time to time.

Recyclables

Please remove any lids, caps, can ends, and contents from your recyclable items. All paper and cardboard products must be clean and dry. Materials that can be recycled in San Luis County’s recycling programs include:

Aluminum: Includes empty cans, bread tins, pie tins, and clean foil.
Cans: Includes aluminum, tin, and steel cans
Cardboard: Please break down the boxes and bundle them, if they will not fit loosely in the container.
Chipboard: Includes items such as cereal boxes, cracker boxes, and pasta boxes.
Glass Bottles & Jars: Includes food and drink containers such as catsup bottles, jelly jars, and wine bottles.
Junk Mail: Please remove any products coated with metal, plastic, or vinyl.
Magazines: Non-coated or glossy-covered magazines are recyclable.
Mixed, Office Paper: Mixed paper is recyclable.
Newspaper: Dry newspaper is recyclable.
Plastic Containers: Rigid plastics classified with the numbers 1 through 7 are recyclable. Except Number 6
Shredded Paper: Shredded paper is acceptable when placed in a paper or clear plastic bag.
Telephone Books: Telephone books are recyclable.

Non-Recyclables

The following products are not recyclable, and unless otherwise noted should be placed in the refuse container. The placing of any of these materials into a designated recycling container can result in an additional refuse charge for the customer.

Materials that are commonly mistaken as recyclable include:

Aerosol Cans: Metal aerosol cans pose a significant threat to collection personnel unless completely empty. Please take partially full cans to a hazardous waste collection facility.
Completely empty cans may be placed in the refuse container.
Batteries: Batteries should be properly disposed of at any hazardous waste collection facility.
Ceramics: Ceramic material is not recyclable.
Coat Hangers: Whether metal or plastic, coat hangers are not recyclable.
Florescent Tubes: Florescent tubes should be properly disposed of at any hazardous waste collection facility.
Greeting Cards: Greeting cards are not recyclable.
Juice, Milk Boxes: Square liquid drink cartons, such as kids’ lunch drink boxes, are not recyclable.
Liquids, Chemicals: Most liquids cannot be recycled. The exception to this is used motor oil, which is a free recycling program offered to garbage customers. For more information, call (805) 543-0875.
Mirrors: Mirror glass is not recyclable.
Paint Containers: Paint cans are not recyclable, but can be thrown away if the paint is dry.
Wet paint must be taken to a hazardous waste collection center.
Paper Plates: Paper plates, if used, are not recyclable.
Paper Towels: Paper towels, whether used or not, are not recyclable.
Plant Containers: Landscape planting containers are not recyclable, but most nurseries will take them back.
Plastic Bags: Plastic bags, such as newspaper bags, sandwich bags, and plastic wrap, are not recyclable. Grocery bags are not recyclable, but can be taken back to the grocer.
Plastic-coated Items: Any plastic or wax-coated or -covered items such as square milk cartons are not recyclable.
Polystyrene: Items such as meat trays, some egg cartons, disposable plates and utensils, carryout containers, and coffee cups are not recyclable. These often are marked as Plastic #6.
PVC Piping: PVC piping, though a #3 plastic, is not recyclable.
Rubber Bands: Rubber bands are not recyclable.
Scrap, Sheet Metal: Scrap metal is not recyclable.
Styrofoam: Styrofoam, though sometimes a #6 plastic, is not recyclable. Packing peanuts should be bagged and placed in the refuse container or donated to a local shipping facility.
Tissues: Tissues, soiled or not, are not recyclable.
Wet Newspaper: Wet newspaper is not recyclable.
Window Glass: Windows, automobile windshields, and other plate glass is not recyclable.
Wrapping Paper: Wrapping paper such as holiday gift wrap is not recyclable.

Food Waste

The food waste containers are yellow waste wheelers marked for food waste only. There are very strict rules for what is allowed in the yellow food bins. It is for scrap food only, no paper products at all even if they are biodegradable. If the bins are contaminated with trash we will have to empty them as trash and charge.

Acceptable Food Waste

Meat, poultry, seafood, shellfish, bones, fruits, vegetables, rice, beans, pasta, bakery items, cheese and eggshells.

Nothing else!!!