California Waste Management

Recycling is the practice of recovering used materials from the waste stream and then incorporating those same materials into the manufacturing process.

Many communities in California now offer curbside collection or drop-off sites for certain recyclable materials. But collecting materials is only the first step toward making the recycling process work.

Successful recycling also depends on manufacturers making products from recovered materials and, in turn, consumers purchasing products made of recycled materials. Do your part-"close the loop" and buy products made of recycled materials whenever possible.

• This interactive mapping tool shows the location of collection and recycling facilities for 14 different material types (beverage containers, carpet, electronics, household hazardous waste, inerts/construction and demolition, mattresses, medication, metal, organics, paint, paper, sharps, tires, used oil) throughout California.
• Beverage Containers. Find a beverage container recycling center where you will receive California Refund Value (CRV).
• Carpet. California is the first state in the nation to establish a statewide Carpet Stewardship Program which helps ensure that discarded carpet becomes a resource for new products. Ask your retailer/installer about recycling options. Locate a carpet collector and/or processor near you to recycle or dispose of old carpet.
• Construction debris. You can search for facilities by county that reuse or recycle types of construction and demolition (C&D) debris, such as asphalt, drywall, and metal, on our site.
• Mattresses. California is the third state to adopt a used mattress recovery and recycling program. Check out the mattress product stewardship page for information on CalRecycle's activities related to the end-of-life management of these mostly recyclable products. According to a 2012 CalRecycle-commissioned mattress case study recycling mattresses saves landfill space and is estimated to offset 45% of GHG emissions associated with the production and landfilling of these products. If you have an old mattress, you can find local recyclers at the Mattress Recycling Council (MRC) website, the non-profit created by the International Sleep Products Association (ISPA) to implement the requirements of SB 254, or Earth911.org. For information and resources related to product stewardship for mattresses, see the Product Stewardship Institute's web page on mattresses.
• Paint. As a result of the California Paint Stewardship Program, Californian's now have free access to leftover paint collection sites at retailers and other locations statewide. Locate the nearest drop-off site for your leftover paint to ensure it is recycled, re-used or disposed of in an environmentally sound fashion.
• Plastic. You can also find facilities that reuse or recycle specific types of plastic, such as acrylic, nylon, high density polyethylene (HDPE), and low density polyethylene (LDPE) on our site.
• Tires. When you buy new tires, leave the old ones with the dealer, who will see that the tires are reused, recycled, or disposed of properly. If you have old tires around your property, check with your city or county environmental health office to find out where you can take them. Keep an eye out for local clean-up days. In some communities, there may be free clean-up days, but in others, there may be a charge for picking up your tires.
• Used Oil. Find out where you can take your used motor oil and receive 40 cents per gallon.
• Some organizations will accept your unwanted vehicle as a charitable donation. It’s another way to support California’s campaign to reduce, reuse and recycle, while supporting a worthy cause.
• Japanese Tsunami Marine Debris. Among the recyclable items that might wash up on California shores as a result of the 2011 tsunami in Japan are wood, plastic materials and plastic/glass buoys. For information on where to recycle these and other materials, visit Earth911.com.
• includes a comprehensive list of recycling databases.
• Enter your ZIP code to go to the "Earth's 911" website and find local centers for recycling materials, including household hazardous waste.

• (October 2009). Reducing waste can save you money, conserve energy and resources, and reduce air, soil, and water pollution. This 12-chapter video shows you real options for recycling, reducing, or reusing solid waste products. All chapters are on our Video Central Training page and on YouTube. Helping promote California’s development of markets for recyclable materials is part of our mission. We can help you with technical, financial, and permitting assistance. Please feel free to contact CalRecycle's Office of Public Affairs for more information.
• . Californians use a lot of tires, which can be recycled in California to produce crumb rubber for new products, recycled in rubberized asphalt concrete (RAC), used in civil engineering applications as tire-derived aggregate (TDA), or combusted as fuel.