How to Recycle Correctly in San Francisco Curbside Pickup

San Francisco has long been a national leader in sustainable waste management, setting ambitious goals to achieve zero waste by diverting landfill-bound materials through comprehensive recycling and composting programs. At the heart of this effort is the city’s curbside recycling and organics collection system — a service provided to every household and business that relies on resident participation to function effectively. Yet, despite widespread awareness, contamination rates in recycling bins remain a persistent challenge. Items like pizza boxes, plastic bags, and non-recyclable plastics continue to end up in blue bins, compromising entire loads and increasing processing costs. Learning how to recycle correctly in San Francisco curbside pickup isn’t just about following rules — it’s about protecting the environment, supporting local infrastructure, and ensuring the city meets its climate goals.

When done right, curbside recycling in San Francisco turns everyday waste into valuable resources: food scraps become nutrient-rich compost for farms and gardens, clean paper and cardboard are repulped into new packaging, and metals and glass are melted down and reused indefinitely. But when contamination occurs — even a small amount — it can render an entire truckload of recyclables unusable, sending it to landfills instead. This tutorial provides a complete, step-by-step guide to recycling correctly in San Francisco, backed by city guidelines, real-world examples, and expert best practices. Whether you’re a new resident, a long-time homeowner, or managing waste for a small business, this guide will help you recycle with confidence and precision.

Step-by-Step Guide

Understand the Three-Stream System

San Francisco operates a mandatory three-stream waste collection system: Recycling, Compost, and Landfill. Each stream has its own designated bin, color, and collection schedule. Understanding the difference between these streams is the foundation of correct recycling.

The blue bin is for recyclables — clean paper, cardboard, metal, glass, and certain plastics. The green bin is for compostables — food scraps, food-soiled paper, yard trimmings, and certified compostable products. The black bin is for everything else — items that cannot be recycled or composted, such as diapers, styrofoam, and contaminated plastics.

It’s critical to remember: if you’re unsure, throw it in the black bin. Contaminating the blue or green bin with non-recyclable or non-compostable items can cause entire loads to be rejected. The city’s waste hauler, Recology, processes materials at its facilities in the Bay Area, and contamination disrupts sorting machinery and increases labor costs. Your attention to detail directly impacts the efficiency of the system.

Collecting Recyclables: What Goes in the Blue Bin

Recyclables in San Francisco must be clean, dry, and empty. This means rinsing out containers and removing food residue before placing them in the blue bin. Here’s a comprehensive list of accepted materials:

• Paper: Newspapers, magazines, catalogs, junk mail, office paper, and paper packaging. Remove plastic windows from envelopes if possible, but it’s not required.
• Cardboard: Flattened boxes (remove packing peanuts, bubble wrap, or plastic liners). Pizza boxes are accepted if they are not heavily grease-soaked — cut out the greasy parts and recycle the clean sections.
• Metals: Aluminum cans, tin cans, foil (clean and balled up), and metal lids. No paint cans or hazardous containers.
• Glass: Bottles and jars of any color. Remove lids and rinse thoroughly. Do not include mirrors, window glass, ceramics, or light bulbs.
• Plastics: Only

  1 (PET) and #2 (HDPE) plastic bottles and jugs with necks — such as water, soda, milk, detergent, and shampoo bottles. Caps can be left on. Do not include plastic tubs, clamshells, yogurt cups, or takeout containers unless labeled “Compostable” (those go in the green bin).

Always check the shape and resin code. Plastic bags, wrappers, and flexible packaging — even if labeled “recyclable” — are not accepted in curbside bins. These materials jam sorting equipment and must be taken to designated drop-off locations, such as grocery stores with TerraCycle bins.

Collecting Compostables: What Goes in the Green Bin

The green bin is San Francisco’s most powerful tool for reducing methane emissions. Food waste decomposing in landfills produces methane — a greenhouse gas 80 times more potent than carbon dioxide over 20 years. By diverting it to composting, the city turns waste into soil amendments used in local agriculture.

Accepted items in the green bin include:

• Food scraps: Fruit and vegetable peels, coffee grounds, tea bags, eggshells, meat, bones, dairy, seafood, and spoiled food.
• Food-soiled paper: Paper towels, napkins, paper plates, pizza boxes (even greasy ones), and uncoated paper takeout containers.
• Yard trimmings: Grass clippings, leaves, branches, flowers, and weeds.
• Compostable serviceware: Certified compostable plates, cups, utensils, and bags — look for the BPI (Biodegradable Products Institute) logo.

Important note: Compostable plastics without the BPI logo are not accepted. Many “biodegradable” products on the market are misleading — only those certified by BPI or similar third-party organizations can be processed in San Francisco’s industrial composting facilities. If it doesn’t have the logo, assume it belongs in the black bin.

What Goes in the Black Bin (Landfill)

When in doubt, put it in the black bin. This bin is for materials that cannot be recycled or composted under current infrastructure. Common examples include:

• Plastic bags and wraps (including produce bags and bread bags)
• Styrofoam (polystyrene) packaging, cups, and containers
• Diapers and sanitary products
• Broken glass and ceramics
• Electronics, batteries, and light bulbs (these require special drop-off)
• Non-certified compostable plastics
• Hardcover books with glued spines
• Textiles and clothing
• Medical waste

Even if an item seems “natural” or “biodegradable,” if it’s not on the accepted compost list, it shouldn’t go in the green bin. For example, bamboo utensils, cornstarch-based packaging without certification, and “plant-based” plastics often cannot be processed and contaminate compost.

Preparing Items for Collection

Proper preparation ensures your materials are processed efficiently and aren’t rejected at the facility. Follow these key steps:

1. Rinse containers: Empty and rinse bottles, jars, and cans. A quick rinse with leftover dishwater is sufficient — no need to scrub or use soap.
2. Flatten cardboard: Break down boxes to save space and prevent them from blowing away. Keep them dry and tied with string if necessary.
3. Remove non-recyclable parts: Take off plastic film from cereal boxes, remove plastic liners from paperboard containers, and discard lids if they’re made of mixed materials.
4. Do not bag recyclables: Place items loosely in the blue bin. Plastic bags inside recycling bins are a major contamination issue — they tangle sorting machinery.
5. Keep compostables loose: Use compostable bags or wrap food scraps in newspaper. Avoid plastic bags, even if labeled “compostable” unless they’re BPI-certified.
6. Secure lids: Screw caps back onto bottles. Loose lids are too small to be sorted and often end up as litter.

Setting Out Your Bins Correctly

Collection day varies by neighborhood, so check your schedule via the Recology website or the SF Environment app. Place your bins at the curb by 6 a.m. on your collection day. Follow these guidelines:

• Place bins at least three feet apart from each other and away from obstacles like cars, trees, or mailboxes.
• Do not overfill bins. Contents should be below the rim to allow the automated arm to lift and empty them safely.
• Keep bins out of the street and away from fire hydrants or storm drains.
• If your bin is missed, report it online within 48 hours using the Recology portal.

Never place extra bags or containers beside your bins unless they’re official city-issued containers. Extra bags are not collected and may be considered illegal dumping.

Best Practices

Reduce Before You Recycle

While recycling is essential, the most effective way to reduce environmental impact is to reduce consumption in the first place. Prioritize reusable alternatives: bring your own bags, bottles, containers, and utensils. Choose products with minimal or recyclable packaging. Buy in bulk when possible to cut down on single-use containers.

When shopping, look for items packaged in materials that are accepted in San Francisco’s blue or green bins. Avoid products wrapped in multi-layered plastic, foil-lined pouches, or non-recyclable laminates. Supporting businesses that use sustainable packaging sends a market signal that drives change.

Combat Contamination with Education

Contamination is the biggest threat to San Francisco’s recycling system. A single plastic bag in a recycling truck can shut down the entire sorting line for hours. One dirty pizza box can contaminate an entire bale of paper. To prevent this:

• Keep a small bin or container in your kitchen for food scraps to make composting easy.
• Post a visual guide on your fridge or near your bins — many residents find color-coded charts helpful.
• Teach children and housemates the three-stream system. Use games or quizzes to reinforce learning.
• When hosting gatherings, provide clearly labeled bins for guests to use.

San Francisco’s contamination rate for recycling is around 25% — meaning one in four items placed in blue bins is non-recyclable. This is far above the national average. Every resident who learns and follows the rules helps lower this number.

Use Composting to Your Advantage

Composting is the most underutilized tool in household waste reduction. Unlike recycling, which requires energy and water to process, composting turns waste into a natural soil enhancer with minimal environmental cost. Food waste makes up nearly 30% of what San Franciscans throw away — and nearly all of it can be composted.

Here’s how to make composting effortless:

• Keep a countertop compost pail with a lid and charcoal filter to reduce odor.
• Line it with newspaper or certified compostable bags.
• Empty it daily into the green bin to prevent fruit flies.
• Freeze meat and dairy scraps if you don’t have daily collection — they won’t smell if frozen.

San Francisco’s composting program processes over 700,000 tons of organic material annually. That material becomes compost used on farms in the Central Valley, vineyards in Sonoma, and urban gardens across the Bay Area — closing the loop between consumption and regeneration.

Seasonal and Holiday Tips

Holiday seasons bring increased waste. Follow these tips to avoid contamination spikes:

• Christmas trees: Remove all ornaments, lights, and tinsel. Drop off at designated locations or place at curb during special collection weeks.
• Wrapping paper: Only plain paper is recyclable. Foil, glitter, or plastic-coated paper goes in the black bin.
• Cardboard boxes: Flatten and remove packing peanuts, bubble wrap, and tape. Tape is acceptable — it’s removed during processing.
• Food waste: Turkey bones, cranberry sauce containers, and greasy napkins all go in the green bin.
• Gifts: Choose reusable gift wrap, cloth bags, or recycled paper. Avoid plastic ribbons and bows.

Business and Multi-Unit Building Best Practices

For apartment complexes, offices, and small businesses, consistent recycling requires coordination. Designate a waste coordinator to:

• Ensure bins are clearly labeled and accessible.
• Provide training materials to tenants or employees.
• Conduct monthly audits to identify contamination hotspots.
• Request additional compost bins if organic waste volume is high.

San Francisco mandates recycling and composting for all businesses. Non-compliance can result in fines. Proactive education not only avoids penalties but also enhances your organization’s sustainability reputation.

Tools and Resources

San Francisco Department of the Environment Website

The official resource for all waste and recycling information is sfenvironment.org. This site offers:

• Interactive bin-finding tool: Enter your address to see your collection day and accepted materials.
• Searchable A-Z guide: Type in any item (e.g., “toothpaste tube”) to find where it belongs.
• Downloadable posters and flyers for homes and businesses.
• Updates on policy changes, collection delays, and special events.

Recology San Francisco App

Download the free Recology SF app for iOS and Android. It includes:

• Customized collection calendars based on your address.
• Push notifications for holiday schedule changes.
• Photo-based waste sorting guide — snap a picture of an item and get instant guidance.
• Service request portal for missed pickups or bin replacements.

Recycling and Composting Guide PDF

Available for free download on sfenvironment.org, the official guide is a laminated, full-color reference that covers over 200 common items. Print it and place it near your bins. It’s updated annually and includes QR codes linking to video tutorials.

Drop-Off Locations for Special Items

Some items cannot be collected curbside but can be recycled at designated drop-off centers:

• Electronics: SF Recycling & Disposal Center (2000 22nd St) accepts computers, TVs, phones, and batteries.
• Textiles: Goodwill and Salvation Army bins accept clothing, shoes, and linens.
• Plastic bags: Most major grocery stores (Whole Foods, Safeway, Target) have collection bins near entrances.
• Paint: Drop off at hazardous waste facilities — no curbside pickup.
• Light bulbs: Home Depot and Lowe’s accept CFLs and LEDs.

Community Workshops and Events

San Francisco offers free monthly workshops on composting, zero-waste living, and recycling education. These are hosted by SF Environment at community centers, libraries, and schools. Check the events calendar on sfenvironment.org for dates and registration.

Additionally, neighborhood “Zero Waste Ambassadors” volunteer to help residents sort waste correctly. Reach out through the city’s website to find your local ambassador.

Real Examples

Example 1: The Pizza Box Mistake

Sarah, a resident in the Mission District, placed a greasy pizza box in her blue bin because “it’s cardboard.” The entire load of paper recyclables from her building was contaminated and sent to landfill. After learning the rule — only clean cardboard goes in blue — she now cuts out the greasy parts and puts them in the green bin. The clean top half goes in blue. She now recycles 100% of her paper waste.

Example 2: The Compostable Cup Confusion

A café owner in the Financial District stocked “compostable” cups from a new vendor. They looked like paper cups with plastic lining. When collected, they jammed the composting machinery. The facility flagged the load, and the café was fined for contamination. The owner learned the difference: only cups with the BPI logo are accepted. She switched to certified cups and trained her staff using the SF Environment guide. Now her business is a model for sustainable service.

Example 3: The Plastic Bag in the Recycling Bin

A family in the Outer Sunset placed plastic grocery bags inside their blue bin to keep it tidy. The bags tangled in the sorting equipment at the recycling facility, shutting down the line for six hours. The city sent a warning letter. They now keep a reusable bag by the door and return plastic bags to the grocery store drop-off. They also started using reusable produce bags.

Example 4: The Coffee Cup Dilemma

Many assume coffee cups are recyclable. But most are lined with plastic to prevent leaks. San Francisco’s blue bin does not accept them. The correct disposal? The cup goes in the black bin, the lid (if

1 or #2 plastic) goes in blue, and the sleeve goes in blue. The coffee grounds? Green bin. This three-part separation saves resources and prevents contamination.

Example 5: The Holiday Tree Success

A family in the Richmond District put their Christmas tree at the curb on the designated week. They removed all lights, ornaments, and tinsel. The tree was chipped into mulch and distributed for free to community gardens. They used the mulch in their own yard the following spring — turning holiday waste into spring growth.

FAQs

Can I recycle plastic lids?

Yes — if they’re

1 or #2 plastic and attached to a bottle or jug, leave them on. Loose lids smaller than 2 inches in diameter are too small to sort and should be thrown in the black bin.

Are paper towels and napkins recyclable?

No — but they are compostable. Even if they’re stained with food, grease, or cleaning products, they belong in the green bin. Only clean paper is recyclable.

Can I recycle shredded paper?

Yes — but place it in a paper bag and staple it shut before putting it in the blue bin. Loose shredded paper blows around and contaminates other materials.

What about wine corks?

Natural corks are compostable. Synthetic or plastic corks go in the black bin. Some organizations collect natural corks for recycling — check local drop-off locations.

Can I recycle broken glass?

No. Broken glass is hazardous to workers and damages sorting equipment. Wrap it securely in paper, label it “Broken Glass,” and place it in the black bin.

Are coffee pods recyclable?

Most single-use coffee pods (like Keurig) are not recyclable curbside. Some brands offer mail-back programs. Remove the coffee grounds (compost them), rinse the plastic, and check if your brand has a recycling partnership. Otherwise, discard the pod in the black bin.

Do I need to remove labels from jars and bottles?

No. Labels and adhesive are removed during the recycling process. Just rinse the container.

Can I recycle cartons like milk or juice boxes?

Yes — if they are aseptic cartons (Tetra Pak-style). Rinse them and place them in the blue bin. They are processed with paper recycling.

What if I live in an apartment without bins?

By law, landlords must provide recycling and compost bins for all tenants. If yours don’t, contact SF Environment to report a violation. They will work with your building owner to provide proper bins.

Are there penalties for incorrect recycling?

Yes — for businesses and multi-unit buildings, contamination can lead to fines. For households, the city focuses on education, but repeated contamination may result in a warning letter or reduced collection frequency.

Can I recycle old books?

Hardcover books with glued spines go in the black bin. Paperback books without plastic covers go in the blue bin. You can also donate books to libraries or used bookstores.

Conclusion

Recycling correctly in San Francisco isn’t a chore — it’s a civic responsibility with tangible environmental benefits. When you follow the three-stream system with precision, you’re not just sorting waste; you’re helping to build a circular economy that reduces greenhouse gas emissions, conserves natural resources, and supports local agriculture. Every clean bottle, every food scrap in the green bin, and every cardboard box flattened properly contributes to a larger system that works because of collective action.

The city’s success in recycling — with a diversion rate over 80% — is a rare achievement in the United States. It didn’t happen by accident. It happened because residents learned the rules, asked questions, and made small changes every day. You have the power to be part of that legacy.

Start today: Download the Recology app, print the recycling guide, and check your bins. If you’re unsure about an item, go to sfenvironment.org and search it. When in doubt, throw it in the black bin. Better to be cautious than to contaminate.

Recycling correctly isn’t about perfection — it’s about progress. And in San Francisco, progress is measured not just in tons diverted, but in cleaner air, richer soil, and a stronger community. Your actions matter. Recycle right — because the planet is watching.