Cutting Our Trash Means Less Pollution
Californians doing our part to reduce waste and reuse more will create less pollution in our air, water, and streets.
Make the Most of What You Toss
You already recycle in your blue bin. Now it’s time for us to make less trash.
Before tossing anything out:
- Reuse, repair, or recycle.
- Put food scraps and food-soiled paper in the green bin to make compost or clean energy.
- Redeem beverage containers for cash.
That’s thinking beyond the bin.
Small changes today mean a cleaner, greener California tomorrow.
Recycling Reimagined unlocks the value in every material we use and reuse.
Cash for CRV
It’s easier than ever to cash in CRV beverage containers.
How You Benefit
- You pay a 5¢, 10¢ or 25¢ CRV deposit on most drinks in containers, including wine and spirits.
- Get your money back at 1,300 certified recycling sites or some retailers, who are required to redeem CRV.
- Recycling keeps containers out of your streets and rivers.
Curb Food Waste
Food in landfills rots and releases methane, which heats the climate 84 times more than carbon dioxide.
Recycle your food scraps in your curbside green bin.
How You Benefit
- It turns trash into a resource like compost for California crops or clean energy for our grid.
- It cuts climate pollution.
- It saves water because compost holds more moisture in the soil.
Did You Know?
California Is Taking Bold Steps
California is launching a program to:
- Make all single-use packaging recyclable or compostable.
- Recycle 2 out of every 3 plastic containers.
- Keep more plastic out of landfills, our neighborhoods, parks, rivers and oceans.
