What Goes Where: Fall 2021 Edition
Recycling can be confusing any time of year, but the additional waste generated during the holiday season can amplify sorting uncertainty. Test your sorting knowledge with the City’s recycling quiz for the chance to win a solar-powered wireless speaker, and avoid common mistakes by following these four rules of thumb.
1.) Recycle only bottles, cans, paper, and cardboard.
2.) Keep food and liquid out of recycling.
3.) Don’t place bagged recycling or plastic bags in the recycling. Hayward’s recycling program is designed to manage specific items such as bottles, cans, paper, and cardboard. Putting other items in the recycling container can contaminate the material, causing it to be landfilled instead of recycled.
4.) Don’t Pour Grease, Oils, or Fats Down the Drain. Once cooled, pour all grease into a sturdy paper container like an empty box or egg carton. Be sure to capture as much grease as possible by wiping greasy pans and dishes with a paper towel or newspaper. Then, place all soiled paper items directly into the green organics bin.
Need additional guidance? Use StopWate’s re:source tool to learn how to dispose of certain products within your zip code. For additional rules and tips, check out Waste Management’s Recycling Myths guidebook, or visit the City’s website.
Disposing of a holiday tree? Hayward Waste Management customers have access to free tree curbside pickup between Jan. 3, 2022 and Jan. 14, 2022. Waste Management does not collect artificial trees or frosted trees as part of the free pickup service. To take advantage of this service, customers must:
- Remove all ornaments, lights, tinsel, nails, and stands from tree
- Cut tree into pieces five feet in length or smaller (only applies if tree is taller than five feet)
- Place tree on curb next to recycling, organics, and landfill bins on normal collection day
