Recycling Center and Drop Off - City of El Cerrito

From San Pablo Avenue, turn east onto Schmidt and continue all the way until the end of the street. The Recycling Center is located on the left.
***Map available soon***

Rules and Regulations:

All materials are accepted free of charge. The Recycling Center does not buy back bottles and cans from the public. For CRV centers, visit bottlesandcans.com - CRV Locator

Please respect the Center and its neighbors by not leaving materials outside the gate after hours.

MULCH PILE

The Corporation Yard (across the street from the Recycling Center) makes free mulch available during the summer months to the public on a first-come, first-serve basis. Customers must bring their own shovels and containers. The mulch comes from trees and plants from the City's parks.

REUSE STATION

Goodwill Industries operates a trailer located at the Center, open daily from 10am-4:30pm. Goodwill accepts reusable goods, clothes, and toys in excellent condition. No computers, TVs, or other large items. Do not leave items if the trailer is full or not open. For more information about Goodwill and acceptable materials, call 1-888-4GOODWILL or visit www.eastbaygoodwill.org photo of Goodwill Trailer

BOOK EXCHANGE

The Recycling Center is also home to a free, community-run book exchange.

Visitors to the Center may take or leave books as they wish. Books that remain on the shelves for a long time will be reused in other communities or recycled. If you would like to drop off books, please place all books on the shelf. Do not leave books on the ground. photo of Book exchange

Materials Accepted

All Curbside Recycling Materials (small or large quantities) including:

Mixed Paper- white paper, colored paper, newspaper, shredded paper, file folders, junk mail, magazines, envelopes, etc

Cardboard- must be broken down and flattened

Plastic Beverage Containers- all clean plastics, all #s

Any Hard Plastics or Food Containers- all clean plastics

Glass Containers- bottles and jars rinsed clean (No plate glass or large glass pieces

Aluminum, Tin, and Scrap Metals- clean and empty

Plastic Film and Wrapping- tightly bagged and tied off at the top- clean grocery bags, bread bags, cling wrap, etc

Plastic Chemical Bottles- all clean plastics that contained chemicals- (Must triple rinse)

Hard to Recycle Items including:

Scrap Metals- including water heaters, stoves, dishwashers, washers and dryers

~~Used Motor Oil~~ (Temporarily not accepted) and Filters (we are still taking filters) - up to 20 gallons per visit / 5-gallon container maximum

Automobile Batteries- lead-acid cell

Household Batteries- alkaline, lithium, and NiCad (from residents only)

Cell Phones- non-working cell phones are accepted in a bin for recycling, and working cell phones can be donated to the Reuse Station (see below)

Items in Good Condition for Reuse- books, magazines, DVDs, CDs, audio tapes, video tapes (see below for more information)

Reading Glasses- drop-off box is located next to book exchange

Hangers- metal, plastic, or wooden clothes hangers

Styrofoam-PILOT PROGRAM! - clean white block styrofoam, no packaging peanuts, no cups or food containers. Please bring styrofoam into the office.

Want to see us collect other items at the
drop off Recycling Center? Email us at
green@ci.el-cerrito.ca.us.

Materials NOT Accepted

Computers, Computer Monitors, TVs, other Electronics

Refrigerators, Air Conditioners, Microwave Ovens

Paints

Chemicals and other Household Hazardous Waste

Light Bulbs & CFLs

Gas Tanks, 55-Gallon Drums, Pressurized Cans or Tanks

Wood, Grass Clippings

Yard Waste, Dirt

Ashes

Any type of Furniture, Mattresses, Boxsprings

Plate Glass, Glassware, Mirrors, Ceramics, Pyrex

Waxed Paper, Waxed Cardboard

Compost

Medical Waste/Needles

Construction and Demolition Debris

Tires

Food

Food Soiled Paper & Cardboard

Garbage

For information on where to recycle or dispose of materials not accepted at the Recycling Center, visit our FAQ page, or go to Where Can I recycle?