Help protect refuse and recycling workers

Help protect the people who collect your trash and recycling during this COVID-19 pandemic by putting out materials in a safe way, washing your hands before and after touching your bins, and taking bulky waste to our transfer station.

These steps protect you and those who perform this critical work at the curbside of every household in Berkeley.

COVID-19 survives on different materials' surfaces for hours to three days, according to the National Institutes of Health, the World Health Organization and the CDC. A few, simple measures help protect everyone in our community.

Refuse 

Don't leave trash loose inside the can. Make sure all your trash is inside a closed plastic bag. All materials must fit inside your bin or cart and lids must close completely.

If materials don't fit, the City is allowing residents with extra trash may leave one or two extra bags next to their bins or carts during the Shelter-In-Place Order. The bags must be strong enough to hold the extra trash and the bags must be securely tied closed.

Given the greater load of residential pick-up during the shelter-in-place, avoid cleaning out attics, garages, closets and basements. Collection workers are working harder and more carefully right now, sometimes with fewer people. For bulky items, learn about what materials you can bring to the City of Berkeley Transfer Station.

Personal Hygiene

Wash your hands before and after putting your waste containers out for collection. Sanitize or wipe handles and lids to further reduce exposure.

Wear a face covering over your mouth and nose when handling your bins. Many people do not exhibit symptoms of COVID-19, but they are unwitting spreaders of the virus. Covering your mouth and nose with a fabric helps limit the spread of this virus. 

Recycling

As with refuse, all materials must fit inside your recycling cart, with the lid closed. If needed to fit inside your recycling container, break down large cardboard boxes and cut them apart.

The bins can be picked up by our trucks. Recyclables that do not fit inside a container should not be put out, as that would require workers to pick those materials up directly. Extra recyclables may be dropped off at the City's Recycling Center located at 669 Gilman St.

Certain items are never recyclable. Do not put the following in your recycling bins:

• Tissues, paper towels, wipes, masks, or latex gloves.
• Food and liquids
• Any cleaning materials used for COVID-19 cleaning into recycling carts or bins. Recycled materials are hand sorted by workers. 

Transfer Station

The Transfer Station located at 1201 Second Street - just off the Gilman Street freeway exit in Berkeley is open to the general public Monday through Saturday 8 am - 4:30 pm. 

Occupants of vehicles coming into the transfer station must follow all safety policies and procedures, and must wear a face covering. These include keeping at least 6 feet of distance between you, other customers, and any employees, and unloading in the correct area to avoid requiring staff to handle discarded materials more than necessary. 

Of course, always follow all safety rules regarding speed limits, cell phone usage, and remaining near/in your vehicle.

Residential Material Drop-Off Center

The Berkeley Recycling Center is accepting residential recyclable materials for drop-off in front of the main gate at 669 Gilman Street.  They are accepting cardboard, mixed paper, PET#1 plastics, HDPE#2 plastics, and aluminum cans only during Shelter-In-Place Order.

The California Redemption Value (CRV) Buyback Center located at 669 Gilman Street is closed.

For more information about how the Coronavirus is impacting the City's Zero Waste Division employees and vendors, visit City of Berkeley website.