As students move out, keep Berkeley clean, May 2020

As Cal students move out for the summer, tenants and landlords can help keep our streets clean and refuse workers safe by planning ahead, using City of Berkeley services, and properly discarding of the items they no longer need.

Dumping mattresses and other items on the sidewalk creates a mess and doesn't promote reuse. Please utilize mattress recyclers for mattress disposal. Use your building's dumpsters or other resources listed below to discard, re-use or recycle what you don't need. Avoid fines for illegal dumping that can reach up to $1,000 a day.

Take advantage of City services

Start thinking now about what you'll keep and what you'll discard. Don't wait until the last minute and then throw everything in the garbage or in the streets. Take advantage of these City services:

• Order extra trash pickup or a short-term dumpster by calling 510-981-7270.
• Drop off up to 2 mattresses, box springs, or futons for free at the Berkeley Transfer Station (1201 Second Street).
• Purchase City of Berkeley's prepaid trash bags if you live in single-family home or a property of 1-4 units. Up to 10 prepaid City bags, if left at the curb, will be picked up by the City's Zero Waste Division on regular pickup days. The City's prepaid trash bags can be purchased at the Transfer Station. The total number of bags must not exceed 10 each week.
• Take items or bags of materials directly to the Transfer Station.
• Recycle up to 2 electronic items at the Transfer Station for free.

When visiting the Transfer Station, everyone must wear a mask and follow social distancing protocols for the protection of themselves and workers.

Reuse and Recycle unwanted items

Try to find someone to use what you don't need. Don't leave it on a sidewalk. Abandoned furniture and debris on sidewalks or in the public right-of-way can result in citations and fines up to $1,000 a day.

Use sites like Craigslist, Freecycle or Nextdoor. Take precautions when arranging pickups or drop offs - all parties should wear face coverings, keep six feet apart, avoid physical contact, and wash their hands before and after the exchange.

For items that can't be repurposed, use your building's recycling carts or dumpsters to recycle. The City's website details what types of items can be recycled.

For single-family homes or small apartment complexes with Ecology Center Recycling collection, review the Ecology Center's recycling guidelines for program specifics. Extra cardboard can be bundled and placed curbside next to your Ecology Center recycle cart on your recycling service day.

For items that can't be recycled curbside:

• Take extra recyclables to the Berkeley Recycling Center located at 669 Gilman Street. It is currently operating with limited drop offs, so check the site for the most up-to-date information on what is accepted.

• Computers, televisions, stereos, and electronic gadgets should never be put into garbage cans, debris bins or placed curbside. They are hazardous waste and must be disposed of properly. Recycle up to 2 electronic items at the Transfer Station for free. The Computer & Technology Resource Center (located at 2nd & Page St. in Berkeley) takes most electronic devices for free. Learn more about the items they do and don't accept at ewastecollective.org or call them at (415) 883-1428.

• Household Hazardous Waste such as paint, cleaning supplies, batteries, and fluorescent bulbs cannot be placed in curbside containers, and must be disposed of properly. Visit StopWaste.org/hhw for information about drop off sites.

The whole community can play a valuable role in keeping our streets clean and safe. Call 311 or 510-981-2489 to report illegal dumping.

Keep refuse workers safe

Please take precautions to keep refuse and recycling workers safe. For both refuse and recycling, all your materials should fit inside your cart with the lid closed completely. All trash in your refuse cart should be inside a closed plastic bag. If boxes are too big to fit inside your cart, break them down and cut them apart.

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

Recycled materials are hand sorted by workers, so it is important to only put recyclable materials in your bin. Certain items are never recyclable, including:

• Tissues, paper towels, wipes, masks, or latex gloves
• Food and liquids
• Any cleaning materials used for COVID-19 cleaning

Resources:

• Cal Move-Out
• Berkeley Ecology Center for residential recycling
• Stopwaste.org
• Computer and Technology Resource Center
• DR3: mattress recycling and more
• Donate furniture to Urban Ore  900 Murray St Berkeley, CA 94710, check website to confirm when donations resume
• RecycleWhere.org to find local options to reuse, recycle or dispose of almost anything.
• Waterside Workshops: takes used bicycles and repairs them into better condition as part of a job-training program. Must schedule appointment. watersideworkshops.org