Trash & Recycling Livable Neighborhoods

As students move out for summer, keep Berkeley clean

To keep our streets safe, use City services to properly dispose of unwanted items. Dumping is illegal and can result in fines up to $500/day.

A City of Berkeley recycling truck rolls through the street

Published:

May 8, 2025

Last Updated:

May 23, 2025

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

You can always use your building's trash, compost, and recycling bins. But you can also use additional City services – such as an extra dumpster, purchasing prepaid bags for what won’t fit in your trash bin, free bulky waste pickup, or free drop-offs of up to two mattresses or two electronics.

The university and broader community also offer an array of services so that what you no longer need can be re-used by others, or, at least, properly and safely recycled.

Dumping mattresses and other items on the sidewalk creates a mess, can be a safety hazard, and doesn't promote reuse. It is also illegal and punishable by fines reaching up to $500 daily.

Plan ahead. Use City services and community resources to reduce what goes into landfills or onto our streets.

plan ahead with prepaid trash bags or extra pickups

Tenants and landlords should start thinking now about what you will keep and discard. Please don’t wait until the last minute and throw too much in the garbage or on our streets. Take advantage of these City services:

Call (510) 981-7270 to request:
- Extra trash pickup or a short-term dumpster.
- Free Bulky Waste Pickup for properties of 4 units or smaller.
Visit the Berkeley Transfer Station (1201 Second Street) to:
- Drop off up to two mattresses, box springs, or futon mattresses for free. Please separate futon frames from mattresses prior to visit.
- Purchase up to ten City of Berkeley prepaid bags to dispose of extra trash on pick-up day at your single-family home or 1-4 unit property.
- Drop off unwanted items or bags of materials for a fee.
- Recycle up to two electronic items for free.

find ways to reuse unwanted items

Keep your reusable items out of landfills. 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 of up to $500 daily.

Mattresses, furniture, lamps, chairs, bed frames, computers, televisions, and other electronics will be accepted during the UC Berkeley Cooperative Reuse program at Clark Kerr Campus from May 23-June 2, 10:00 am - 5:00 pm. Donors must be a UC Berkeley student or staff and must bring a Cal ID to donate.
- All members of the public are welcome to pick up donated furniture at the UC Berkeley Cooperative Reuse program for free. Monday - Thursday, 10am - 5 pm and after 2pm Friday - Sunday
Canned food and shelf-stable food items may be donated to local non-profits. Check with the Berkeley Food Network or read the RE:Source Guide for ways to donate.
Some furniture and household items in good condition may be donated at reuse stores like Urban Ore. Check their website or call (510) 841-7283 before visiting to confirm they will accept your items and are receiving donations at this time.
Textiles, including clothing, shoes, handbags, backpacks, linens, and bedding, can be donated at the Textile Recycling Drop Box at the Berkeley Recycling Center for reuse.

recycle items that can't be reused

For recyclable items that can't be reused, recycle using your building's recycling bins. Review guidelines to see if an item is recyclable.

For single-family homes or small apartment complexes with Ecology Center Recycling collection, review our Waste Sorting Guide for 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:

Clothing and household textiles, scrap metal, appliances, fluorescent light bulbs, batteries, and cardboard boxes are accepted at the Berkeley Recycling Center (669 Gilman Street). Most items are accepted free of charge.
Computers, televisions, microwaves, stereos, and other electronic gadgets are accepted at the ewaste Collective Computer and Technology Resource Center (620 Page Street).
Paints, solvents, pesticides, and cleaner sprays are hazardous household waste and are accepted at Alameda County Stop Waste Drop-off Sites. The closest drop-off site to Berkeley is in Oakland (2100 East 7th Street).
For items not mentioned above, refer to the RE:Source Guide for disposal, recycling, or reuse options.

work with nonprofits, don't dump at encampments

Unsolicited donations of furniture, clothing, food, and other materials at encampments may seem like a gesture of goodwill to those in need but can actually create unsafe conditions.

Consider donating to one of Berkeley’s numerous nonprofit social service agencies that directly serve the homeless population, including:

All of them provide meals and food resources to people experiencing homelessness in Berkeley.

Know that most nonprofits usually prefer cash donations. Consider calling nonprofits that work in Berkeley to inquire about their need and capacity to accept donations.

report illegal dumping

We can all play a valuable role in keeping our sidewalks clear. If you see illegal dumping, call 311 or (510) 981-2489 to report.

During the summer move-out, tenants and landlords are key to keeping Berkeley's streets clean and safe. Plan ahead, utilize City of Berkeley services, and dispose of items responsibly.