Sort it out, Sacramento!
Property Managers: Visit the Commercial Waste Resources section (linked below) for specific management-related resources.
Help keep Sacramento clean and green!
Your building has three waste and recycling bins, and what you put in them makes a big difference. Living in a multi-family (apartment) community means sharing responsibility for keeping waste areas clean, safe, and easy to use. The City of Sacramento’s Recycling and Solid Waste program provides services and guidelines to help residents sort materials correctly and reduce contamination.
Check with your property manager for specific guidance regarding accepted materials for each container, as haulers change depending on where you live. If your building does not have the proper bins or one or more of the recycle bins are not accessible, call us at 916-808-4846 or email wastecompliance@cityofsacramento.org.
How to sort your waste
Proper sorting helps recyclable materials get turned into new products and keeps trash and food scraps out of the wrong containers.
Be sure to check the labels located on each of the exterior containers at your apartment to make sure you are placing your sorted materials in the proper bin!
- Recycling: Glass and plastic bottles, cans, paper, cardboard. Sorted recyclable material is recycled instead of sent to landfill.
- Organics: Food scraps, food-soiled paper, yard trimmings. This material is composted instead of sent to the landfill.
- Trash: Snack packaging, diapers, styrofoam, plastic utensils, film plastics (plastic bags and wraps, etc). These items go to the landfill.
Why it matters
Incorrect sorting can contaminate entire loads of recycling and organics, causing them to be sent to the landfill. Sorting waste properly helps reduce landfill waste, conserve natural resources, and keep shared waste areas cleaner and more functional.
Tips for success
- Do not bag blue bin recyclables (open paper bags are OK)
- Break down cardboard boxes
- Empty, clean and dry your recyclables to ensure materials are recycled
- No film plastic in the recycling (flimsy, stretchy bags such as bread bags, chip pags, old grocery store plastic bags, etc)
- Never place hazardous waste, electronics, or bulky items in compost, trash, or recycling carts
Organics Recycling ("Green Bin")
- Use compostable Bags (BPI certified) or paper bags only for organic material (or place organics in exterior cart loose)
- Odor? Freeze your food scraps until you are ready to bring to your exterior cart
- Never place hazardous waste, electronics, or bulky items in compost, trash, or recycling carts
Need help?
If you’re unsure where an item belongs, check posted signage in your waste disposal area or contact your property manager for guidance. Together, small actions by residents make a big difference for Sacramento. If your building does not have the proper bins or they’re not accessible, contact us at 916-808-4846 or wastecompliance@cityofsacramento.org.
Resources
Bin labels, recorded webinars, flyers and more!
File a complaint regarding improper recycling or organics at your apartment
