Container Reviews
This summer the City of Sacramento will be checking the contents of some residents’ curbside garbage, mixed recycling and organic waste containers. These container checks are required by California State Senate Bill (SB) 1383 .
Recycling and Solid Waste staff will briefly lift the lid to look inside and provide education when needed. City staff will not remove or handle any materials. They will only open containers placed at the curb for collection on service days and will be wearing high visibility vests and badges for identification. Staff will take a photo of the container contents for recordkeeping.
If contamination is found, a “Let’s Sort This Out” tag will be left noting what was found, and information on what materials go in which container. The City will not be assessing fines or penalties, only education to correct mistakes. If everything is sorted correctly, you’ll receive a “Great Job” tag.
Examples of contamination include putting recyclable materials like cardboard or food scraps in the garbage container, or garbage and plastic in the organic waste container.
Containers at the curb for collection
Recylables in the garbage are considered contamination
Households with excessive contamination may be asked to remove the incorrect materials and dispose of them properly. Depending on the material, this may include placing it in the correct container, taking it to a Household Hazardous Waste Facility, or schedule a Household Junk Pick-up or Appliance and E-Waste Pick-up.
Improper sorting impacts recycling operations, prevents materials from being recovered for reuse, increases collection and disposal costs, and increases the need to extract natural resources such as timber and water for new products.
When organic waste is put in the trash container it gets buried in the landfill and that material breaks down over time, releasing methane gas that contributes to global climate change. By placing your food waste, food-soiled paper, and yard waste in the organic waste container, you are reducing your environmental footprint by allowing that material to be turned into compost.
Container Review
Why is sorting my waste important?
Contamination impacts recycling operations, prevents materials from being recovered for reuse, increases collection and disposal costs, and increases the need to extract resources such as timber and water for new products. If your recycling or organics container has excessive contamination, a separate truck must come out to service the container as trash. If truck loads become too contaminated, the facility will reject the load and landfill it instead.
Sorting recyclables and organic waste also extends the lifetime of a landfill. When organic waste is placed in the trash container and buried in the landfill, that material breaks down over time and releases methane gas which contributes to global climate change.
By placing your food waste, food-soiled paper, and yard waste in the organics container, you are reducing your environmental footprint and allowing that material to be turned into compost and mulch.
When taking out your recycling, please do not bag your recyclables. The plastic bags get tangled in recycling facilities’ machinery, can cause damage to the equipment, and do not allow for proper recycling material sorting. Keep recyclables loose in your container.
Not sure if something is recyclable?
Use the City’s Waste Wizard to find out where an item goes, or download the SacRecycle app. Questions? Email sacrecycle@cityofsacramento.org
