Introduction to Recycling in Encino

The key to managing recycling is to know what goes in the blue container and what doesn't. Most things do.

Replacing black, green and blue recycle containers (and bulky item pick-up):

Do it online at: http://www.lacity.org/san/solid_resources/refuse/service_request.htm. Make sure you receive a confirmation e-mail or they won't have received it. Replacement containers arrive the day after normal pick-ups day, which means Fridays in Encino. If you need to call, the direct number is (800)773-CITY/(800)773-2489.

What goes in the BLUE container according to LA City Council (link here):

-  All Clean Dry Paper
Computer, wrapping, arts and craft paper, unwanted mail, flyers, telephone books, note cards, newspapers, magazines, file folders, paper bags, Post-it notes, catalogs; and all envelopes including those with windows
-  All Cardboard Boxes and Chipboard
Cereal, tissue, dry food, frozen food, shoe, and detergent boxes; paper and toilet rolls; and corrugated boxes broken down and flattened. NEW: all cardboard milk, juice, soup, wine, egg (etc.) cartons - these are now accepted as of 2011
-  All Aluminum, Tin, Metal, and Bi-Metal Cans
Rinsed if possible, soda, juice, soup, vegetable and pet food cans; pie tins; clean aluminum foil; empty paint & aerosol cans w/plastic caps removed, wire hangers
-  All Glass Bottles and Jars
Rinsed if possible, soda, wine, beer, spaghetti sauce, pickle jars, broken bottles.
-  All Clean Plastics 1 Through 7
-  Empty Plastic Containers
Rinsed if possible, soda, juice, detergent, bleach, shampoo, lotion, mouthwash, dishwashing liquid bottles, milk jugs, tubs for margarine and yogurt, plastic planters, food and blister packaging, rigid clamshell packaging, etc.
-  All Plastic Bags and All Film Bags
Grocery bags and dry cleaner bags, and all clean film plastic
-  All Clean Polystyrene (Styrofoam®) - this is now accepted
Styrofoam® cups, containers, and packaging such as Styrofoam® egg shell cartons, Styrofoam® block packaging, and Styrofoam® clamshell packaging
-  Miscellaneous Plastics
Plastic coat hangers, non-electric plastic toys, plastic swimming pools, & plastic laundry baskets

Miscellaneous plastics can include kids car seats, as well as DVDs and CDs - if the discs, the packaging and the paper sleeves are all separated.

DO NOT RECYCLE THESE ITEMS

• Contaminated Paper
  all soiled papers or bags with oils and food waste
• Broken Glass
  window glass, mirror glass, auto glass, light bulbs, fluorescent lights and ceramics
• Other Plastic
  plastic hygienic items, any electric or battery operated toys
• Miscellaneous Materials
  electrical cords, cloth/fabric, appliances, mini blinds, kitchen utensils, lawn furniture, garden hoses, rubber tires, construction materials, including asphalt or concrete, wood and wood products
• Hazardous Materials
  syringes, all partially filled aerosol cans and containers for cleaning fluids, automotive fluids, all batteries (including car batteries, household batteries, rechargeable batteries), pesticides, oil based paint, garden chemicals, and pool cleaners.

With batteries, regular ones can go in the trash in much of the country, but not in the City of LA. Rechargeables must - under California law - be turned in at retailers who sell them because they contain toxic chemicals. But the City of LA requires all batteries to be recycled, perhaps on the assumption that the public can't tell the difference between regular and rechargeable.

Used pizza boxes should not be recycled if they are oily.

Newly popular fluorescent bulbs contain small traces of mercury - refer to the Hazardous Waste page (see #2). Home Depot has a recycling system for them.