As the East Bay comes alive with spring blooms and warmer weather, you may feel inspired to do some spring cleaning. As you clear out closets, garages, nooks, and crannies, utilizing local recyclers and nonprofits can positively impact both the planet and your household.
Sorting:
Check out the Stop Waste Recycle Wizard. This useful interactive site will direct you to various places that accept recyclable discards. You can also see if curbside pick-up is available. Most cities in the East Bay offer curbside pick up for recyclables and compostable waste.
Basic Household Curbside Recycling:
For basic household curbside recycling services provided through your trash collection service:
Bulky Items:
For bulky items, most East Bay cities offer one free household pick up per year. Contact your local waste management provider to schedule a pickup:
Recycling & Buy-Back Centers:
Enterprising folks can bring their recyclables here for buy-back:
- Berkeley Recycling Center Operated by Community Conservation Centers
Hazardous Household Waste:
Household hazardous waste can be dropped off by appointment at the following locations:
- Alameda County - Oakland HHW Facility - 2100 East 7th Street, Oakland, CA 94606. Call 1-800-606-6606 for more information.To use this service you must reside in Alameda County, so be sure to bring a form of ID with your address
- Contra Costa County - West Contra Costa Household Hazardous Waste Facility - If you reside in El Cerrito, Hercules, Pinole, Richmond, San Pablo and the unincorporated West County areas (Crockett, El Sobrante, Port Costa, Rodeo, & Tormey) you may drop off your household hazardous waste for FREE at the the West Contra Costa County Household Hazardous Waste Facility. Proof of residency is required.
Electronics and E-Waste:
Proper disposal of electronic waste is crucial to prevent environmental contamination:
- eWaste Collective in Berkeley - This nonprofit donates computers to those in need; some items may be eligible for a charitable tax deduction. They also offer data destruction services.
- Rapid Recycle in Pacheco
Donations:
One of the best ways to recycle is to make your “trash” someone else’s “treasure.” There are a number of places that will accept donations of usable household items as well as clothing, books and other ephemera.
Besides Goodwill, Out of the Closet and other classic thrift stores, you can also support many other nonprofits by making donations of reusable goods. A word of caution: you may find yourself so absorbed in these quirky collections, it’s possible to bring home more than you leave behind! A couple of the more eclectic options are:
- Urban Ore - A one-of-a-kind EcoPark. They accept building materials and tools as well as clothing, fabric and household items.
- East Bay Depot for Creative Reuse - Located in the Temescal District of Oakland, it’s a perfect place to donate art and craft materials, educational supplies, home décor, paper goods, fabric and more.
- Habitat for Humanity ReStore: Accepts furniture, appliances, and building materials.
Red Oak Realty is committed to sustainability as the first real estate brokerage in the Bay Area to be carbon neutral and green-certified. We're enthusiastic about recycling and are here to assist you. Whether you're looking to rehome your belongings or find a new home, contact us for support.
