Keep the Recyclables Stream Clean!
Optimize Your Recycling Efforts
Maintaining a clean and efficient recycling stream is more critical than ever. As market demands change, it’s essential to ensure only uncontaminated materials enter the recycling process.
Mixed paper makes up a large portion of collected recyclables, but markets for these materials are limited.
We appreciate your dedication to recycling and encourage you to continue refining your efforts. Proper sorting begins with you—thank you for helping us keep the recycling stream pure and effective.
Please remember to:
Support the Sort!
Please place recyclable materials only in your blue split or dedicated recyclables carts and/or bins.
Proper Sorting is a Must!
Say ‘No’ to Contaminants!
Garbage, Food Scraps, Yard Trimmings and Hazardous Waste, such as household batteries and lightbulbs, DO NOT belong in the blue split or dedicated recyclables carts and/or bins.
Maintain a Clean Stream!
When possible, empty and rinse recyclable plastic, metal and glass food containers before placing them in the containers side of the blue split recyclables cart or the blue dedicated recyclable containers cart.
Remember food-soiled paper belongs in the food scraps side of your gray garbage/food scraps split cart or dedicated food scraps cart.
Keep an Eye on Size!
Corrugated cardboard and paper boxes should be flattened and large pieces cut to 2’ x 2’ or smaller.
This prevents materials from getting stuck in the cart or blocking the split hopper of the collection vehicles.
Reduce, Refuse & Reuse Before You Recycle!
Small changes in your purchasing habits and daily routine can make a big impact in reducing your waste and recycling stream!
Repair instead of purchaseBefore you replace an item, see if it can be repaired. If you do purchase something new, find the highest quality/longest lasting most durable option possible.
Opt for used productsReuse what you already have or purchase a “gently used” item from a resale shop or website. Share/trade items with friends and neighbors.
Choose reusablesShop with reusable bags and totes, bring your travel mug to the coffee shop and carry a reusable water bottle with you!- Avoid purchasing products with excessive packagingChoose products with minimal, compostable or recyclable packaging. Buy large sizes or in bulk.
Avoid single-serve or single-use itemsSkip the straw and single-serve condiments at restaurants.
Stop Unwanted Mail!
40% Of the material in the recycling is paper. Use these three easy steps to reduce paper in the blue recyclables split cart.
Remove your address from direct mail registries at: https://www.directmail.com/mail_preference/
Discontinue unwanted catalogs at: CatalogChoice.org
Prevent automatic phonebook deliveries at: YellowPagesOptOut.com
Hazardous Waste Does Not Belong in Any Milpitas Sanitation Cart or Bin
Household hazardous waste items like pesticides, fertilizers, pool & photo chemicals, paint/varnish, toxic cleaning products, smoke detectors, mercury-containing items (thermometers, CFLs/fluorescent lights, etc.), unwanted medications, and sharps (needles, lancets, etc.) should never be thrown in the trash or recycling bin, flushed down the toilet, or dumped down the drain or storm sewer.
Click here for more household hazardous waste information.
Household hazardous waste needs to be taken to a hazardous waste collection facility. Santa Clara County Hazardous Waste Program provides Saturday drop-off centers for medicines, cleaning chemicals, and batteries, etc.
There is no charge for Milpitas residents to use this service. To participate, make an appointment online or over the phone. For more information and a list of Santa Clara County’s free collection facilities: visit – HHW.org or call – 408-299-7300.
To view Media Response to the Recycling Markets Crisis, please click here.