Recycling


Recycling resources

Resources for recycling are pretty good here on the peninsula. I hate to see things go to the landfill, so I try to recycle as much as I can. The Monterey Regional Waste Management District (MRWMD) does a really good job of helping you get rid of stuff responsibly. I've done some research and found a few other options as well. These are the resources I've discovered so far. (How to get rid of a specific type of item.)

Protecting our planet also means disposing of non-recylable items responsibly.  I've included some information about proper disposal as well.

The first, most obvious resource is your standard household curbside recycling. They take a lot more than you might expect. I was quite surprised, where we used to live the list of what they would not take is longer than what they would accept.
Curbside Recycliing: This is the standard blue bin that you get along with the brown trash bin and the green yard waste bin. In the City of Monterey, the service is coordinated by Monterey City Disposal. They say there's actually no cost for the recycling: they contract with a private company, which gets to keep whatever it collects. They make enough from selling the materials to cover the cost of collection.
Cans, bottles, newspapers, magazines, cardboard, plastic bottles and containers, empty aerosol cans, egg cartons. Click here for complete list.

The MRWMD facility on Del Monte Blvd in Marina has lots of opportunities to get rid of stuff for free before you pay to hit the landfill.
e-Trash: Free!* Drop off behind Last Chance Mercantile at the MRWMD facility during hours that LCM is open. They will take monitors, TVs, CPUs, laptops, hard drives, circuit boards, peripherals, cables, cell phones, printers, fax, and copy machines.  Limit 5 CRTs per vehicle. 
Hazardous waste:  All those nasty household chemicals that you can't put in the trash-- antifreeze, paint thinner, pool cleaners, insecticides, etc. Also flourescent light bulbs, propane canisters, used oil filters*, batteries*, used motor oil*, mercury thermometers, syringes and medical sharps, medications. (*Other options are available for these; see list below.) No charge for residents of City of Monterey. Just follow the signs to hazardous waste, drive up to the shed, and someone will come out and take it away. According to the website, you have to show ID, but they've never asked me for any, they just ask where I live.
* When you buy electronics in California, by law the retailer collects an "advance recovery fee", which is used to fund electronics recycling.

For reuseable items, try eBay, Craigslist, or Last Chance Mercantile.
Craigslist: There's a pretty active craiglist community in the area--I've sold or given away quite a bit. Even if the item is broken or has no real value and you offer it for free, chances are someone can use it for something. At least it stays out of the landfill.
Last Chance Mercantile: Operated by MRWMD, LCM will accept your reusable items and resell them. You don't get any money, but this is a good alternative to Craigslist. Crafters, artists, and DIY types use all sorts of crazy stuff, so give it a try before you throw it out. Located at the MRWMD facility off of Del Monte Blvd. in Marina. Hours 

About the MRWMD facility

The facility is pretty easy to find, at 14201 Del Monte Blvd in Marina. There's a sign on DelMonte Blvd. indicating where you should turn.  Once you arrive, at the stop sign, turn left to access the drop-off areas (straight-on leads to the scales for the landfill). The signs are quite clear, so you won't have a problem.

There are drop-off areas for:
  • Hazardous waste
  • Last Chance Mercantile
  • eWaste
  • Beverage Container buy-back
  • Recycling (paper, bottles & cans, plastic containers, scrap metal)
For Materials Recovery, you have to go to the scales. However, the rate is cheaper than the solid waste rate.


How to recycle specific items

Appliances, large
To get rid of large appliances, you have two options. Drop-off at the Materials Recovery Center at MRWMD or call to schedule a pickup (single item). Four large-item-pickups are available at per year, usually at no charge. Refrigerators and some other items might have a disposal fee (there's no charge for the pickup).   
Batteries, automobile
When you get a new battery, the auto service shop/retailer is required by law to send the old battery to a recycler.
If you need to get rid of a battery on your own (maybe you're an auto repair do-it-yourselfer) the AAA automotive battery recycling program accepts automobile, motorcycle, RV, and marine batteries; they even pass along the payment they get from the recycler to environmental organizations. There are various drop-off locations throughout the state; in Monterey it's Monterey Garage Towing & Storage, 235B Ramona Avenue.  To my knowledge, you don't have to be a AAA member. 
Batteries, household (single-use alkaline batteries)
Monterey Public Library (but please, only during business hours, or cause an incident). You can also drop them off at Hazardous Waste. Whole Foods no longer takes them. 
Batteries, rechargeable
Home Depot (Seaside) accepts power tool batteries. There's a drop-off bin just inside the entrance, on the right, next to the Returns desk.  
Best Buy (Marina)  accepts all rechargeable batteries under 11 pounds, laptop batteries, battery backups, and cell phone batteries.
You can also drop them off at Hazardous Waste.  
Bricks, concrete, construction debris
Clean construction debris is accepted at MRWMD Materials Recovery. There is a disposal fee, but it's generally less than the solid waste rate charged at the landfill scales. 
Bubble wrap
Place in a plastic bag, together with any other plastic bags or wrap, tie, and toss in your recycle bin.
Cans and bottles (CRV paid)
If you want to get cash back, you can take them to the CRV buy-back center at MRWMD, or to one of the contracted recyclers. There are recycling locations in Monterey, Pacific Grove, Marina, and Sand City. Click here for a current list.  (The collection facility behind Whole Foods was closed recently due to complaints that it attracted vagrants. )
If you have less than 50 cans, you can request a manual count; otherwise they will weigh your stash and calculate the number of cans based on weight. I tried this once and found that I really didn't get that much back considering the effort to store them, load them in the car, and take them to the collection center.  I just throw them in the blue recycle cart and figure I'm subsidizing the cost of the weekly pickup. But to each his own.  
Cell phones
Verizon Wireless, in conjunction with HopeLine accepts any cell phone or tablet (any condition, any carrier). They will refurbish if possible, then sell and donate the proceeds to domestic violence programs. If not fixable, they will recycle. Either way, the phone stays out of the landfill the proceeds help someone. Drop off at Verizon Wireless store, or request a postage paid shipping envelope here. 
Coffee/Espresso machine capsules
Capsules for Nespresso machines are recyclable. Drop off at Sur La Table in Carmel, or request a free recycle bag from Nespresso. The recycle bag, when filled, can be dropped in a UPS drop box for shipment back to Nespresso (no charge).  Keurig K-cups are not recyclable as of summer 2013 (Keurig says they are working on a solution). 
Electronics
Both eTrash recycling at the MRWMD facility and Best Buy in Marina accept items such as TVs, VCRs and DVD players, computers and peripherals, cables, cell phones, printers, fax and copy machines, video game consoles, etc. Click here for more. 
If you device is in good condition and not too outdated, you can also try selling on eBay or one of the online electronics buyers like BuyMyTronics or uSell. 
Eyeglasses
The Lions Club recycles donated glasses to those in need in developing nations. There's a collection box just inside the door at the Monterey Public Library. 
Fluorescent light bulbs
Hazardous waste.  Home Depot accepts unbroken CFLs for recycling at all stores. 
Furniture, large
To dispose of a large furniture item, you can call Monterey City Disposal at 831-372-7977
to arrange for pickup. You're allowed four pickups (three items per pickup) per year for free.  Leave it curbside on the scheduled day and they will come and get it. How cool is that? 
Hearing aids
The Lions Club refurbishes and recycles used hearing aids to those in need. There's a collection box just inside the door at the Monterey Public Library. 
Hair dryers, flat irons, curling irons
Best Buy
Medications, prescription or over-the-counter (not-recyclable)
Do not flush. Bag and take to Hazardous Waste or any of the following:
  • one of the "Take Back" pharmacies: Ordway Drug in Monterey, Central Avenue Pharmacy in Pacific Grove, Carmel Drug Store, CSUMB in Seaside, or Access IV in Marina (customers only). There are also three pharmacies in Salinas.
  • Carmel Police Department has a drop box in their lobby.
  • If you can't take them, place in a bag with something foul (like used kitty liter or coffee grounds) and put in the trash. Click here for the heath department pharmaceutical drop-off brochure.
Motor oil / Oil filter
If you don't want to take it to hazardous waste, call Waste Management at (800) 321-8226 for a free oil jug and filter bag. Put the oil in the screw-top jug and the filter in the bag, and set them beside your recycling cart on pickup day. You're allowed one jug and one bag per week. 
Paint, Stains, Varnishes, Primers, Deck Coating
In conjunction with PaintCare, Inc. (http://paintcare.org), most Kelly-Moore, Dunn Edwards, and Sherwin Williams stores, as well a a few other paint stores in the area, accept unwanted paints, stains, and other coatings for recycling. Check the PaintCare locator for the best location for you. 

Plastic bags
Grocery bags, dry cleaner bags, plastic bags that small appliances or electronic items are often packed in, bread bags, cling film. Stuff it all into a plastic bag, tie it closed, and toss it in the blue recycling bin.
Plastic containers
Any plastic container types 1-5 can be tossed in the blue recycle bin. They don't require you to remove the caps/lids as many other municipalities do. 
Propane canisters
These are considered hazardous waste, even if empty, and even the small ones that you use with a camping stove. Some areas allow you to put the small canisters in regular trash, but I called to make sure and they told me it's hazardous waste. See Hazardous waste for more info.
Scrap Metal
Accepted at the MRWMD Recycling Drop-off Center. Free.
Shredded paper
Bag it in a clear plastic bag, tie, and toss in your recycle bin.
Styrofoam peanuts
Non-recyclable. If you have a lot of clean peanuts, they're a pretty hot commodity on Craigslist. 
Wine corks
There's a drop-off bin in front of Whole Foods at Del Monte Center.
Natural corks only, no plastic or synthetic corks.

Recycling resources in Monterey CA. How to recycle in Monterey. Where to recycle in Monterey CA.

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