Plastics

A note about plastics: While plastics are recyclable not all plastics are the same and recycling is not a solution to the problems plastics pose to our environment. See the Ecology Center’s Problem With Plastics page to learn more about what you can do.

How to recycle plastic at Berkeley Recycling:

Drop-off

Before you arrive:

Pre-sort your bottles and jars by color (clear, brown, and green)

Enter the Berkeley Recycling Center from Second Street

As you enter the Berkeley Recycling facility turn left towards the drop-off area.

As you enter the Berkeley Recycling facility turn left towards the drop-off area.

Find the appropriate bins for your plastic recyclables in the drop-off area.

Deposit your recyclable plastics in the appropriate bin.

Clean container plastics (on left). Large clean rigid plastics (right).

#2 Natural colored plastic (on left). #1 plastic bottles (on right).

#2 colored plastic bottles (on right)

Buyback

Before you arrive:

Empty, clean and pre-sort your CRV plastic bottles into the categories listed below.
If your materials are not pre-sorted go to the parking area.
Also separate your plastic into CRV and non-CRV

Enter the Berkeley Recycling Center from Second Street

As you enter the Berkeley Recycling facility head straight towards the Buyback area.

Wait at the stop sign for a CCC representative to guide you to the appropriate location.

Wait at the stop sign for a CCC representative to guide you to the appropriate location.

Proceed to the appropriate bin or conveyor for your plastic recyclables in the Buyback area.

Proceed to the appropriate bin or conveyor for your plastic recyclables in the Buyback area.

#2 Natural color empty plastic bottles

Load your #1 CRV bottles into the “Plastic bottles” conveyor when a Buyback aide gives the go ahead.

Plastic Accepted at Berkeley Recycling

#1 PET narrow-neck Bottles and Jugs

These are purchased at our Buyback or donated at the drop-off. They include carbonated soda, water and juice bottles, and spring water bottles and jugs.

plastic bottles, bottles, recycling-115071.jpg

Bottles must be empty.

#2 HDPE narrow-neck Jugs and Bottles

Purchased at our Buyback or donated at the drop-off. These include large water, milk and juice jugs. Other narrow-neck non-beverage containers such as detergents, fertilizer, and motor oil bottles marked #2 are accepted at the drop-off.

Bottles must be empty.

#3 through #7 CRV Containers

All CRV beverage containers (#3 through #7) are purchased at our Buyback or donated at the drop-off in the Plastic Containers bin.

The only way you can identify CRV eligibility  is by reading the label on the container.

Symbols for CRV eligibility:
- CA CASH REFUND
- CA CRV
- California Redemption Value
- CA Redemption Value
- California Cash Refund

Plastic Containers

Plastic containers are currently being accepted at Berkeley Recycling. These must be clean and empty and are accepted for donation only. These typically include clear clam shells and drinking cups, yogurt and dairy tubs, and clear food take-out containers.

Rigid Plastics

Now being accepted at the Drop-off. Typically these include items such as 5-gallon buckets, crates, large plastic containers, nursery pots, plastic lawn chairs and other scrap plastic. Rigid plastic should be clean and nursery pots should be emptied of dirt.

The following types of plastic are not accepted at Berkeley Recycling

Size Restrictions

We cannot process plastic items smaller than 2.5-inches. Usually these include:

  • caps
  • bread tabs
  • wrappers/plastic wrap
  • etc

Type Restrictions

Many of the items we receive that we cannot process is due to Wishful Recycling (when you send an item to recycling in the hopes that it will be recycled). These items we have to send to landfill and cause major complications for our operations. Please find other ways of disposing of these kinds of plastics.

For more information about how to recycle or dispose of plastics not accepted at Berkeley Recycling see the plastic section of our external resources page.

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