What Goes Where?

If the box has grease or stuck-on cheese/food → compost. If it’s clean and dry (no grease) → recycling instead.

Used/soiled paper towels and napkins (even greasy) → compost in SF. Clean unused paper can go recycling, but used ones are compost.

Only if clearly labeled compostable/PLA and accepted locally → compost. Plain plastic forks/spoons (no compostable label) → landfill.

Used tea bags and loose tea → compost. Remove staples if present. Unused dry tea bags can also compost.

Takeout wood chopsticks and wooden stir sticks → compost (even if used). Reusable chopsticks you still want → keep or donate; don’t trash them.

Loose hair from haircuts, brushing, or pet grooming → green compost bin in SF. Small amounts are fine; bag large salon clippings in compostable paper if needed. For wigs and synthetic extensions, see Wigs & hair extensions.

Greasy or food-soiled paper takeout boxes → compost. Clean, dry, and free of food film → recycling; most used ones are compost.

In SF, shredded paper → compost (loose shreds jam recycling machines). Don’t put loose shreds in the blue bin.

Small clean wood scraps with no paint, stain, glue, or pressure treatment → green compost bin in SF. Painted, stained, treated, or plywood/particle board → landfill or construction debris (not compost). Large lumber → bulky pickup.

Plate scraps, leftover rice/noodles, bones, spoiled food, and fortune cookies → compost (pull out the paper fortune first if you want). Scrape these out of containers before recycling the container.

Only if clean and dry with no grease stains → recycling. Any grease or food stuck on → tear off/soiled parts to compost, or compost the whole box.

Clean foil or trays with no stuck food → recycling (ball small scraps into a fist-sized wad). Still greasy or food-caked → landfill instead.

Only when fully empty and non-hazardous (e.g. empty cooking spray) → recycling. Still full, pressurized, or hazardous contents → hazardous waste — never puncture.

Pour out leftover liquid, scrape food bits into compost, then rinse the carton. Caps can stay on.

Pour out drinks, rinse if sticky. Caps can stay on in SF. Won’t rinse a dirty bottle? → landfill.

Empty and rinse. Lids/caps can usually stay on. Scrape stuck-on food into compost first. Broken drinking glasses/Pyrex/ceramics → landfill.

Scrape food into compost, then wipe or rinse the clamshell. Still greasy or coated with food you won’t clean → landfill. Foam/styrofoam takeout → landfill.

Clear plastic sushi/deli trays: scrape food off, rinse or wipe. Rice, sauce, or oil still stuck → landfill.

Clear plastic soup or deli tubs: empty broth into compost, rinse or wipe. Still oily or brothy → landfill.

Empty food or drink, rinse if sticky. Food left inside → scrape into compost, then rinse. Don’t crush so hard it looks like scrap.

Clean metal pots, pans, baking sheets, wire hangers, and small household scrap → recycling center or transfer-station metal buyback — not loose in the blue bin if large, sharp, or jagged. Empty food/drink cans → blue bin.

Clean, dry, flattened cardboard → recycling. Greasy/food-soiled cardboard (pizza, takeout) → compost instead.

Synthetic wigs, weaves, and hair extensions → landfill (they are not compostable or recyclable). Human-hair wigs that are still wearable → donate to a wig bank or thrift if accepted; worn-out ones → landfill. Loose natural hair clippings from a haircut → compost instead.

Loose plastic bags/film → landfill (or store film takeback). Never loose in recycling — they jam machines. Still usable bags → reuse.

Foil/plastic takeout packets → landfill. Squeeze leftover sauce into compost/food scraps if you want, but the packet itself is not recyclable or compostable.

Tiny plastic sauce cups (salsa, crema, dipping sauces) usually go to landfill — too small/dirty for reliable recycling.

Greasy or food-caked foil and foil trays → landfill. Only clean foil belongs in recycling.

Foam clamshell takeout containers aren’t accepted in SF curbside recycling — landfill.

Pour out leftover drink. Tapioca pearls → compost. Plastic straw & sealed film → landfill. Empty plastic cup and lid → rinse and recycle if your city accepts that plastic; if you’re not sure or it’s still sticky → landfill.

Disposable plastic straws → landfill (not SF recycling). Paper straws → compost if used/soiled.

Foam cups, trays, and packing peanuts → landfill in SF curbside. Not recycling, not compost (unless a rare certified compostable foam label).

Broken drinking glasses, Pyrex, plates, and ceramics → wrap and landfill. These are not bottle/jar glass. Intact usable dishes → donate instead.

Broken/unusable hoses, rope, and extension cords → landfill (never recycling). Working hose → donate. Holiday lights may qualify as e-waste drop-off instead.

Broken/unusable plastic toys → landfill. Still working toys, LEGO, dolls, or stuffed animals → donate or Give & Get. Don’t put toys in recycling.

Most café paper cups have a plastic lining — landfill in SF, not blue-bin recycling. Plastic lids and cardboard sleeves usually landfill too. Only cups clearly labeled compostable → green bin. Empty leftover liquid first.

Reusable pots in good shape → keep, give away, or donate to a garden center. Broken ceramic/terracotta and most plastic nursery pots → landfill in SF (not blue-bin recycling). Empty dirt into compost or yard waste where accepted; don’t dump soil in recycling.

Regular plastic forks/knives/spoons → landfill. Only utensils labeled compostable → compost. Wooden chopsticks → compost.

Most plastic cup lids → landfill in SF (not recycling). Paper cups with plastic lining are usually landfill too unless labeled compostable.

Shiny store/restaurant receipts are thermal paper (often BPA/BPS) — landfill, not recycling or compost. Plain office paper without the shiny coating can recycle.

Foil, metallic, glitter, velvet, and plastic-coated wrapping → landfill. Gift bows and ribbon → landfill (they jam recycling). Plain kraft or simple paper wrap with no foil/glitter → recycling if clean and dry; tissue paper can often go recycling or compost when uncoated.

Usable ornaments, wreaths, stockings, and décor → donate or pass along for next year. Broken glass ornaments and worn-out plastic décor → landfill. Broken or unwanted string lights → see Broken Christmas lights (e-waste takeback).

Still wearable/usable → donate or brand takeback. Ripped/unusable textiles → textile takeback when possible, otherwise landfill (not blue bin).

Clean, usable blankets, comforters, and quilts → donate (Goodwill, shelters, textile bins). Worn, stained, or moldy bedding → landfill or a clothing/textile drop box — not curbside recycling.

Curtain panels and fabric shades still in good shape → donate. Broken vinyl mini-blinds or bent hardware → landfill or schedule bulky pickup — not blue-bin recycling.

Still readable → donate to Friends of the SF Public Library (appointment required) or thrift / little free libraries. Water-damaged or moldy books → landfill.

Still usable → donate/sell (IKEA buyback, ReStore, Marketplace). Broken/unusable bulky furniture → schedule bulky pickup — not curbside bins.

Clean, usable toys, LEGO sets, dolls, and stuffed animals → donate to thrift/charity or post on Give & Get. Broken, dirty, or incomplete pieces → landfill (not recycling). Battery toys: remove batteries first and take them to specialty drop-off.

Do not toss whole K-Cups in SF recycling — they’re too small and get sorted out. After brewing: peel the foil lid (landfill), dump the grounds into compost, then either landfill the empty plastic cup or use Keurig’s K-Cycle mail-back. Only pods labeled compostable belong in the green bin.

Aluminum espresso capsules are not SF curbside recycling. Use brand mail-back or boutique drop-off (Nespresso, Peet’s). Empty grounds into compost if you open the capsule first.

Empty, cleaned packaging only — brands/stores (Sephora, Ulta, L'Occitane, Pact) take empties. Still full product → use it up or dispose per label; don’t put full containers in takeback bins.

Phones, laptops, tablets, and cables need e-waste or retailer trade-in — not curbside recycling.

String lights, fairy lights, and LED holiday lights are e-waste — not landfill, recycling, or compost. Take broken or unwanted strands to an electronics / e-waste drop-off (Best Buy, SF Environment partners, etc.). Working lights you still want → keep or donate.

Not SF blue-bin recycling. Take empties to Staples (most brands), Best Buy, or HP Planet Partners (HP/Samsung mail-back or store drop-off).

Natural trees → Recology holiday “tree-cycling” in early January (place bare beside your green bin on collection day; cut in half if over 6 ft). Remove stands, lights, ornaments, tinsel, and flocking first. Small bare branches can go in the green bin. Artificial trees → landfill or donate if reusable.

Do not pour paint down drains or put cans in recycling. Use PaintCare store drop-off or Recology San Francisco hazardous waste at 501 Tunnel Ave (SF residents).

Do not put batteries in recycling, compost, or landfill bins. Use Call2Recycle or a hazardous waste drop-off.

Used oil is hazardous. Many auto parts stores accept used oil and filters for free.

Cleaners, solvents, and pesticides need household hazardous waste — never trash or sink.

CFLs and fluorescent tubes contain mercury — never curbside. Take to a hazardous waste facility or hardware takeback.

Never put pressurized tanks in household bins. Use exchange programs or hazardous waste / specialty sites.

Never loose in any bin. Use an FDA-cleared sharps container and approved drop-off.

Liquid nail polish is flammable household hazardous waste — do not pour down drains or put in curbside bins. Use SF household hazardous waste drop-off. Empty, dry glass bottles may recycle if your program accepts them.

Do not flush or put pills in household bins. Use a pharmacy drop box (many CVS locations accept them).

Unused or expired vitamins, supplements, and gummies → pharmacy drop box (same as medication). Do not flush. Empty plastic vitamin bottles → rinse and recycle if accepted; remove labels if required locally.

Schedule Recology bulky pickup or use a mattress recycling program — not curbside carts.

Large appliances need bulky collection or retailer haul-away when you buy a replacement.

Remove the toilet and schedule Recology bulky item pickup. Porcelain fixtures do not go in curbside recycling, compost, or landfill carts — they need bulky collection.

Old window frames from renovation are construction/bulky waste — schedule bulky pickup. Do not put in curbside carts. Clean scrap metal pieces may go to a metal recycler instead.

Drywall, concrete, brick, tile, painted/treated wood, and remodel debris do not belong in household carts. Schedule Recology bulky pickup or take materials to a transfer station / construction & demolition facility. Small clean untreated wood scraps can go in compost instead.