Recycling, Organics, & Landfill Service

Solid waste services in the City of Lafayette are managed by the Central Contra Costa Solid Waste Authority (RecycleSmart). RecycleSmart is a Joint Powers Authority (JPA) with six Member Agencies including Lafayette, Walnut Creek, Orinda, Moraga, Danville, and portions of unincorporated Contra Costa County including Alamo, Blackhawk and Diablo.

RecycleSmart holds the Franchise Agreement with Republic Services for collection, transfer and disposal of residential and commercial landfill materials, recycling and organics, and with Mt. Diablo Resource Recovery  for the processing of all recyclable materials and Reuse Day services.

• For all service requests, extra on-call services, billing, vacation holds and to start or stop service, call Republic Services at 925-685-4711.
• For Reuse Day questions visit www.recyclesmart.org/cleanup or call Mt. Diablo Resource Recovery at 925-692-2286.Republic Services schedules the Reuse & Cleanup Days DATES. Please visit the Reuse Days webpage to use the search tool for your dates, or call Republic Services at 925-685-4711 for your bi-annual dates.
• For unresolved concerns or general questions contact RecycleSmart at authority@recyclesmart.org or call 925-906-1801.

RECYCLING (BLUE CART/BIN) QUICK RESOURCE GUIDE

1. Recycle smart. Know what materials are accepted in recycling – cardboard, paper, small household metals and cans, plastic containers #1-7 and glass containers.
2. Empty, Clean and Dry – remove food and liquid, lightly wipe/rinse and shake dry.
3. Don’t bag it –place recyclables loose into blue cart, or use a clear bag only.
4. RE:Source Guide (countywide online search tool) – visit www.RecycleSmart.org and use “RE:Source Guide” on the home page to search for reuse, recycling and disposal information.    

More blue cart information here.

ORGANICS (GREEN CART) QUICK RESOURCE GUIDE

1. Include the food – compost all food scraps in the green cart including meat, dairy, grains, fruit and pits, bones and shells, cooked food, leftovers and to-go food – don’t forget the food when you’re cleaning out the fridge or pantry!
2. Uncoated food-soiled paper – compost paper towels, napkins, uncoated paper plates, to-go boxes (uncoated/textured), and pizza boxes.
3. How to contain food scraps – use newspaper, paper bags or BPI-Certified compostable bags to contain food scraps.
4. NO plastic accepted in the green cart – no plastic bags, and remove all food packaging and place in landfill, including plastic coated paper (ice cream cartons, milk cartons, to-go drink cups and shelf stable cartons).
5. Free 3-gallon kitchen food scrap pail – residents can call Republic Services at 925-685-4711 to request a free pail once every two years (multifamily residents should ask property manager).

More green cart information here.

Organic material makes up half of what Californians discard into landfills each year. Greenhouse gas emissions caused by the decomposition of organic material in landfills contribute to climate change. As of January 1, 2022, California State Law SB 1383 and RecycleSmart Ordinance No. 21-1 requires residents, businesses, and schools to properly sort organic material from landfill.

CONTAMINATION MONITORING 

SB 1383 requires local jurisdictions to monitor contamination and proper sorting by performing annual route audits. RecycleSmart or its contractor may be in your neighborhood throughout the year assessing your carts (residential and commercial). RecycleSmart is only looking for proper sorting of materials and may leave outreach on your carts with helpful tips and suggestions.

EDIBLE FOOD RECOVERY

California State Law SB 1383 and RecycleSmart Ordinance No. 21-1 require “Tier One” and “Tier Two” Commercial Edible Food Generators to donate the maximum amount of excess edible food to feed people.

To determine if your food-generating business, venue, or event is covered under SB 1383, visit RecycleSmart.org/FoodGenerators.

Preventing food waste and donating excess edible food is good business! Visit RecycleSmart online for a list of local food recovery organizations that can dependably pick up and safely distribute fresh and prepared food, supporting our highest-need community members.

RecycleSmart is partnering with Contra Costa Health Services to inspect SB 1383 Commercial Edible Food Generators and enforcement begins January 1, 2024.

HOUSEHOLD HAZARDOUS WASTE COLLECTION FACILITY

Residents can use the Central Contra Costa Sanitary District Household Hazardous Waste Collection Facility FOR FREE. Small businesses and other commercial entities can apply for an account. Hazardous waste includes cooking oil, fluorescent lamps, propane cylinders, car batteries, fertilizers, cleaners, personal care products and more. The facility is located at:  

            4797 Imhoff Place
            Martinez, CA 94553
            800-646-1431

For acceptable materials, directions and hours of operation visit www.centralsan.org/hhw.

Single-family home residents can place household batteries, CFLs, cell phones and motor oil at the curb for weekly collection. Click here for more information.

FREE MEDICAL SHARPS (NEEDLES) AND MEDICATIONS DISPOSAL

Disposing of needles and unused medications down the toilet, drain or in the landfill cart is illegal and harmful to the environment.

 Between 8:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m. Monday through Friday, residents may come to the Lafayette Police Department located at 3471 Mt. Diablo Blvd., #130 to dispose of medications. Medications only - no sharps or controlled substances are accepted.

Drop-off rules include:

• Medications include prescription and non-prescription, pills, liquids, vitamins, pet medications and inhalers.
• All pills must be emptied from their original containers and placed in a resealable plastic bag. Empty plastic bottles #1-7 are recyclable (remove personal information from the packaging).
• Deposit into the green drop box.

Visit the Contra Costa County MEDS Coalition website for information on medical sharps (needles) disposal sites.