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Frequently Asked Questions |
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What do the "numbers one through seven or #1--#7" mean in your description of the materials accepted for curbside or on-site recycling?
"Numbers one through seven or #1--#7" refers to the numbering system used by the plastics industry to designate the different types of plastic resins.
Each plastic container is embossed with a number from one through seven enclosed within the chasing recycling arrows to identify the type of plastic used to make the container. Look for the numbered arrow on the bottom or side of the container.
Each type of plastic resin has distinctive characteristics and the numbers are used to identify the type of plastic so that it can be recycled in the appropriate part of the marketplace. Containers are resold and the revenues received are used to offset the cost of solid waste services. Prices fluctuate based on market conditions such as supply and demand.
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Why doesn't the City's curbside recycling program collect mixed paper?
Your interest in having additional recyclable materials picked up at the curb raises the issue at the heart of our landfill diversion strategy--How do we achieve the state-mandated goal of 50% diversion of refuse while keeping refuse collection costs affordable for Sunnyvale residents and businesses?
Because Sunnyvale built the Sunnyvale Materials Recovery and Transfer Station (SMaRT Station®) in 1993, the City can choose among different ways of recovering materials for recycling. Some materials (e.g. newspapers) are more cost-effectively recovered by asking resident to source-separate them for the City's collection service. Others, such as mixed paper, are more cost-effectively recovered by the materials recovery system at the SMaRT Station.
At this time we are recovering residential mixed paper at the SMaRT Station by removing it from the refuse received there. Mixed paper is the number one material (by weight) recovered at SMaRT, with approximately 5,558 tons of Sunnyvale mixed paper separated from refuse in fiscal year 2002. At this time we do not anticipate going to the expense of adding mixed paper to the curbside recycling program since the community has already exceeded the 50% diversion mandate using other source reduction and recycling methods in place.
The criteria we consider in formulating our recycling programs include:
- The market value of the material we are collecting compared to the cost of collecting it
- The reliability of the market for the material
- The consistency over time of the demand for the recycled product
- Quality requirements for the material
- Our anticipated success in educating residents on how to separate the material properly without contaminating other items we are collecting.
We encourage you to purchase products and packaging made with recycled paper in order to stimulate demand for recycled paper.
You also have the option of dropping off your mixed paper and other recyclables at the SMaRT Station Recycling Center.
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How do I get rid of paints, pesticides, and household cleaning products now stored in my home and garage?
Residents can bring household hazardous waste to monthly drop-off events at no charge. Just bring these materials to the Household Hazardous Waste Drop-off Event Site (details and directions) on a drop-off day. Drop-off days are held on the third Saturday of each month, except December, from 8am to 1pm.
Bring the material in the original container or use a non-leaking, sealed container. State law limits transportation of household hazardous waste to 5 gallons or 50 pounds per vehicle. Asbestos and explosives are not accepted.
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How can I reduce household hazardous waste?
Placing household hazardous waste in the garbage may harm collection personnel and pollute the environment when sent to the landfill. Further, the collection and safe disposal of these toxic products can be expensive. For these reasons, the City encourages residents and businesses to follow practices that minimize the amount of hazardous materials they purchase, use, store, and dispose. Click here for a list of safer alternatives. Here are four easy tips:
- Buy only what you need, whether it is paint, pesticide, or cleaning compounds. Carefully plan your project so that you’re not buying extra material that you will need to store and then dispose of later as hazardous waste.
- Read labels carefully. Choose the least toxic product, and learn about safer products in general. Click here for a list of non-toxic alternatives.
- Use all of the product in your project. Avoid keeping containers with left-over materials.
- Communicate with manufacturers and retailers. Thank them for promoting products that are less hazardous, and ask them for information about safer alternatives.
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Will Sunnyvale continue to meet the California goal of reducing 50% of its waste?
California state law requires municipalities to cut their waste in half by the year 2000. Sunnyvale reached that goal in 1996 -- four years ahead of schedule. In 2000 we diverted 56% of our waste.
The City’s waste diversion targets are adjusted to account for population growth and economic activity. The City remains on track to continue diverting more than 50% as a result of effective curbside recycling and yard waste collection, waste reduction by businesses and residents, private sector commercial and industrial recycling, diversion of recyclable material at the SMaRT Station, and the Raisch Products concrete recycling operation.
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Can I put other kinds of paper in with the newspaper in the recycling cart?
No -- please don’t. Junk mail or office and mixed paper actually contaminates the newspaper for recycling. If a load of newspapers contains too much of the wrong kind of paper, it can be rejected by the purchaser, which defeats the purpose of newspaper recycling. Please place only newspapers, newspaper inserts and telephone books in the newspaper side of the recycling cart. The rule of thumb is if it came in your newspaper, you can recycle it in the newspaper recycling bin.
Your bundles of mixed paper (such as magazines, junk mail, cereal boxes, and paper bags) and waste office paper can be recycled by bringing them to the SMaRT Station Recycling Center (click here for directions) seven days a week between 8am to 5pm, at no charge. Thanks for helping!
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My trash or recycling wasn’t collected today. What should I do?
Contact Specialty Solid Waste & Recycling at (408) 565-9900 extension 800.
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I live in an apartment--Can I recycle oil?
The City provides participating properties with a blue, metal oil recycling box containing one-gallon jugs for oil and heavy-duty zip-lock plastic bags for oil filters. Residents are to place full jugs and bags back into the box for collection.
To prevent oil spills, make sure that the oil filter bag is completely sealed and that the screw-cap on the oil jug is fastened tightly. To find out if motor oil recycling is available on your property, contact your property manager, Specialty Solid Waste & Recycling at (408) 565-9900, extension 800, or the City of Sunnyvale Recycling Program at (408) 730-7262.
All the materials necessary for used motor oil and filter collection are provided at the start of service. To order additional plastic oil jugs and zip-lock plastic bags, contact the City of Sunnyvale Revenue Division at (408) 730-7400.
Residents of multi-family units can also bring used oil to the SMaRT Station Recycling Center at no charge, or take it to any certified collection center for drop-off. Call the Sunnyvale Recycling Program, at (408) 730-7262, or check the Santa Clara County Hazardous Waste & Recycling Disposal website for a certified drop-off location near you.
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How can I order more oil recycling jugs, recycling bins, or carts?
Residents in single-family homes can call the City of Sunnyvale Revenue Division at (408) 730-7400. Residents in multi-family homes (i.e., 4 units or more) can call (408) 730-7681.
For Business recycling assistance, call (408) 730-7484.
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Where can I get a compost bin?
Sunnyvale residents can buy a compost bin at 69% off the retail price by attending a Home Compost Workshop, held once a month at no charge. Call the Sunnyvale Recycling Program at (408) 730-7262 to register. See the Calendar of Events for the next Compost Workshop.
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I have something that is not collected in my curbside recycling. Where can I recycle it?
You can bring commonly recycled items to the SMaRT Station Recycling Center (click here for directions).
Or, call the Santa Clara County Recycling Hotline at 1-800-533-8414 to find out where to recycle a wide variety of items. You can also conduct a search by visiting their web site.
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What other City programs help divert waste from the landfill?
The City offers technical assistance to businesses, providing waste audits and information on waste reduction, reuse, & recycling options (click here for details). Call the Sunnyvale Commercial Recycling Program at (408) 730-7484 for business recycling information.
Other waste reduction programs include the annual City-wide Garage Sale (which promotes the reuse of materials), monthly compost workshops to learn how to turn yard trimmings and food waste into a rich soil amendment, and monthly household hazardous waste drop-off events. Call the Sunnyvale Recycling Program at (408) 730-7262 for information.
See our list of Reuse Resources to find out where you can recycle your unwanted items.
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Where does Sunnyvale’s waste come from?
By weight, about 60 percent of the City’s waste is generated by business and industry, with the remainder being generated by our residents. The vast majority of the recoverable waste material in the community is paper and cardboard. For this reason, the City and Specialty Solid Waste and Recycling have developed a special collection route to pick up waste cardboard from business and industry, and many Sunnyvale businesses have effectively reduced the amount of their waste paper through internal recycling programs.
Click here for information about commercial recycling.
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Doesn’t recycling cost more than it saves?
The real benefits of recycling include more efficient use of natural resources, more effective and longer life of landfills, reduction of air and water pollution, and less environmental degradation. Although the City gets revenue from the sale of recyclable materials on the open market, this revenue does not fully recover the operating costs of the recycling programs. This may change in the future if demand for recycled-content materials grows. When you have the option, we encourage you to purchase products and packaging made with recycled material.
The overall reduction of Sunnyvale’s solid waste stream through recycling, waste reduction, and reuse of materials has reduced by half the volume of material that would have otherwise been disposed at the Kirby Canyon Landfill. Thus, the potential costs of disposal have also been cut in half, reflecting a savings of approximately $5 million per year. Further, achieving the state mandate to cut our waste in half means we are not subject to the $10,000 per day fine for non-compliance.
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Where can I find more information about local recycling programs?
Contact the Sunnyvale Recycling Program at (408) 730-7262, or email the Recycling Program for information about any of the programs mentioned above.
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I have a complaint, where do I call?
If you have a complaint, please feel free to notify us by calling the City's Solid Waste Division at (408) 730-7508.
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What do I do with my TV and/or computer monitor, fluorescent tubes and household batteries?
Residents of Sunnyvale, Mountain View and Palo may bring these items to the SMaRT Station in Sunnyvale seven days a week from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Beginning on July 1, 2005, TV and computer monitors will be accepted there for no fee with a limit of four per vehicle. Call (408) 730-7262 for more information.
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If I am a business, what do I do with my fluorescent tubes, electronics (including TVs and monitors) and batteries?
The SMaRT Station cannot accept these wastes from businesses in any quantity. Sunnyvale businesses may visit our online Recycling Resources for a list of recycling options. By state law these items are now banned from disposal in the garbage.
Sunnyvale businesses may also contact the Santa Clara County Department of Environmental Health, which offers drop off disposal for these materials by appointment only to qualified businesses within Santa Clara County for a fee. Qualified businesses will generate less than 27 gallons or 220 pounds of hazardous waste per month. To set up an appointment or to receive more information, call Santa Clara County Department of Environmental Health at (408) 299-7300.
Click here for a list of alternate fluorescent tube disposal options.
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