recycling garbage

Basics of the Curbside Recycling

Program

Collection

All of San Jose's garbage and

recyclables are collected by

automated trucks which lift heavy

carts and bins with mechanical arms

or lifters. When the trucks are full,

drivers take garbage to a landfill,

recyclables to a materials recovery

facility (MRF) for sorting, and yard

trimmings to a composting facility.

At single family homes, hauling

companies may choose to collect

garbage and recyclables in separate

trucks or in a single split-body truck

that has a divider to keep garbage and

recyclables separate. Regardless of

the collection method, garbage and

recycling materials are never mixed in

the trucks, or at the facilities they are

taken to. Please continue to keep

materials separate in your garbage

and recycling carts.

Apartments and condominiums have

variable collection schedules due to

the type and number of containers. At

these sites, garbage and recycling will

always be collected in separate

vehicles, and often on different days

of the week.

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Sorting

At the MRF, a system of belts, screens,

electromagnets, and blasts of air

separate paper, plastics, glass,

aluminum, and other materials.

While much of the system is

automated, workers help separate

certain materials by hand.

Remembering to dispose of your

recyclables correctly helps protect

these workers' health and safety (e.g.,

do not place needles, chemicals, or

propane tanks in the recycling cart).

Bales and bins of sorted materials are

then taken to processing facilities

before being sold as resources for

new products.

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