Business/Residential Trash, Recycling and Food Waste

Business Trash and Recycling

Business Recycling Saves Money

While Recycling is now mandatory for Salinas businesses and multifamily complexes, it also costs less than disposing of recyclable materials into the trash.

There are many health and environmental issues that are created by landfill waste. Would you believe that over 70% of the waste generated in the Salinas Valley comes from business activity? So, in an effort to divert as much waste as possible from landfills Business Recycling and Organic Recycling (food and green waste) are now required by both City Ordinance and State Law.

RECYCLING is GOOD Business

Recycling at the Office

  • Businesses SAVE MONEY by RECYCLING MORE.
  • Recycling and yard waste are offered at half the cost or less of comparable trash services.
  • Recycling conserves resources and extends the life of the local landfill.
  • Recycling and waste reduction are important for a strong local economy and improved public health.

What Goes in the Recycling Cart

Many plastics (including bag-in-bag), glass, metals, paper, and cardboard materials may go into the recycling cart. Please review full details on the printable Recycling Flyer ENG / SPA.

Please put items into the recycling cart loose, not bagged or bundled. All containers must be empty. Rinse out excess liquid or food residue. Flatten all cardboard boxes. Pizza boxes are ok if they are free of grease and/or food.

Residents can also donate their recyclables and/or redeem their beverage containers for money at a certified recycling centerFind a Recycling Center in Salinas.

Learn about how Salinas Families Reduce, Reuse and Recycle.

Collection Services & FREE Waste Assessments

Contact Republic Services of Salinas for curbside service needs and a FREE waste assessment.
Visit Republic Services of Salinas | Call (831) 751-5453 

As another valuable resource for Salinas companies, Salinas Valley Recycles is eager to help. Their free waste assessments, and trainings for employees and multi-family residents, are designed to reduce waste while saving money.

Save Money Recycling Graphic

Contact Salinas Valley Recycles for a FREE assessment.
Visit Salinas Valley Recycles | Call (831) 775-3007 

Additional Resources:

Salinas Alternative Recycling Process (SARP)

Does it make more sense for your business to manage its own recycling and to self-haul? If so, SARP allows the opportunity to provide an alternative to the typically mandatory curbside services.

Self Haul

To be eligible, a business must establish an onsite recycling program and/or self-haul. The first step is to complete and submit the SARP application below, then within two weeks of submitting the application, schedule a waste assessment with Salinas Valley Recycles by contacting them at (831) 775-3007 or sarp@svswa.org.

Details and requirements of this option are provided upon the SARP application and reporting forms below.

Green Business - Above and Beyond

Interested in going above and beyond in conserving resources, preventing pollution, and minimizing waste? Learn how your business or company can exceed environmental standards by becoming a certified green business. For more information visit:

Monterey County Green Business Program

Residents Trash and Recycling

Collection Services & FREE Waste Assessments

Contact Republic Services of Salinas for curbside service needs and a FREE waste assessment.
Visit Republic Services of Salinas | Call (831) 751-5453 

As another valuable resource for Salinas companies, Salinas Valley Recycles is eager to help. Their free waste assessments, and trainings for employees and multi-family residents, are designed to reduce waste while saving money.

Trash and recycling bin next to each other outside

Contact Salinas Valley Recycles for a FREE assessment.
Visit Salinas Valley Recycles | Call (831) 775-3007 

Additional Resources:

What Goes in the Recycling Cart

Many plastics (including bag-in-bag), glass, metals, paper, and cardboard materials may go into the recycling cart. Please review full details on the printable Recycling Flyer ENG / SPA.

Please put items into the recycling cart loose, not bagged or bundled. All containers must be empty. Rinse out excess liquid or food residue. Flatten all cardboard boxes. Pizza boxes are ok if they are free of grease and/or food.

Residents can also donate their recyclables and/or redeem their beverage containers for money at a certified recycling center. Find a Recycling Center in Salinas. 

What Goes in the Yard Waste Cart

Only yard or garden clippings and trimmings, like grass, leaves, flowers, weeds, or branches may go into the yard waste cart. Please do not put plastic bags, water bottles, animal feces, garden hoses, food, or any other materials in the yard waste cart, because this material is used to make high-quality compost and wood chips.

What Goes in the Trash Cart (to Landfill)

Items not listed below or for the recycling or yard waste carts may go into the trash cart (to landfill).

The following items cannot go into any of the curbside carts.

Compost Resources 

Learn how to turn your kitchen scraps and yard trimmings into a nutrient-rich soil amendment.

Keep Safe! Household Hazardous Waste (HHW)

Keep Families & the Community Safe!

Many household products contain chemicals that can harm your family and our water and soil when not disposed of properly. Household Hazardous Waste (HHW) are products with labels that state Toxic, Flammable, Poison, Danger, Warning, or Caution and other items that contain toxic chemicals such as used batteries, paint, or fluorescent bulbs.

Household Hazardous Waste (HHW) CANNOT go in the trash or recycling bins, but they are accepted for free from residential customers at the HHW Collection Facility in Salinas:

Safely Handling Hazardous Waste

Large Load & Bulky Item Options

Do you need to dispose of a large load or bulky item? Large loads may include yard / landscape waste and small quantities of home construction debris. Bulky items are those too large for the curbside bins such as home furnishings, TVs, mattresses and box springs, carpet, and appliances.

While large loads and bulky items are not collected through regular curbside or apartment recycling programs, they can still be recycled or even donated for reuse.

To dispose of bulky items you have several options:

  1. Free Pick-up (single family homes only): Contact Republic Services of Salinas for acceptable items and other requirements, such as how and when to set on curb. One bulk waste collection per year is included as part of your curbside collection service. Additional bulky item pick-up services incur a fee.
    Call: (831) 775-3840

    Bulk Waste Residential/Business

  2. Annual Cleanup Events: The City of Salinas offers residents free, annual cleanup and recycling events when you may drop off items at a location near your home. For specific dates, times, and locations, watch for announcements in the newspaper or mail or view the Upcoming Recycling Events calendar.
  3. Self-Haul: You can drop off bulky items at any of the Salinas Valley Recycles facilities. Fees may apply depending on the item; Please check the fee schedule to see what items may require a disposal fee.
  4. Debris Boxes: Republic Services of Salinas offers dumpster and container rentals for the collection and disposal of large quantities of bulk items. Rent a debris box to collect materials for a cleanup project or remodel construction.
    Call: (831) 775-3840
  5. Donate or Sell: If any items are in good, reusable condition, please consider a donation to a local reuse business or charitable organization. Why pay to dispose of something when someone else might be willing to pay you for it? Visit the Reuse Guide to learn more.