Business Trash & 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
- 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.
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 | View brochure
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.
Contact Salinas Valley Recycles for a FREE assessment.
Visit Salinas Valley Recycles | Call (831) 775-3007 | View brochure
Additional Resources:
Business and Multi-Family Complex Recycling Requirements
Multi-Family Complex Assistance
Organic Waste Recycling Requirements
Food To-Go Container Compliance Program
Reusable Bag Ordinance
Landscape Waste Recycling
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. 
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 [email protected].
Details and requirements of this option are provided upon the SARP application and reporting forms below.
SARP Waste Reduction & Recycling Report ENG
SARP Waste Reduction & Recycling Report SPA
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
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.
Learn about how Salinas Families Reduce, Reuse and Recycle.
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.
Please find full details on the printable Yard Waste Flyer ENG / SPA.
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.
- Full aerosol cans
- Antifreeze Household toxics
- Batteries (auto and household)
- Building materials (e.g. bricks, dirt, concrete)
- Bulky Items (e.g. furniture, appliances etc.)
- Clothing & Shoes (donate or bring to clothing boxes at SVR facilities)
- Cooking oil
- Electronics (e.g. computers, laptops, TVs, VCR/DVD players, etc.)
- Fluorescent lights
- Tires
- Used Motor Oil & Filter Collection
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:
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
Bulk Waste 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.
Business Trash & Recycling News
-
Organic Waste Recycling for Agriculture, Grocers, Hospitals, Restaurants, Schools
Agriculture companies and local grocers, hospitals, restaurants, and schools are now required to separate for composting all organic waste, including food scraps, and outdated food.
Why Organics?There are many health and environmental issues that are created by landfill waste, and organic waste makes up about 30% of the material that is land-filled in the Salinas Valley every day.
Organic waste such as green materials and food materials are recyclable through composting and...
Find Out More -
Business Recycling is both Mandatory and Saves Money
Did you know that Recycling saves your business money?
While Recycling is now mandatory for Salinas businesses and multifamily complexes, it also costs less than disposing of recyclable materials into the trash.
RECYCLING is GOOD Business- 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 our local landfill. ...
-
Food To-Go Container Compliance Program
Take Out Has Never Tasted So GOOD!
All food providers within Salinas must use products that are biodegradable, compostable, or recyclable for their "to-go" containers. This is because the City of Salinas has an Environmentally Acceptable Food Packaging Ordinance that restricts the use of expanded polystyrene (also known as Styrofoam®).
Salinas Municipal Code Chapter 14
- No plastic straws (paper is acceptable)
- No plastic stir sticks (wood ...
