San Francisco to Accept All Rigid Plastics for Recycling

Beginning Earth Day, Tuesday, April 22, San Francisco’s curbside recycling program will expand to include all rigid plastics.

Residents and businesses will be encouraged to recycle all plastic tubs and lids, yogurt and clamshell containers (clean, without food or liquids), cups, buckets, plant containers and other non-film plastics.

Plastic toys will be accepted as long as they have no metal parts, batteries, circuit boards or wiring.

Plastic film of any kind, such as plastic bags and plastic wrap, will not be accepted. Styrofoam also will not be accepted.

Sunset Scavenger Co. and Golden Gate Disposal & Recycling Co. collect recyclables that residents and businesses place in blue recycling carts and deliver the commingled materials to Recycle Central, the modern sorting plant operated by SF Recycling Inc. on Pier 96.

Upgrading the blue cart program to accept more plastics is part of ongoing efforts by the city’s recycling companies to help San Francisco divert 75 percent of material away from landfill disposal by 2010 and to help the city achieve its goal of zero waste by 2020.